Mercedes-Benz ML350

Mercedes-Benz ML350.

Make

Mercedes-Benz

Model

ML350 BlueEfficiency

Price

From $99,900 (auto only)

Engine Size

3.5-litre petrol V6 225kW/370Nm

Emissions

208 g CO2/km

Fuel Consumption

8.9 L/100km

These days a turbo-diesel engine is almost a prerequisite in a large SUV. Mercedes-Benz calculates about 80 percent cent of sales of the new third generation M-class will be diesels.
Accounting for most of the rest will be the V6 3.5-litre ML350 BlueEfficiency, as it is the only model still petrol-fuelled apart from two V8s, the outrageous ML63 AMG V8 and the forthcoming ML500.

Price and equipment

The new M-Class kicks off with a new four-cylinder ML250 BlueTec diesel as its $81,400 entry point. It’s a sizeable step to the $99,900 ML350 BlueTec diesel and BlueEfficiency being tested here.

Then it’s a big leap to the $177,900 AMG, although the $119,900 ML500 will help plug the gap when it arrives.

Like its brethren, the BlueEfficiency - Blue is the German car industry’s buzzword for green technology - mates with Benz’s excellent seven-speed auto and comes standard with permanent all-wheel drive.

Compared to its predecessor, the ML350’s price has gone up about $10,000, but Benz claims that is covered by a host of new equipment.

Highlights include memory adjustment for the front seats and steering column, self-parking, leather upholstery, burr walnut trim, active bi-xenons, 20-inch alloys, sat-nav, CD/DVD, Bluetooth and media interface for iPod, USB and auxiliary audio (with cables).

All MLs get a five-star EuroNCAP rating and include nine airbags, stability control, the Pre-Safe crash anticipation system and a reversing camera. The 350 adds a pack that includes active cruise control, blind-spot assistance and active lane-keeping assist.

Under the bonnet

The ML’s V6 swaps from its predecessor’s 90 degree vee angle to 60 degrees for improved smoothness and gets third-generation direct fuel injection. There’s also a completely new intake and exhaust system.

As a result, output jumps from 200kW/350Nm to 225kW/370Nm while claimed fuel efficiency leaps from 11.5L/100km to 8.9L/100km.

That claimed improvement is aided by Benz’s sweet-shifting seven-speed auto, the swap to electronic power steering and the use of low-friction axles. However, the BE misses out on auto stop-start fitted to the diesels and the AMG.

On-test the ML delivered an average 12.8L/00km. Not bad for a 4.8m, 2130kg all-wheel-drive wagon, but certainly not as good as the figures the diesel equivalent (claimed fuel economy of 7.3L/100km) can achieve.

The petrol V6 delivers a crisp throttle response thanks to its natural aspiration, is undoubtedly smooth and has a rev limit beyond 6000rpm. But that’s not enough to hand it an advantage over the more frugal, torquier (620Nm) and equivalently-priced diesel V6.

How it drives

Our test car came fitted with the optional $6900 Sports package which included 21-inch wheels and air suspension rather than standard steel springs.

The air system damping adjusts automatically, or can be set to comfort or sports mode. The former varies through several stages from quite soft to a touch too disciplined, while the latter is fine on smooth surfaces but too jostling in the rough.

Electric power steering is incredibly light at parking pace and weighs up marginally from there.

The ML’s greatest asset is its refinement, with few unwanted noises seeping into the cabin. That helps make it a very relaxing cruise for city, country or freeway.

Off-road? We stuck to formed gravel roads where the “4Matic” all-wheel-drive system proved tractable. Dirt-road braking also revealed well-tuned stability control.

An off-road mode alters transmission, throttle and ABS characteristics, while start-off assist, hold and downhill speed regulation functions are also standard. Air suspension allows body height adjustment.

There’s also a $3500 off-road pack for those who want to really go exploring in the boonies.

Comfort and practicality

With real leather on the seats and Artico (artificial cow) stitched across the dashboard, the ML350 offers real luxury ambience. That’s backed up by deep and supportive front seats and the burr walnut trim. The only downer inside the US-built ML is the dull plastic trim in the centre stack. The instrument panel is also more basic than some of the elegant backlit dials that come in the likes of the E-class. The steering wheel has a profusion of controls and buttons on the front and no less than three stalks protruding from its column, including the gear shifter column on the right. You can find yourself in neutral instead of operating the blinkers! If you want to change gears manually there are paddles on the steering wheel, but the transmission will still over-ride.
The column shifter releases plenty of space in the centre console for storage and cupholders and that is backed up by a large centre-lidded bin and commodious door pockets. In the rear there is heaps of space for two adults to stretch out, three at a pinch. Storage is pretty good, and there are visible airconditioning vents.

The bench split-folds flat, expanding the luggage compartment from 690 to 2010 litres. The load floor is quite low and there are hooks and nets to aid the storage of smaller items. Under the floor is a space-saver spare tyre.