Road Tests: Mercedes-Benz Actros 2543LS

Mercedes is to be congratulated on making a silk purse out of - well, what was actually not too bad a truck in the beginning. The long Distance Actros may still not shout out fleet appeal, but it represents a logical buy at a very attractive price. Get over the quirky gearchange - whatever they say, it's not the easiest shift to master - and you'll be rewarded with a refined, comfortable, effort-free drive. And there's the excellent warranty and low maintenance costs to keep you going. Fuel consumption is not remarkable, but it sets a significant benchmark for mainstream Euro-3 trucks, while performance is more than adequate. Importantly, the weight/performance compromise is well stuck in the 2543 - go for Merc's more powerful V8 and you'll sacrifice around 280kg of payload. So the Actros turns out to be a real contender in this highly competitive light-heavyweight class, making the choice even more difficult than before. And to stretch the boxing analogy further: It seems you can never count Mercedes out.