2017 Mercedes Benz 3243 8x4: Review

Name: 2017 Mercedes Benz 3243 8x4: Review
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

In an 8x4 format, the new Mercedes-Benz 3243 has the grunt and the payload to handle a wide range of heavy-duty roles

Following on from the successful launch of the new Actros prime movers in Australia late last year, Mercedes Benz recently launched a range of new heavy-duty rigid models.

With a GVM of 32t, the 3243 8x4 is the heavyweight of the range, and we got behind the wheel for a few days to see if the big eight-wheeler would live up to the expectations set by the remainder of the influx of new models.

The 3243 has been designed to fulfil a multitude of roles, including around town deliveries and front-loader waste collection, with careful consideration given to the standard equipment on offer. In a quest to cover as many vocational roles as possible, Mercedes Benz engineers have come up with a versatile platform that offers both flexibility and the level of equipment that we have come to expect from trucks bearing the three-pointed star.

With that being said, the vocational aims of the 3243 have seen some options removed for the time being, the most notable being the radar-based safety systems including adaptive cruise control and emergency brake assist.

Under the cab

The 3243 8x4 shares the same driveline as the supermarket-spec prime mover, with the 11-litre OM470 in-line six-cylinder engine delivering 428hp and 2100Nm via a 12-speed Powershift automated manual transmission.

While the rear diff ratios are also the same as the prime mover, the centres on the hypoid diffs are smaller, providing a benefit in terms of tare weight. The driveline provides a great combination of plentiful power and driver friendliness, and works well in either urban traffic or freeway conditions.

It was interesting to see just how often the EcoRoll function on the transmission was utilised in the city traffic, with the truck spending a great deal of time coasting in neutral even in these congested environs.

The 3243 8x4 utilises the Classic Space M cab, which is the narrower of the new cabs. It also sits lower to the ground, with the engine tunnel inside the cab being level with the seat cushions. This shouldn't pose a problem for metro work though, with the raised floor providing the perfect space for the fitment of body controls or simply storing paperwork.

The cab layout is virtually identical to the day cab prime mover range, but with a few small changes to suit the intended tasks. Firstly, the colour scheme inside the cab is much darker in order to show up less of the dirt that is likely to make its way into the cab in vocational roles.

This doesn’t really affect the feeling of space though, with the cab still feeling roomy and comfortable. There are also a few extra switches wired in as standard, including those for rotating beacons and PTO operation.

While this is technically a day cab, there is plenty of room behind the seats for storage. In fact, there are two toolboxes fitted behind the seats – one on each side – with the passenger side toolbox also accessible from outside. Oh, and there are also six cup holders – yep, six – plus room for a large bottle in each side door pocket. I guess if you're stuck on site all day, at least you'll have plenty of room for all your empty coffee cups.

In the seat

Even with the lowest cab available, the extra ground clearance of the 3243 8x4 means it's a four-step journey from the ground to the floor of the cab. It's an easy task though, with good grab handles and plenty of grip on the steps to keep things safe.

I had plenty of practise climbing in and out during our photo shoot, probably as many times as most local drivers would do in one day, and I found it to be as easy at the end of the day as it was in the morning – even with a coffee in one hand.

Once you're in the seat, the comfort level is really very good. The numerous adjustments available in the seat and steering wheel make it easy to find the right driving position, and all controls are within easy reach for the driver.

Vision is excellent, with electrically adjusted main and spotter mirrors on either side, along with downward mirrors above the door on the passenger side and on the front left-hand corner of the cab, above the windscreen.

This means the driver has a great view of the front and down each side of the truck. Forward vision is also good, with a big single-piece windscreen and low-set dash. Our test unit also had a rear window, though the headboard of the tray meant it was only good for letting extra light into the cab.

Noise levels within the cab were low, as you would expect from a European truck, but having the engine tunnel in the floor certainly adds to the volume. This engine is pretty quiet anyway, even from outside the truck, so the cab is still much quieter than many of its rivals.

The drive

Those who have driven a twin-steer truck will know the enjoyment you get from watching the front wheels in the spotter mirror. In a lot of cases, turning the four front wheels requires a bit of effort, but the steering setup on the 3243 8x4 made for light but predictable cornering at any speed.

While it would seem to take a couple of turns more from lock to lock over the prime movers, the big truck easily negotiated roundabouts, tight left-hand turns and various suburban streets.

Loaded to around 25t, the 3243 8x4 was fairly nimble off the lights, and provided smooth acceleration through skip shifting and using the exhaust brake to enable faster gear changes. As mentioned earlier, the EcoRoll function meant that, once up to speed, the truck spent a lot of time coasting at idle revs. The trick with this is to be light on the foot, and lift off the pedal when you no longer need to accelerate, letting the weight and momentum do all the work.

One area where the 8x4 did disappoint a little was the ride quality. Our test unit wasn’t fitted with load-sharing suspension up front, so every pothole and rut was felt with full force twice. With leaf springs on each individual steer axle, the ride was good on a smooth freeway surface, but far from it on the country backroads.

The leverage of the rear steer axle was really felt from the driver's seat, with the front of the truck kicking up into the air over uneven surfaces. This was especially disconcerting on the 100km/h back roads (main roads, but not freeways), where it also had a negative effect on directional control.

Load sharing suspension will be on the options list sometime in the near future, and we look forward to seeing what difference it makes to the ride and handling.

Overall, the 3243 8x4 provides a good basis for many vocational roles or, as we found, the general pick-up and delivery role. With a broad range of suitable applications, and the benefit of extra payload over a 6x2 rigid, the Actros 3243 8x4 should do well alongside its brothers in the prime mover range.

2017 Mercedes Benz 3243 8x4 specifications:

GVM/GCM: 32,000kg/55,000kg

Engine: 10.7-litre OM470 Euro6 in-line six cylinder rated at 428hp/2100Nm

Transmission: 12-speed Powershift automated manual transmission.

Cab: Actros Classic Space M day cab

Front suspension: Three-leaf spring suspension on both front axles (non-load sharing), 2 x 6300kg rating.

Rear suspension: Electronically controlled airbag suspension with remote raise/lower control, 2 x 10,000kg rating