Why Was the X-Class Discontinued?
When Mercedes launched the X-Class in 2017 amidst a booming 4×4 market, they thought they had a hit on their hands. However, just three years later, in early 2020, the esteemed manufacturer of luxury vehicles had to announce that it would be discontinuing the model.
Having pinned their hopes on getting a slice of the pie that the mid-size pickup market represented, that must have stung. However, there were, of course, three years of sales for the vehicle around the world, and it had its fans.
So what happened? Why was the X-Class discontinued by Mercedes? That’s what we’ll explore this month at Moot 4×4, as well as whether you can still get parts for the vehicle.
The pros and cons of the Mercedes X-Class
Let’s start with the positives. The Mercedes X-Class has a lot going for it in terms of pros, including:
- Luxury design and interior – As you might expect of a Mercedes, the X-Class had a high-quality interior that put it a notch above other 4x4s, including infotainment systems and super comfortable seats.
- Plenty of space – Alongside the quality, there was quantity, with the X-Class proving a perfectly capable carrier of both equipment for holidaying and the people you’d want to take with you for the ride.
- Safety features – The X-Class came with an extensive range of advanced safety features. From autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist to the sheer fact it had multiple airbags, this was no standard pickup truck.
So what let it down? Let’s turn to the cons of the Mercedes X-Class:
- Nissan Navara – There’s no hiding from the fact that the Mercedes X-Class was underpinned by the Nissan Navara, which is not necessarily a bad thing until you take the next point into consideration…
- Price – A Mercedes 4×4 was always going to come with a Mercedes price tag. In the end, it proved too expensive for many drivers, especially when it was noted to be using a lot of the underpinning from a much cheaper vehicle. Mercedes themselves reported that the Latin American market had really scuppered things due to a lack of affordability.
- Off-road capability – While it’s still a 4×4 capable of going off-road, some drivers noted it didn’t live up to the rugged capability you’d usually want from a pickup. Whether price played a factor in people not wanting to get their Mercedes muddy and battered is up for debate, but it had to have played on people’s minds.
In the end, as Steve Moody wrote at carmagazine.co.uk, the Mercedes X-Class failed because “it was too expensive as a work vehicle but not refined enough to muscle SUVs aside”.
How many Mercedes X-Class were sold?
It’s thought that worldwide, the Mercedes X-Class sold around 50,000 units, which is not a small number. It’s just not as big a number as Mercedes might have liked.
In the first full year of production, it only sold 16,700 units in key markets, and it only got worse from there, selling just 15,300 the following year.
This shortfall in sales is ultimately why Mercedes discontinued the X-Class from production. May 2020 was the final cut-off, with the manufacturer then focusing on the G-Class, including the V8 engine and the electric model.
Can you still buy parts for the Mercedes X-Class?
The great news is that you can still buy Mercedes X-Class parts thanks to us here at Moot 4×4. We’re pleased to stock a wide range of parts, tools and accessories for the X-Class, because we know that there are still plenty of owners out there looking to get the best from their luxury 4×4. From service parts to brand new tyres for your discontinued X-Class, you can find it with us.
Why choose Moot? With rapid dispatch of your order and worldwide delivery, why not?
We’re a family business and we make sure we’re the only 4×4 part store you need. That means you won’t have to waste time shopping around to kit out your X-Class.
Order online today or contact us if you need any assistance.