Rod Chapman•31 Jan 2018

REVIEW

2018 Mercedes-Benz 2653: Review

Name: 2018 Mercedes-Benz 2653: Review
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

Fully loaded from Melbourne to Wagga, this next-gen 'Benz proves its worth in terms of comfort, capability and economy…

The new generation of Mercedes-Benz trucks have been rolling Aussie roads for a couple of years now, and positive feedback from operators and drivers alike is spreading. Parent company Daimler has invested heavily in ensuring the fresh line-up is fit for purpose in this, one of the world's toughest truck markets, in what amounts to the brand's biggest product push in years.

Here at Trucksales, we've been mightily impressed with all of the new 'Benz trucks we've driven so far, from the pre-production Actros 2651 evaluation rig we drove in May of 2015, to the heavy-haulage Arocs (as it was then known) we drove later that year, to the production prime movers and rigids we've driven in the last 18 months.

More recently, we were asked if we could assist Mercedes-Benz in helping out the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners – selfless truckies who donate their own time and trucks to haul hay from Darlington Point, in the NSW Riverina, to Cunnamulla in south-western Queensland, delivering vital feed supplies to drought-stricken farmers along the way.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia was loaning a new 2653 to the Hartwigs dealership in Wagga Wagga so it could take part in the latest run, and Trucksales had the opportunity to drive the rig from Daimler HQ in Melbourne up to Wagga.

Helping hand

The truck was hooked up to a Vawdrey curtain-sider loaded with concrete so we could accurately assess the rig's performance. That meant a fully loaded running weight of 42 tonne, while the tautliner would be swapped for a flat-deck trailer at Hartwigs before heading up to Darlington Point to join the rest of the Burrumbuttock convoy.

It's a relatively short hop from Melbourne to Wagga – under 500 kilometres – but it does provide a good range of driving, from tighter metropolitan roads through to busy city arterials, motorways and, eventually, the open highway.

This particular truck is ready up for B-double work and has a GCM of 70 tonne. A single trailer was never going to stretch its performance, but with regular stopping and starting for photos its fuel economy would still be put to the test.

Powering our test vehicle is 'Benz's OM471 engine – a straight-six turbo-diesel with a rating of 530hp (or 390kW) and a very handy 2600Nm. Incidentally, for those unfamiliar with the Mercedes-Benz nomenclature, the 2653 refers to this prime mover's GVM (26 tonne) and power output (530hp). The old 'Actros' tag has been dumped by Mercedes-Benz in this country, the firm now referring to its models by purely relying on the four-digit number.

Our test truck's engine is a Euro6 unit that relies on a high-tech combination of EGR, SCR and a DPF to achieve emissions compliance. There might be no word here yet on when Euro6 (or ADR 80/04) will become mandatory, but operators can still reap the benefits of the significant fuel savings this powerplant represents – fuel burn is "considerably less" compared to the Euro5 equivalent, says 'Benz, although Euro5 engines are still the mainstay of the local offering.

Urge is delivered via 'Benz's proprietary12-speed PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission, which is said to shift with greater speed and precision than its predecessors. Its various functions are accessed by the right-hand stalk on the steering column – flick the lever to D for drive, R for reverse or N for neutral, or use the button on the end of the stalk to cycle through manual, auto or power modes (the latter raising shift points for more grunt, albeit at the expense of economy).

Of course, we're talking a 6x4 format here with the two rear 440 hypoid axles featuring a power divider and cross locks, while a crawler mode smooths progress in tighter confines.

This particular truck boasts the brand's L-Cab StreamSpace cabin which, at 2500mm wide and with a flat floor, is the largest of the three-strong cab line-up.

Tech and telematics

Upon arriving at Daimler HQ in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, we met with Noel Griffiths, who heads up Mercedes-Benz Trucks' driver training and telematics programs. He gave us a run-through of the truck's many functions and systems, and provided a snapshot of the locally developed telematics setup that allows operators to unlock greater levels of efficiency.

Known simply as 'Mercedes-Benz Telematics', every new truck is fitted with this technology – it's just a matter of whether or not an operator wants it switched on. Once it is, drivers simply log on at the start of each drive, either by swiping a fob over an electronic receiver in the cab or via the Mercedes-Benz Trucks 'Driver' smartphone app. Once logged in, the operator and/or driver can dial up a wide range of info, including fuel economy, instances of over-revving, harsh braking or acceleration, idle time, speed infractions and more.

'Benz says it's more of a 'carrot' to encourage safe and economical driving practices than a 'stick' to punish wayward drivers but, either way, in the modern transport age a driver's skills are all on show – and that's something that isn't going to change.

After swiping on, our first task was negotiating a three-point reverse turn to exit the 'Benz carpark – possible only after backing the trailer down a narrow corridor between two parked rows of high-end Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. No pressure, then!

It did at least highlight the truck's crawler mode and the general manoeuvrability of a cab-over design like this 2653 – in a bonneted truck both I and Daimler's insurance policy would have really been sweating!

That challenge duly dispensed with, the 2653 also made light work of exiting the surrounding industrial estate and joining the Monash Freeway, where the morning crush was still in full swing. Here the truck amply demonstrated yet another of its smart driver-assist features, namely radar (or adaptive) cruise control.

Simply set your desired speed and the distance at which you wish to follow the vehicle in front, and the truck's radar system maintains that distance up to that set maximum speed. The car or truck in front slows down, you slow down – all the way to a stop, if necessary.

It takes a little while to learn to trust it, but once you do it really takes a heap of the strain out of driving – both on crowded motorways and on the open road. The speed limiter, meanwhile, is very handy for keeping fines at bay when a moment's lapse in concentration could land you right in it. Like when passing through road works, for example.

And all the while the latest generation of the truck's Active Brake Assist is keeping a watchful eye over the traffic in front. Generically known as autonomous emergency braking, the truck senses any potential impending collision and alerts the driver via audible and visual alerts. If the driver takes no action, the system then applies the brakes itself – if not avoiding a collision entirely then at least mitigating the force of the impact, reducing any resulting damage and/or injury.

It's a superb safety system that will most likely become mandatory in new trucks in coming years, and one that will save lives and untold expense in the process.

Easy running

And the drive itself? So, so easy. For the entire trip the engine never felt like it was straining, and only on some of the extended climbs over the hills on the lower Hume did the truck drop from 12th to 11th gear, still while maintaining a steady 75km/h.

At 100km/h on the flat it's pulling 1400rpm, still within the green 'eco' band that extends from 1000rpm to 1500rpm, and the AMT changes smoothly and cleanly.

It's an intelligent transmission that adapts to a driver's driving style and the prevailing conditions, and Noel says only the best of the best drivers can equal the truck's fuel economy when in manual mode. That's equal, not better, mind you – so really it's best to leave the truck in auto mode and let it do its thing.

There's certainly no shortage of grunt, as you'd expect in a B-double-rated truck, with the 2653 taking off from a standing start with plenty of gusto, before skip-shifting its way from second to fifth, eighth, 11th and finally 12th.

On the road, the truck's EcoRoll feature kicks in regularly to further lower the fuel burn. Also known as 'angel gear', essentially this sees the transmission disengage to allow the truck to coast when conditions are right. Like gear changes in general, it's all pretty seamless – largely it's only the appearance of the 'E' on the dash that alerts you that EcoRoll is in play.

There's a three-stage Jake brake to help slow the show, and although the effectiveness of the first two stages are negligible the third does provide useful braking force. This is on top of the highly effective all-disc service brakes, which offer plenty of power and good feel at the pedal.

Luxury living

As for comfort, this largest 'Benz cab has much to offer. It's a long way up, with four steps to get you in and behind the wheel, but once there it's easy to find that 'just right' drive position. The updated air suspension driver's seat has all the usual adjustment and good lumbar support, and there's a dedicated dead pedal for an idle left foot and plenty of room either side of the steering column.

The steering wheel also offers air adjustment and the flat floor means it's easy to move around in the cab. The aerodynamic roof slopes forward but even I, at 188cm tall (6ft 2in in the old money), could stand up without bumping my head on the overhead hatch.

Behind the seating, the bunk has a locally sourced innerspring mattress that makes full use of the cab's 2500mm width. Now it's still some way off the size of some non-Euro sleepers, but it's comfy enough and can be optioned up with a top bunk if required.

All-round vision is top notch, thanks to the towering cab, the narrow A-pillars, and the phalanx of effective mirrors. The front nearside mirror is particularly good, giving the driver a wrap-around view that extends around the kerbside corner of the truck to all but eliminate this notorious blind spot.

Lane departure warning was on hand to sound an audible alert if the truck strays over lane markings. It's another worthy feature, but it can be switched off if desired – handy on narrower metro roads, for example.

From behind the wheel, everything is right where you need it. The dash wraps around the driver to ensure everything is in close reach, and there's good storage available from the slide-out central drawer to the overhead lockers, the large bin under the bunk, and the various non-slip trays.

There's also a variety of cup and bottle holders and the large fridge drawer slides out right next to the driver. It was no bother to fish out an icy-cold bottle of water on the run, although the air-conditioning was doing a thoroughly commendable job on a searing 40-degree day.

The stereo system produces decent sound and this is helped further by the subdued noise levels in the cab. There's a bit of wind noise and the big six beneath you makes its presence known under acceleration, but it's really impressively quiet.

The multimedia system with touchscreen is easy to use and has all the usual options – regular AM/FM radio, DAB digital radio, MP3 input and more. There's Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones and it accepts voice commands – yet another great safety feature to ensure eyes stay on the road.

Factory satellite navigation is an option and one that wasn't fitted to our test truck, not that that was of much consequence on our brief run north to NSW.

Thoughtful design

Perhaps the biggest theme that underpins the entire 'Benz truck driving experience is convenience. The truck's many designers and engineers have packaged together a vast array of functions and features, but they're all so easy to access and use.

The instruments look classy and they're clear and legible, and the central TFT display offers up a wealth of information via a very intuitive menu system. Given the sheer number of features on offer, it really is impressive how quickly you can acclimatise to it all – and the same or very similar setups are employed across the entire Mercedes-Benz truck family.

There's not even any need to lift the front hood to check fluid levels – it can all be done via the instrumentation in the cab. It's all about making life for the driver as easy as possible, and it's clear Mercedes-Benz has done its homework. Actually, with the brand's range of R&M contracts, and its Agility guaranteed-price buy-back scheme, Mercedes-Benz is doing all it can to make life easy for operators too…

While the Hume Highway posed no issues for the truck's suspension, the eight rear airbags certainly took the sting out of the bumps and potholes of the Olympic, as we pushed further north to Wagga. Add in the cab's suspension and the air-suspension driver's seat, and life behind the wheel is in stark contrast with the bone-shakers of not so long ago.

By the time Hartwigs rolled into view that afternoon, I was still feeling fresh and ready for more – I could have happily stayed on to take part in the Burrumbuttock Hay Run itself, which was kicking off on Australia Day.

The post-drive telematics report showed a fuel burn of 213 litres for the entire 481-kilometre trip. That's 2.3 kilometres per litre, which certainly isn't bad given the stop-start nature of the trip (giving an average speed of 64km/h) and the full load.

Summing up

Life in the Mercedes-Benz 2653 is good – very good. It's comfy, it's capable, it's quiet and above all else it's very, very clever. If the feedback garnered thus far from drivers and operators is anything to go by, we're going to see this new breed of Mercedes-Benz truck rolling our vast land in increasing numbers.

Only time will tell how they stand up to the rigours of our roads in the long term, but with the efforts Mercedes-Benz is making to support both its product and its customer base, we'd have to say the brand's future Down Under is looking brighter than ever.

2018 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2653 specifications:

Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM471 12.8-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel

Output: 530hp/2600Nm

Emissions: Euro6 (EGR, SCR and DPF)

Transmission: Mercedes-Benz Powershift 3 AMT

GVM: 26,000kg

GCM: 70,000kg

Drive: 6x4

Permissible axle limits: 7100kg (front) and 10,000kg (rear x2)

Front suspension: Parabolic three-leaf springs

Rear suspension: 8 x airbags

Wheelbase: 3250mm

Axle ratio: 2.733

Fuel capacity: 1100 litres

AdBlue capacity: 110 litres

Cab: L-Cab StreamSpace

Safety: ECE R29 cab, EBS with ABS and traction control, stability control, hill hold assist, driver's airbag, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, autonomous emergency braking

2018 Mercedes-Benz 2653: Review

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