Mercedes-Benz Actros Euro-6 truck review

It isn’t that Mercedes-Benz is incapable of blowing its own trumpet, it just prefers to introduce technical improvements when they are ready rather than wait to launch them with great fanfare. As a result, we’ve been chasing our tails when it comes to getting a Euro-6 Actros for a road test. Every time one has been allocated, by the time it has had some mileage added, it has been superseded by the next round of changes. This has been all the more frustrating given the positive feedback from operators since Euro-6 arrived.

However, Mercedes has now provided a truck to tackle CM’s Scottish test route. The truck in this review is an Mercedes-Benz Actros 2545 6x2, with a full-width (2,500mm) StreamSpace cab. Intended as the optimal cab for aerodynamics, this is one below the flagship GigaSpace, having the same flat floor but a rather lower roof height. The Mercedes Actros cab line-up has something for just about everyone. There are five basic shapes, with various permutations of cab width and floor shape giving, we think, 11 different variants.

Despite having only 3,300km on the clock at the start of the two-day journey, our Actros still wasn’t the very latest spec. For example, it missed out on one of the more intriguing parts of the new Fuel Efficiency Package 2, the Active Lubrication system on the rear axle, which only entered series production in the past few weeks. The other significant omission from the latest specification is the option of the Sideguard Assist, which detects and avoids collisions with objects along the side of the vehicle but is not yet available on right-hand-drive vehicles.

Actros 2545 engine power and torque

Already in its second generation, the OM470 is the newest option in the Daimler heavy-duty engine portfolio, launched in 2016. It replaces the 10.7-litre OM457 engine, which proved a solid performer from 2003. Although the new unit shares the same capacity, it is an entirely different animal, not least in terms of its 60kg weight saving. It is effectively a smaller version of the 12.8-litre OM471, the core European element of Daimler’s global engine platform. Depending on spec, the OM470 is 150kg to 200kg lighter than the OM471. As well as these two, for more specific applications, the Actros is available with the 7.7-litre OM936 and 15.6-litre OM473 engines, the latter available with up to 617hp.

The in-line 6-cylinder engine incorporates four valves per cylinder and the in-house X-Pulse common-rail high-pressure fuel injection system with an injection pressure of up to 2,700 bar. Euro-6 emissions are via the now commonplace threesome of cooled EGR, AdBlue SCR treatment and a diesel particulate filter. At a true Imperial 449hp, the example under review here is the highest of the five available ratings of the OM470, starting at 322hp, and develops 2,200Nm of torque at 1,100rpm. In 12th gear, this rises by an extra 200Nm courtesy of the Top Torque feature.

The transmission is the third generation of Mercedes’ PowerShift automated manual, which has gained detail changes to improve mechanical efficiency. It is controlled by software options described in more detail below.

Mercedes-Benz cab interior  

The floor height on a flat-floor Mercedes-Benz Actros is at average eye level, so the four-step climb is a challenge with an armful of luggage, but the steps are reasonably user friendly. Once aboard, the StreamSpace cab has 1,970mm of headroom between the seats, 160mm less than the flagship GigaSpace, but that is still almost enough for a 6ft-plus driver to change his boxers without bumping his head. Given its aerodynamic benefits, it seems to be the ideal choice for UK domestic single-driver fleet operations.

The only real downside to the cab interior compared with the GigaSpace is less storage space, notably the loss of the high-level lockers. However, the StreamSpace still has a pair of shallow one-third width trays above the windscreen and a full-width lid covering three smaller internally illuminated lockers above those. The storage bins under the ends of the bunk have external access, while between them are two pull-out drawers-cum-tables, one of which houses the fridge. Among other handy touches are bins at each end of the bunk and above the doors, a pull-out passenger dash table and a towel rail on the roof, while the doors have large pockets with adequate room for large drink bottles.

The Actros 2545 comes with the Style Line trim level, which includes various chrome and leather details in the cab, fog lamps with LED daytime running lights and the crucial illuminated Mercedes star.

StreamSpace comfort

The Actros cab is in two clearly delineated areas, the work area, with black trim contrasting with the beige rest areas. Unusually, this cab is fitted with different seats: the driver has a fully specced leather item with diamond quilted stitching. It is amazing how quickly features you never imagined you would need become almost essential once you have experienced them, and this driving seat’s massage function is one. While doing a great job of destressing the lower and middle back, it doesn’t quite reach where it is really needed, the tester’s stiff neck. The passenger seat is more basic, featuring cloth trim.

The large mirrors give good visibility through but not past, with a big blind spot that requires you to move your head noticeably. They are so big that the yellow guard on the front of the driver’s mirror reminds us of the lid of an AA sidecar. The mirrors include a useful nearside manoeuvring mode, which allows you to temporarily point the wide-angle mirror towards the blindside trailer corner and automatically resets afterwards. A noticeable aspect of the StreamSpace specification is the absence of the external sun visor, but even over two sunny days, it isn’t missed. Inside, the sun visors are easily operated electric roller blinds at the front and a manual roller blind on the driver’s door.

Mercedes-Benz infotainment system

Our review Actros has the basic offering of a radio/CD with auxiliary and Bluetooth functions, with a large mono screen, but the comprehensive trip computer has a high-res full colour display. The top edge of the driver’s door panel includes switches for mirrors, central locking and window lifts, while the corresponding panel on the opposite controls windows and interior lights. One unusual addition to the dash is the MB Uptime button, which gives access to the central control room in Maastricht in the event of a problem (CM 22 July) [ADD LINK].

If Mercedes-Benz was waiting for a good time to carry out the review of the Actros 2545, the gamble worked. Apart from the long-term roadworks on the M6, traffic and weather conditions are pretty much ideal, which is some compensation for the unusually low number on the odometer.

Actros in-cab technology

Although the test truck is to a relatively sensible fleet spec, with little in the way of fripperies, it wants for little when it comes to safety. As prominently proclaimed across the front of the cab, the Actros features a high level of technology including the latest ABA4 (Advanced Brake Assist), which features Mercedes’ current trump card, the pedestrian detection system.

Gears are selected on the right-hand stalk with the usual D, N, R positions, with a push up or down for manual override. Pulling back operates the engine brake, with a push button on the end forcing downshifts to increase the retardation. The left-hand stalk controls the wipers and the usual lighting functions. Most of the other tasks required on the move are controlled from the steering wheel.

Gone are the days when cruise control just had a go at maintaining a set speed. Today, it looks for other traffic and talks to satellites. You still have to set your desired speed, but the proximity control will stop you running into the back of slower traffic ahead. We find it useful to have the Favourite button set to display the digital speed readout, so you don’t miss the fact you are slowing imperceptibly behind a slightly slower vehicle. If you want to revert to conventional cruise, it is just one button press away.

Mercedes Predictive Powertrain Control

The other element of the system is Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), the bit that talks to the eye in the sky in collaboration with the PowerShift 3 software package specified. Three programmes are available, Fleet, Economy or Power, specified at time of purchase, and these have four driving modes between them.

Our review truck has the Economy programme, and for this review it is used exclusively in the Eco mode. The main function is to limit road speed to a maximum 85km/h, the speed at which we have been running our truck tests for a number of years. Cruise control is soft, prioritising economy over performance. Also, kickdown is disabled and there’s no ability to switch off EcoRoll. The Standard mode reverses these two features; cruise control is hard and the limiter is set to 89.8km/h, while the third mode is Manual. The Power programme swaps Eco mode for Power, and the only mode in the Fleet programme is Eco.

Key to getting the most out of PPC is setting the parameters, set and controlled by the right thumb. For reviews, they are fixed to plus or minus 3km/h, which is recommended for a full-load operation. For part-load operations, the underspeed is recommended to be set to 10km/h. The PPC symbol on the Mercedes-Benz Actros dashboard is white when it is activated and green when it is intervening. It is used most of the time except in urban situations where maximum control is required.

The seemingly laid-back driving style requires a different mindset. Operators wanting to get the best out of the Actros must be prepared to educate and incentivise drivers to adapt to the style.

The Top Torque feature’s extra 200Nm in top gear allows it to delay that first downshift. Keeping a close eye on the revs, the lowest engine speed we record in top gear is 830rpm, from which it recovers effectively. Like most modern transmissions, the benefits of manual control are diminishing rapidly.

Ride and handling

The excellent handling plays a good part in helping to maintain fuel efficient momentum, as the ride is firm but well damped. There is negligible cab roll for such a big cab, although it bounces a bit when coming to a standstill. Service brakes and steering do everything expected of them, although the three-stage engine brake is no more than adequate. For tougher terrain operation, the high-performance engine brake is available if needed, as is the water-based retarder. The park brake is controlled by a traditional lever on the dash.

Fuel consumption

While much of the capability of the Actros 2545 was already known to us, the big question was whether its fuel economy matched Mercedes’ claims and the positive anecdotal operator feedback. There are a couple of factors to remember to put the fuel result in perspective. On one hand, conditions were ideal, but on the other, this was the least run-in truck we can recall testing. The good news is that the overall figure of 8.65mpg from our Mercedes-Benz Actros 2545 is the best we’ve obtained from a Euro-6 tractor, pipping the previous closely matched leaders from Daf and Scania by half a mile per gallon. Even more surprisingly, despite the apparently leisurely driving experience, the average speed is only overshadowed by the Volvo FH16 750.

With nothing significant on the debit side of the balance sheet, apart from the challenge of getting the driver onside, those operators who took a gamble on buying a Euro-6 Actros without reading a CM review can finally sleep soundly.

REVIEW VERDICT: 87%

Since the first Mercedes-Benz Actros was launched in 1995, it has been at the vanguard of technical innovation. Those early examples were arguably a bit too far ahead, with the real-world implementation of the technology not quite able to keep up. While the roads of Europe weren’t actually littered with broken trucks, there were enough issues that it took some years for the perception to be shaken off.

Happily, that’s well in the past and the modern offering has no more reliability problems than the competition. However, machines being machines, things can still go wrong, but when something on the latest Actros threatens to go wrong, the MB Uptime system should know far enough in advance to prevent it resulting in a roadside failure.

Images: Tom Cunningham