subject: Suv Impresses With Much More Details [print this page] Mercedes-Benz exceeded my expectations on my test drive of the third-generation 2012 ML350 - and this wasn't the first time it happened.
Back in 1997, I had the opportunity to drive the then-all-new M-Class on a course that included a muddy hill. Halfway up the hill, I felt the vehicle slipping. I stopped and was about to back down to take another run at the hill when my co-pilot, a Mercedes engineer, told me to put my foot to the floor.
I thought he was crazy. We were stopped halfway up a hill with at least two wheels slipping. But I did what he said and the midsized luxury SUV somehow found enough traction on that slippery hill to make it to the top. I was impressed. The little demonstration gave me an appreciation on the engineering that lurked under the skin. This luxury SUV was capable of taking its occupants to more places than the local mall.
Last week, I was impressed in a different way. I was given the keys to the new 2012 and drove merrily away. No muddy hills, but a nice drive instead.
I got talking after my ride, getting specifications on the new ML. I asked when the diesel version was to be released. The salesman gave me a funny look.
"You were driving the diesel," he said with a smile. "No way," I replied. So we went out, started the engine and lifted the hood. Indeed it was a diesel - probably the quietest diesel I have ever heard. My BMW X1 gasoline engine is noisier at idle.
The 3.0-litre V-6 BlueTEC turbodiesel had fooled me into thinking it was a gasoline-powered vehicle because of its whopping 455 pound-feet of torque. There are only 240 horses under the hood compared with the 3.5-litre gasoline engine's 302, but 455 lb.-ft. of torque is a lot of usable pulling power. Top speed for this oil-burner is 210 kilometres per hour. The diesel engine adds $1,500 to the cost of the ML350.
I was humbled and showed it. I asked the salesperson about the optional equipment on the vehicle. He gave it, a very short list. "Hold on," I said. "What about the leather seats? Are they standard?" I asked.
He gave me the same smile as before. "Those seats aren't leather."
"But the feel," I said meekly. "The look, the stitching?"
"No, it's Mercedes' faux leather." I quickly left the showroom before I could get any more embarrassed.
In my opinion, Mercedes-Benz did not go out of its way to humble this poor scribe. It has merely gone on its way perfecting what it does best - under-promising and over-delivering. No screaming headlines, no bold pronouncements, just good engineering and quality.
The new M-Class (in Canada only) is visually enhanced because all vehicles now come standard with an AMG Styling Package with 19-inch wheels and LED daytime-running lights in front.
The two powertrains are new. The 3.0-litre diesel is also in the S-Class, while the direct-injection 3.5litre gas engine is shared with the new SLK 350 (Mercedes claims its fuel economy is 10 per cent better than the engine it replaces). Both are mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes' all-wheel-drive system.
The diesel engine is powerful and quiet. It starts up like a gasoline engine and has enough oomph for any application on the highway. At 100 km/h, the engine was only at 1,800 r.p.m. There is no sport mode. Drivers can manually change gears via paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Attention Assist and Lane Keep Assist passively warns a driver if he is straying from his lane. With the passive system large warning lights embedded in the outside mirrors turn red to warn of vehicles in the blind spot. Hard to miss. Another package offers a more active role - if the vehicle senses it is drifting into the other lane it will transmit a vibration to the steering wheel and apply opposite rearwheel braking, which helps pull the vehicle back into the correct lane. If the driver attempts to change lanes when the system detects another vehicle in the blind spot it will actively resist the action.
Our tester was equipped with the optional Premium Package, which includes a host of amenities including the rear-view camera. While back-up cameras have become common, the M-Class camera allows the driver to switch from back-up mode (with guide lines) to trailer hitch-up mode - nice.
The 4.5-inch screen, which also serves the media and navigation systems, looks small in comparison with the wide screens found on new BMWs and others.
The package also includes a power liftgate. People up to six feet tall will rejoice with the new hatch, which opens way up - no more bonked noggins. It can also be programmed to open partway, just in case the garage ceiling is low. Good thing it's power - it's too high up for shorter drivers to reach.
The interior shows much attention to detail and all the materials look and feel luxurious. Anybody not familiar with Mercedes-Benzes will initially draw a blank looking for the driver's seat controls - which are on the door, not the seat. There is a USB connector in the centre armrest, but for some reason there is no power outlet in there. There is, however, a cigarette lighter under an accordion-style cover that hides two cupholders and an ashtray: It makes charging a phone a visually messy operation instead of having everything hidden under the centre armrest.
The back seats fold to a flat loading floor. It boasts a 2,010-litre cargo capacity with back seats down and 690 with seats up. Although the ML350 is a five-seater, there are persistent rumours that an extra row of seats - to make it a seven-passenger - is in the works and a very possible option in the near future. The ML has a relatively long wheelbase, so an extra row looks possible. The problem would be that it would eat into the sales of the GLSeries SUV, which has seven-passenger seating now.
The ML 350 is a fairly substantial package, with leading-edge technology wrapped up in luxury. The finished package is competitive with other luxury entrants, such as the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, to name just two. While there is much to recommend in the competition, the Benz will stick in my mind because it was able to exceed my expectations in a market where high expectations are the norm.
Overall, the LED lights are widely used most new cars such as LED Dome Lights, LED Daytime Running Lights, and will come out with even more innovation in the future.
