Mercedes M Class
Ratings
4 stars
Summary
Recommended. Merc's huge 4x4 is big and shiny enough to be seen from space - and it's pretty decent to drive, too.
Review
The Mercedes ML Class is anything but politically correct. One of the largest of the current crop of road-biased 4x4s, it's big enough to make even a BMW X5 look scrawny by comparison. The aggressive image won't be for everyone, but the strong performance and a painless driving experience make it a strong all-rounder.
The big Merc's chunky styling looks good, although this will never be a car to suit shrinking violets. The cabin is impressive, too - far better than the woefully cheap-feeling interior of the original M Class. Now there are high quality materials and switchgear, masses of room for both front and rear seat occupants, a generously proportioned boot and decent levels of standard equipment.
Advanced suspension means that it drives well, too - especially when fitted with optional air springing. Comfort levels are impressively high over rougher road surfaces, cruising is quiet and refined at motorway speeds - and although you wouldn't say the M Class was exactly enthusiastic for corners, it puts in a credible, grippy performance when the going gets twisty. All versions benefit from Mercedes' excellent "7G" seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
All of the currently available engines offer decent performance, although only the ML350 V6 petrol and ML320 CDI V6 turbodiesel stand any chance of turning in better than 20 mpg on a regular basis. That said, the V8-powered ML500 has the sort of straight line performance to make you laugh out loud, at the cost of horrendous running costs. An even more powerful ML63 AMG version follows later.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
Handsome, chunky looks help the ML to stand out from the crowd - almost as much as its sheer size.
Handling
3 star
It's not as involving to drive as a BMW X5, but cornering is composed and there's plenty of grip to call upon.
Comfort
4 star
The well finished cabin and pliant ride make the M Class a restful way to ease the strain of even the longest journeys.
Quality & Reliability
4 star
Solid construction and a well-finished cabin gives this generation of the M Class far more quality feel than the first generation model.
Performance
4 star
Limited engine choice at present, with all motors giving strong acceleration. Entry level petrol ML350 and diesel ML280 CDI will be more than enough for most - although the ML500 and forthcoming ML63 AMG are spectacular if you can afford the massive fuel bills.
Roominess
4 star
Impressively roomy both front and rear - only the lack of a seven-seat option marks it down against rivals like the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90.
Running Costs
2 star
If you need to ask, you're in trouble. Even the smaller diesel engines struggle to get mpg into the high 20s - and the big petrol engines are very thirsty. Servicing and insurance are expensive, too.
Value for money
3 star
Pricey compared to obvious rivals, although standard equipment includes an automatic gearbox, power-adjustable front seats and an eight speaker stereo system.
