2019 Mercedes-Benz Pickup Truck: EXCLUSIVE! Review

2019 Mercedes-Benz Pickup Truck: EXCLUSIVE! Review

Mercedes has previously confirmed its new pickup truck will share its platform with the next-generation Nissan NP300 Navara thanks to a partnership with Renault-Nissan. Both Mercedes and Nissan agreed to collaborate on the truck鈥檚 development, making it a truly joint venture. Well, our spy photographer has snagged several photos of the Nissan-badged truck running around, but with odd fender extension at each corner to cover a widened track. This suggests Mercedes is truly working on a separate version of the truck with a widen track and a Mercedes-Benz styling. The German automaker has already said its truck will be specifically designed for customers in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Latin America. To our knowledge, Mercedes is still conduction research on the U.S. There鈥檚 no hard evidence or conformation on which automaker - if either at all - will develop the powertrain for the truck. Each version could carry brand-specific engines and transmissions. In that case, expect the truck to offer Mercedes-developed four- and six-cylinder engines in both gas and turbodiesel variants. A V-8 version wouldn鈥檛 be unlikely as a range-topping engine should Mercedes bring the truck stateside.

Expect a seven-speed automatic transmission with the optional 4MATIC AWD system. Additionally, we鈥檝e heard rumors Mercedes will name the truck the GLT. Again, there is no conformation, but we expect Mercedes to debut the GLT sometime in late 2017 as a 2018 model. Well here it its - the Mercedes pickup, or at least our vision of what it could be. We started with a modified front clip of the GLE Coupe. It鈥檚 broad shoulders, high hood, and large grille makes for good truck proportions. The coupe proportions were dropped in favor of an SUV-like passenger compartment with its tall greenhouse and large doors. Mercedes will likely incorporate its design detailing into the bed, keeping the bed from looking like an afterthought. The rendering shows the swooping accent lines flowing onto the bed, tying the whole thing together. Conversely, the lines still make sense when imagining the cargo box replaced with a flat bed or utility box. And since the truck is utilitarian, the usual 21-inch wheels and low profile tires are ditched in favor of wheels measuring a more conservative size wrapped in tires with visible sidewalls.

Even still, the wheels look great. Lastly, a pair of side steps helps ease entry into the high-riding truck while adding a touch of chrome. Mercedes will surely offer both single cab and crew cab configurations, allowing customers to choose what works best for their application. Here鈥檚 where the fight is raging. What will the Mercedes truck feature within is cabin? Will it be a luxo-truck or a workhorse? Well, I submit to you the 2016 Mercedes Metris van with its interior pictured above. This is Merc鈥檚 latest entry into the midsize van class, competing in both cargo and passenger segments. Granted, this won鈥檛 be the same design as the upcoming pickup鈥檚 interior, but we can begin to understand the level of utility verses luxury here. Take a look at that dashboard. It鈥檚 plastic. So is the radio interface as well as the center console. A simple, two-gauge cluster with a TFT display shows vehicle information. An optional leather-wrapped steering wheel with chrome accents and redundant controls is the only reminder of the vehicle鈥檚 heritage.

The Metris鈥?interior is on par with the Amarok and new Ranger, though it is missing the larger infotainment system of both trucks and the swanky TFT screen-filled gauge cluster of the Ranger. In short, this is what we can expect from the Mercedes midsize pickup. Mercedes is likely to offer several engine choices ranging from a cost-saving, four-cylinder gasoline engine to a powerful turbodiesel. At this point, it鈥檚 hard to pinpoint exactly what the automaker will slide under the hood as the truck is still five years out. Still, that doesn鈥檛 stop us from speculating. Like its interior detailing, the Metris鈥?gasoline powerplant would be a good fit for the upcoming pickup. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder is turbocharged and makes 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. As in most Mercedes, a seven-speed automatic transmission does the shifting. Those output numbers are far more impressive than the upcoming Ranger鈥檚 gasoline engine鈥檚 output and are competitive with its four- and five-cylinder diesel engines鈥?ratings. The VW Amarok is underpowered in comparison with its 177-horsepower 2.0-liter gas engine.

Besides its engine, the pickup will be offered in both 2WD and 4WD. A solid axle out back with leaf springs will do the heavy lifting while an independent suspension system up front will provide more comfort. Mercedes says its future truck will be able to handle a payload of 鈥渁bout one metric ton鈥?in its bed, or 2,205 pounds. That鈥檚 far and above the U.S.-spec Chevrolet Colorado鈥檚 max payload capacity of 1,590 pounds. It even surpasses the Silverado 1500鈥檚 max payload of 2,060 pounds. There鈥檚 no doubt Mercedes plans on its truck doing some work. Again, it鈥檚 hard to predict everything about the truck, but expect Mercedes to stick around its competition in terms of pricing. 50,000 is U.S. dollars. Ford鈥檚 recently released and heavily updated Ranger certainly looks the part of a global midsize pickup truck. It has a purposeful design with plenty of character inside and out and enough amenities to keep the average truck buyer happy. Those who drive such trucks for a living will find their office is well laid out and organized. The Ranger offers four engine options - three of them diesel and the fourth gas.