Mercedes Benz Actros SLT Heavy Duty Edition Review

By: kowsar
Wednesday - 25 June 2025

When it comes to moving gargantuan cargo, a regular truck just won’t cut it enter the Mercedes Benz Actros SLT Heavy Duty Edition. Launched in early 2014, this truck was purpose built for the most demanding transport jobs, capable of hauling up to 250  tonnes gross combination weight while still meeting Euro VI emissions standards. With […]

When it comes to moving gargantuan cargo, a regular truck just won’t cut it enter the Mercedes Benz Actros SLT Heavy Duty Edition. Launched in early 2014, this truck was purpose built for the most demanding transport jobs, capable of hauling up to 250  tonnes gross combination weight while still meeting Euro VI emissions standards.

With Mercedes‑Benz’s trademark attention to detail, the SLT offers serious muscle wrapped in intelligent design and driver-centered comfort. Let’s explore what sets it apart.

Mercedes Benz Actros SLT Specifications

The heart of the SLT lies in its formidable OM 473 engine, a 15.6 litre inline six diesel that delivers up to 625 hp and a staggering 3,000 Nm torque.

Despite its brute strength, the engine remains impressively efficient thanks to Mercedes’ Euro VI package and innovative compound turbo setup.

Paired with a 16 speed PowerShift 3 automated transmission featuring a dedicated Heavy shift program, the SLT powers forward smoothly.

This truck also features a turbo retarder clutch, a dual-purpose component that offers wear-free launch assistance and reliable auxiliary braking, delivering up to 720 kW of retarding power.

Its frame is equally robust, built without welds for long-lasting strength. With configurations like 6×4 or 8×4, air suspension, and reinforced axles, the SLT is engineered to keep stability and traction even under extreme loads.

Behind the cab sits an auxiliary cooling tower essential for managing heat during uphill climbs or heavy-duty retarder use and it houses the engine, retarder, hydraulics, and massive fuel/AdBlue tanks (up to 900 L fuel, 75 L AdBlue)  .

The spacious BigSpace and GigaSpace cabs 2.5 m wide bring real comfort to the driver: flat floors, full height head clearance 2.13 m, a restful mattress, abundant storage (including under-bunk drawers and fridge), plus fully featured climate and entertainment systems .

Through real-world tests hauling heavyweights up steep inclines drivers have praised the SLT for its smooth starts, precision handling, and rock solid reliability.

One memorable anecdote even recounted the SLT being halted by a roaming herd of sheep, a testament to its sheer power and the quirks of real-world road life !

Conclusion

The Mercedes Benz Actros SLT Heavy Duty Edition isn’t just a truck it’s a precision engineered powerhouse. It fuses high output Euro VI performance, a class-leading 16 speed automated gearbox, and an intelligent turbo-retarder clutch. Bolstered by a rock-solid chassis and a cabin built for long shifts, the SLT offers unparalleled capability for oversized and overweight haulage. Whether you’re moving heavy plant, industrial machinery, or modular structures, this Mercedes heavy hauler delivers unwavering performance, comfort, and dependability mile in, mile out.

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