Driven: the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2663

Introducing the Actros

First released internationally in 1996, the Mercedes-Benz Actros is produced by the grand dame of trucking, namely Daimler Trucks & Buses. One of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, the company has more than 35 primary locations around the world and around 100 000 employees. Over 1.2 million units of the Actros have been sold around the world since launch.

While the truck hails from Germany, vehicles sold in this country are produced in South Africa at the East London plant belonging to Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa.

The truck in a nutshell

The Actros that we drove is the very latest in the Mercedes-Benz range (we make this point because transport operators often have to wait for the very latest trucks to come to this market). The world premiere for the new Actros took place in Berlin in September 2018, when commercial vehicle journalists from around the world saw the vehicle for the first time. This was followed by the public reveal at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover later that month. We drove the vehicle for the first time in Barcelona in 2019 and, later that year at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, it was named the 2020 International Truck of the Year. The Actros was subsequently launched in South Africa in the middle of 2020.

Exterior

Actros buyers are spoilt for choice. There are seven cab variants in two widths, with three roof shapes (ClassicSpace, StreamSpace and GigaSpace). Our test truck was equipped with a GigaSpace cab, which boasts a considerable 2.13 m floor-to-ceiling height between the seats. There are four well-placed steps into the cab. They are functional for drivers of all heights (even a “vertically challenged” driver would not battle to enter the vehicle).

Interior

I love the interior of the Actros. It is clean, elegant (it would not look out of place in one of the brand’s ever-so-posh passenger cars) and also very user friendly. Our test truck featured a StyleLine interior – so it had lots of chrome inserts and trim. It also featured a marvellous leather quilted driver’s seat, which looked as though it would be right at home in a Rolls-Royce or Bentley.

There’s a start/stop button that is used to fire up the engine and an electronic handbrake (conveniently situated on the dash, so you can easily walk through the cab without being obstructed).

The most significant interior feature (yes it’s an exterior feature too of course, but drivers use it when they’re inside the cab) is the MirrorCam – the well-publicised camera system that replaces the exterior mirrors. The system works entirely with digital cameras and displays – and I think it’s great because it provides a considerably improved all-round view and the omission of mirrors also reduces fuel consumption, as the compact digital cameras bring considerable aerodynamic advantages.

The cameras are attached to the right and left of the roof frame. The images captured are displayed on two 15-inch displays with a resolution of 720 x 1920 pixels. These are attached to the A-pillars inside the cab. One result of this is that the driver now has a good, diagonal view past the A-pillars, which enlarges the field of view. Furthermore, the coated lens provides optimal protection against dirt in the field of vision.

When you first start using the MirrorCam, it does take a little bit of getting used to. But, honestly speaking, you get the hang of it within 10 to 15 minutes – and you’ll never want to go back to conventional mirrors again.

Another interior feature that warrants a mention is the new Multimedia Cockpit. The heart of this system is two 10-inch colour displays, which replace the conventional instrument cluster with its speedometer, rev counter and fuel gauge. The primary display is found behind the steering wheel and this is where a driver can find all the basic information relevant to driving. The second flat-screen monitor (which has a touchscreen function) controls things like light, heating, air conditioning or the telephone. It can also display the vehicle status, such as tyre pressures or axle loads.

What I also like about the Multimedia Cockpit is the fact that pretty much all the displays (both on the primary and secondary screens) can be controlled via the new multifunction steering wheel with its touch control pads (also known as finger navigation pads). When the driver swipes and presses the touch control buttons, he or she can operate both screens safely, even while driving – because you never need to take your eyes off the road.

Drivetrain

Daimler is offering a selection of Euro 3 and Euro 5 engines on the new Actros. Up for grabs are the Euro 3 OM460 engine (360, 400 and 450 hp); the Euro 5 OM471 engine (420 and 450 hp); the Euro 3/5 OM473 engine (520 and 580 hp); and the Euro 5 OM473 (630 hp).

We were treated to the spectacular 630 hp motor, which boasts maximum torque of 3000 Nm. This in-line six-cylinder engine from Mercedes-Benz – which has a capacity of 15.6 l – does a great job at all speeds. Just above idle speed, approximately 2500 Nm is available at a mere 800 r/min. That is a higher torque than the maximum torque achieved by many engines in heavy trucks.

The highest torque is available at 1100 r/min. In reality, nearly the entire pulling power is available over a wide range from roughly 900 to 1400 r/min. Immediately thereafter, the engine reaches its peak performance. This characteristic produces excellent driveability over an extremely wide engine speed range.

The OM473 is known to be both a fuel-efficient and durable powertrain. However, the fact that the new Actros comes with Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) means that it sips diesel even more frugally than ever before. PPC uses digital 3D road maps and GPS information to generate an electronic horizon which is employed to optimise shift points, gear selection and speed. In this way, a driving style adapted to the given topography (which will generally be beyond the capabilities even of experienced drivers) is achieved. A claimed fuel saving of up to 5% results.

Transmission

The transmissions in the new Actros are unchanged – they’re the same as in the Actros 4. This is a good thing – because the 12-speed Powershift transmission does a superb job; it skips through gears very nimbly to bring the truck up to speed; you scarcely notice the gear changes.

Safety

The big news when it comes to safety is the incorporation of Active Brake Assist 5 – which is seriously good news for pedestrians (because it protects them like never before). If Active Brake Assist 5 detects the threat of a rear-end collision with a vehicle in front, with a stationary obstacle or a pedestrian who is crossing in front, coming towards the vehicle or in the same lane, a three-stage warning system makes the driver aware of the threat. First, there’s a visual and audible warning. After this, brake application of approximately 3 m/s is initiated, corresponding to around 50% of the maximum braking power. If the driver still hasn't responded, the system initiates maximum braking power – if necessary to a standstill – and activates the hazard warning lights at speeds below 50 km/h to warn the traffic behind.

The Actros also has lots of other “normal” safety features, including Stability Control Assist ( ESP), Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist, Proximity Control Assist with stop-and-go function,  an electronic parking brake with HOLD function and Roll Control Assist . The new MirrorCam is also an important safety feature.

Verdict

The price of the truck we tested is R 3041 000 and it comes with a one-year unlimited warranty for the complete vehicle and a five-year/650 000 km driveline warranty.  We can highly recommend this vehicle; it is a no-risk purchase, which is further reinforced by high residual values. Furthermore, the truck’s longevity is legendary while the Mercedes-Benz dealers also do a very good job.