Volunteering in the V6 X Class from Mercedes.
Volunteering with the V6 X Class from Mercedes brought a lot of variety which it tackled superbly. The luxury pick up offers you so many options when you need to transport cargo. Whether this is other passengers the most important of all or huge amounts of
fallen branches from a local cemetery.
The superb X 350 d 4Matic
I found myself using the 350 d as a Volunteer vehicle, carrying people around to help clear up fallen trees and debris. The Mercedes was load with people and equipment, it handled this all, allowing plenty of space for the people and the tools. The large twin cab accommodates five people easily, all in luxury and comfort. We headed off to clear trees, plants and various wind damaged pieces in a local cemetery so we had plenty of work tools in the cargo area. To get to some areas within the cemetery I had to go off-road, so engaged the four-wheel low ratio gearing. The X Class didn’t even break a sweat, probably not requiring the low-speed setting. It breezed over the waterlogged ground, tackling every bump nonchalantly. Using the Merc to get us to places quickly we too zipped through the work, as we could get to difficult, distant areas much quicker than walking with heavy equipment. We could also load up the rear with stacks and stacks of wood, then shift this to the dumping area. A task that would have taken days was doner in hours.
In the worst of weather, the X Class enabled me to travel where ever and whenever I wanted to help get supplies to some elderly people in my town. My sister volunteers to help the elderly, keeping an eye on several pensioners who are on their own. The British weather threw up some horrendous obstacles preventing most people getting out to the shops or to visit these older members of the public, so I offered the services of the Mercedes, driving to the shops then taking the supplies to the needy. It was superb throughout the awful conditions.
The X 350 d POWER is powered by a muscular, responsive V6 engine which offers an impressive 258 hp and maximum 550Nm torque, taking you from 0 to 62mph in just 7.9 seconds.
The X 350 d V6 4MATIC engine comes exclusively with a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, offering fast and barely-noticeable gear changes, along with excellent comfort and high levels of efficiency. With a total of 7 gears, engine speed remains as low as possible in any driving situation, and the wide gear range reduces the difference in revs when shifting gears. DYNAMIC SELECT also provides drivers with 5 different driving modes, from eco to sport:
- Comfort - This mode is activated automatically when the engine starts and provides comfort-emphasising, harmonious accelerator characteristics, as well as early shift points
- Eco - Changes the gears at particularly low engine speeds to improve fuel economy
- Sport - The engine responds more immediately to throttle input. Sport mode makes use of the entire engine speed range to change gears, and shifts at higher engine speeds
- Manual - Use the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel to manually change gears. This mode leads to far shorter shift times than the Comfort and Eco programmes
- Off-road - This mode is suitable for driving on challenging terrain. It offers higher shift points and a flatter, and therefore more precisely adjustable, accelerator characteristic curve
The X-Class offers a choice of two trim lines
Progressive Line, and Power Line.
The PROGRESSIVE Line makes its mark with high levels of equipment, style and comfort. Its dynamic character is reinforced by 17-inch 6-spoke light-alloy wheels, leather gearshift and handbrake lever, round air vents in silver chrome and 8-speaker sound system. The anchoring rails on the sidewalls of the load bed allow for easy storing and securing. Plus, the compass in the rear-view mirror shows you’re heading in the right direction.
With its high levels of equipment as standard, the POWER Line sets a completely new benchmark for design, comfort and dynamic appearance. For example, LED High-Performance headlamps, KEYLESS GO, electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar support and THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control. 18-inch 6-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, simulated underguard and the shoulder line trim strips in chrome. The refined first impression continues into the interior with ARTICO man-made leather / DINAMICA microfiber seats as well as the instrument panel and door beltlines in ARTICO man-made leather with contrasting topstitching, and the trim element in pixel-look matt black. Also available as options are trim elements in wood grain-look or aluminium-look with longitudinal grain as well as leather interior options in nut brown or black.
The Volunteers I drove loved the luxurious interior of the V6 X Class.
Equally at home in Town or Country, it provides so many solutuions for transportation.
Numerous safety features come on all models.
A camera on the inside of the windscreen registers lane markings whilst the system monitors the driver’s actions in order to determine whether a lane change is intentional or not. If the system judges driving behaviour to be adrift, lane keeping assist activates steering wheel vibrations and visual signals to warn the driver. This is standard on X-Class X220 and X250 PROGRESSIVE.
Active Lane Keeping Assist not only warns the driver when they unintentionally leave their lane, but also uses one-sided braking intervention (via ESP) to help manoeuver the vehicle back into its lane. Using radar sensors located all over the vehicle, which also monitor traffic around the van, the technology steps in to correct the driver and keep them safe. Available as standard for the X-Class 350d V6 4MATIC.
Traffic Sign Assist utilises a camera situated on the windscreen to recognise traffic signs and displays them, along with the current speed limit, on the instrument cluster multifunction display – and in the navigation mode on the media display.
Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, and reduce the risk of a rear-end collision, thanks to Active Brake Assist. The system warns of potential danger, and in the event of emergency braking, you will also be supported by the adaptive brake assistant.
The standard tyre pressure monitoring system informs you when there is insufficient tyre pressure, allowing you to take action before setting off.
Adaptive Brake Lights ensure that vehicles behind you are fully aware if you are emergency braking. All three brake lamps will start flashing in the event of a critical braking manoeuvre, or the activation of ESP or ABS. This provides a vital warning and can help shorten a driver’s reaction time. If the vehicles is brought to a complete standstill from a speed greater than 40 mph, the hazard warning lamps are automatically activated to further assist in preventing a collision.
The X-Class’s Electronic Stability Programme is an innovative handling dynamics control system that takes the vehicle load into account. In critical situations, for instance when there is an imminent risk of skidding, it can help stabilise the vehicle by applying brakes to individual wheels and adjusting the engine’s torque.
Trailer Stability Assist also offers dynamic stability when carrying a load or towing a trailer. If weaving is detected it can be limited through the targeted braking of vehicle wheels. This stability programme also includes the ABS Anti-lock Braking System, ASR acceleration slip regulations, BAS Brake Assist, EBD Brakeforce Distribution and Hill Start Assist.
The cockpit is stacked with driver aids and superb entertainment and information systems.
V6 power gets you through the worse conditions.
The load space is huge and eats cargo. Great weight carrying ability.
Prices start from £29000 which is great for what you get. A really quality vehicle which drives and handles like a car but has the utility capabilities to meet every demand a family, Farmer or in my case a Volunteer requires. People carrying capacity, load carrying volume, entertainment, safety and more. A real modern day workhorse.
Peace of mind for X class owners.