MERCEDES-BENZ 1831LS (4x2) CM test published 3-9 September.
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Power: 230kW (308hp).
Average fuel consumption: 40.41it/100km (7.01mpg).
Average speed: 68.5km/h (42.6mph). Payload as tested: 24.5 tonnes.
ni After the Scania and the Renault it made a change to get back into the realms of sensible power. That's exactly what the 1831LS offered: it's a practical 32/38-tonner more likely to please the man that pays the bills than the man behind the wheel.
In the past we've been hard on Mercs for their high kerbweight, but the adoption of the latest green LEV (low emission vehicle) vee-six in the 1831 has gone a long way towards laying that complaint to rest.
It was lighter than either the MAN 17.322 or the Volvo FL10.
Unfortunately the 9.57-litre vee is not the most economical engine around. Once again strong winds during the test didn't help, but the MAN and ERF E10-325 were well ahead of it.
When it comes to get-up-and-go the 1831 also loses out in the power stakes, although our tester noted "...the good torque spread tends to mask its comparitive lack of grunt and we were impressed by the way it dug in on long motorway climbs." We also liked the new optional constant throttle exhaust brake which was a marked improvement on the old exhaust brake. The main service brakes were described as "adequate...but the pedal felt spongey and needed a reasonable shove before anything happened."
The long-serving but well finished Mercedes cab has a well laid out practical interior which should appeal to fleet buyers, What it doesn't offer is the kind of space or luxury found in more modern rivals. We weren't too sure about the single multi-function control switch but we couldn't fault the mirrors or the ride.