There’s been a lot of hotly anticipated comparison test between German vehicles in
Australia over the years.
There’s been hot hatches and mega sports sedans and even mad SUVs but here’s something
you never thought you’d see in the Aussie outback, a shootout between a Mercedes-Benz
and a Volkswagen to decide the best high performance V6 dual cab unit in Australia.
Yes, this is all about bragging rights.
These two boast big numbers in a number of different ways.
The Benz tops the lot for price at around $80,000 before options, accessories and on
roads and at more than $70,000 before on roads the Volkswagen will cost you a fair chunk
of change as well.
Everyone pretty much knows by now the new X class is based on the Nissan Navara.
Although this V6 version gets a Benz engine gearbox and permanent 4x4 system.
The Amarok is all VW’s own work of course and its been around for years.
What’s new is this appropriately named ultimate versions performance.
A lot of the chat with these two is about what’s going on under the bonnet.
Well they’ve both got three litre turbo diesel V6’s so it’s all squared there
but drill down a bit further and it’s the Amarok with the advantage.
200 kilowatts on over boost, 580 newton metres on tour, not only pips the bends but it makes
it the most powerful truck in the class.
Its also got the advantage when it comes to automatic transmissions as well, eight speeds
versus seven.
Hit the loud pedal and the VW accelerates that bit faster.
But the Benz has the slight edge when it comes to fuel consumption.
Boil it down and they’re both efficient engines but the Benz lets itself down when
it comes to drivability.
I’m really disappointed by the amount of turbo lag at tip in throttle in the X3.
Press, wait, turbo boost, go.
It lets the vehicle down in those short, sharp acceleration bursts that you need especially
in town.
But it’s not like the Amarok gets away scot free either.
It has its issues.
When you get into the really nitty gritty stuff the Amarok just lacks that one key essential,
low range gearing.
Sure there’s an off road mode and there's locking difs and so on but where it really
hurts is finite throttle control.
It’s just still a bit coarse.
You could really use that low-range gearing.
Otherwise these two are very closely matched off road.
We put them over some really challenging [unclear] rangers and desert tracks and they both survived.
Only occasionally touching down or having to work out where the drive went but never
being stopped for long.
But sadly it’s not just rough terrain that takes the gloss of these vehicles.
Considering it’s brand new and 80k the Benz just does not have a classy enough interior.
At least it’s quite in the cabin and that’s not the only refined aspect of the Benz.
The X350’s ride quality is quite outstanding.
It deals with corrugations in a way that most other dual cabs couldn’t even hope to approach.
It’s really comfortable.
As for the Amarok, well it’s clearly showing its age because it lacks autonomous emergency
braking and rear side airbags.
Look out here in the flinders, not having A, B rear side airbags might not be such a
big deal but back in town it’ll be a deal breaker for some people.
At least the Amarok has Apple Car play and Android auto and steering column reach adjustment
all of which are missing from the $80,000 Mercedes.
Gobsmacking.
You’ve probably picked up that I’ve ended my time with these two vehicles a bit frustrated.
If I had to pick a winner it would be the Benz.
Simply because it has the safety equipment edge over the Volkswagen not because it’s
a fundamentally better vehicle.
In fact in both cases I’d say we deserve more for the money that’s being charged
here.
There’s a lot of profit being made out of [unclear] by car manufacturers at the moment,
that’s for sure.