Iveco X-Way review in rigorous quarry test

The words emblazoned over the entrance to the reception read “Treat It Bad”, and at a muddy quarry in Rutland, that’s exactly what we did. Not out of malice, nor contempt for our chosen weapon of choice, the Iveco X-Way, but because it’s more than capable of enduring it.

The X-Way comes in three flavours, designed to suit your off-roading needs. Each gets a different level of ground clearance and chassis protection. There’s the standard ON version with 207mm of ground clearance, suitable for a quick trip down a gravel track and some light obstacles with its 12-degree front approach angle. It gets under-run protection, and some toughened up corners on the front bumper, but it’s a hybrid vehicle for the road and the rough stuff. Next comes ON+, which as the name might suggest, builds upon the off-road abilities of the ON with an additional 74mm in ground clearance and 2 degrees more on the approach angle. The most significant development, though, is that there’s a beefier bumper, making it more suitable for a vehicle that spends a good deal of time on-site, where rocks and other hazards risk damaging the X-Way’s chiselled jaw.

The most off-road focused version is the OFF variant, where the approach angle jumps to a massive 28 degrees and ground clearance is increased to 511mm. Additionally there’s a front skid plate, and to help you overcome what would be a mammoth first step into the cab, there’s a flexible lower step that should cope with some bangs and snags. 

Unsurprisingly, our test vehicle is of the OFF variety, and while it looks like a high and mighty vehicle to be in, it’s also apparent that the X-Way is an evolution of the changing face and fortunes of Iveco.

It shares many of the driveline components with the S-Way, and there’s a degree of familiarity both inside and out. The S-Way has been winning over operators and drivers alike, and this push from Iveco UK is very much with that in mind.

That’s why X-Ways are now available for fast delivery with bodies from well-known names in the sector, not least market leader Thompsons, whose steel body sat on the chassis of our X-Way 8x4 Iveco tipper.

Extended warranties of up to four years are also being offered to entice customers to the model, and the ready-bodied range will expand to include hook-loaders and skip-loaders, while Thompsons is also building 8x4 tipper grabs.

The range includes rigids and tractors, with gross vehicle weights of up to 150 tonnes. Tractor units come with 4x2, 4x4 and 6x4 drivelines, while rigids are available with 2, 3 or 4 axles. A 6x2 tractor is not something Iveco intends to sell in the UK, largely due to its wheelbase length. The rigids, however, include a 6x2, as well as rear-steer 8x2, and an 8x4 in tridem configuration.

Power for the range is from the usual line-up of Cursor engines with 9-, 11- and 13-litre options. These develop between 340hp and 570hp. Transmissions include the ZF-made Hi-Tronix, which is fitted as standard, but a fully automatic Allison 6-speed with torque converter and a manual ZF Ecosplit 16-speed gearbox are optional on the X-Way. There are also a wide range of gearbox and engine PTOs available.

Maximum payload is often the focus of the tipper sector, so it’s little surprise that our test vehicle has the most popular 11-litre engine. There are three engine outputs of 420hp, 460hp and 480hp and it’s a truck with the first of the three power ratings that we find ourselves walking towards in an exceptionally muddy but relatively water-free quarry. The thick brown mud can already be seen compacted into the tread of the tyres of the X-Way, which sits atop a hill overlooking the obstacle course below.

The first step up into the cab is on the flexible, folding step, added to help overcome the enormous, raised profile of the OFF chassis, but it’s an easy ascent, with well-placed steps and grab handle. Once inside, it’s immediately apparent that the X-Way shares a good deal of its layout and content with the S-Way.

The dash is familiar, with a flat-bottomed, multifunction steering wheel to control the infotainment system. Iveco has now incorporated its Amazon Alexa-based Iveco Driver Pal voicerecognition system into the X-Way, allowing it to be more connected. There’s plenty of space on the dash for control switches, with an abundance of blanks both near the driver and below the infotainment touchscreen. Drive, neutral and reverse controls for the Hi-Tronix transmission can be found prominently on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, with the start button and key fob hole nearby.

With a press of the start button, the Cursor engine comes to life. For such a high seating position, visibility is good, but the X-Way in its OFF format is definitely more suited to wide-open spaces than anything more urban. Selecting Auto with the central diff-locks engaged, we gently edge forward through the mud with no problems, then down a small incline and across the quarry base to get a partial load from the man with the shovel. After taking on board around 15 tonnes (well below the 19 tonnes achievable with a Thompsons steel body) we make our way around the course – the central part of which shows all the signs of days of bad weather, with a deep pool of water urging us in like a siren’s call.

Avoiding the water hazard for the time being, we engage the cross-axle locks to climb a bumpy slope at a steady pace. Deep ruts up the slope mean that the full range of the leaf suspension’s travel is being tested, but the X-Way shrugs it off with ease. The 420 engine also shows itself to be a strong ally in these conditions. The 2,000Nm of torque arriving at around 850rpm is enough to coax us up and over the obstacles without drama. In fact, the use of the differentials is probably unwarranted as the combination of automated transmission and faster off-road gearshift software keeps the unit moving at all times. Then it is on to some steep descents, where trying to hold the vehicle back with the engine proves unsuccessful at such weights. The engine speed rises rapidly, and we are forced to use the footbrake to slow the descent.

More inclines and drops follow, all of which the X-Way handles with aplomb. It even manages to be exceptionally manoeuvrable without the axles locked, negotiating some tight turns and traversing the course with minimal effort. Gear changes are fast and we never once feel a burning need for more power from the Cursor 11 engine.

Next comes the watery depths of the quarry’s middle – a boggy lake, ready to swallow an X-Way whole, or at least do serious damage to its electrical bits. But the fleet of Ivecos trash their way through the water without problem. The results (for photography purposes only, you’ll understand) speak for themselves and our conclusion from spending an afternoon in the mud is that the X-Way, like the S-Way, is more than a match for the competition. In fact, the X-Way, with its OFF ground clearance, is among the most competent In the cab: The dash has a multifunction steering wheel to control the infotainment system 8x4s on the market.