2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class gets AEB as standard

THE soon-to-land Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be the first pick-up to enter the Australian ute market with autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

AEB, standard on all X-Class variants, is a safety feature where a car’s brakes are automatically applied when a head-on accident is looming.

Active in both high- and low-speed scenarios, the AEB system reacts quickly to minimise damage or to completely avoid spoiling someone’s rear bumper.

“This is a game-changer for the ute market and puts pressure on competing brands,” ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin, said.

“The light commercial vehicle segment has generally lagged [behind] passenger cars and SUVs with regard to safety specification, so the inclusion of AEB as standard across the X-Class range is to be commended,” he said.

According to the ANCAP test performed in 2017, the AEB system fitted to the X-Class performed well, “detecting and either avoiding or mitigating crashes with other vehicles at low and high speeds”.

The AEB system “is also capable of detecting and preventing crashes with pedestrians”.

The X-Class was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating.