Why New Mercedes X-Class is Good News for Nissan Frontier Fans

The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup was revealed in Cape Town, South Africa. Why does it share the Nissan Frontier platform?

Mercedes-Benz is launching a new X-Class mid-size pickup because it’s one of the hottest segments in the automotive world. But don’t expect it in the U.S. just yet. According to the German automaker,, there will be three trim packages for the initial run of X-Class pickups: Pure, Progressive and top-of-the-line Power. It will go on sale in Germany first, then the rest of Europe will get the new pickup.

The new Mercedes-Benz X-lass pickup shares a platform with the new Nissan Navara, which made its global debut at the Brussels Motor Show earlier this year. Truck fans in the U.S., will likely get a version of the Navara when the all-new-generation Nissan Frontier launches in the U.S. next year.

Mercedes-Benz partnered with Nissan a few years ago in order to more quickly expand its commercial truck division into the growing global pickup markets. Mercedes-Benz chose Nissan over Toyota and Honda who make the Tacoma and Ridgeline because of Nissan’s global manufacturing abilities. The X-Class will be built alongside the Navara and sister model, the Renault Alaskan in Spain and Argentina.

The X-Class will use the Nissan Navara underpinnings. The frame and chassis come from Nissan and Mercedes will likely make a few changes to make it fit their luxury standards.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class won’t be making it to U.S. shores for quite some time, but the next-generation Nissan Frontier will be launching in North America soon. We reported here at TorqueNews that the next-gen Frontier will be getting a new 2.8-liter Cummins Turbo-diesel and other new upgrades that will excite mid-size truck buyers.

The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class gives us a hint of just how versatile and capable the all-new mid-size 2018 Nissan Frontier will be when it arrives. It’s good news for Frontier fans. Stay tuned.

Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz and Nissan