Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 



First Drive: Mercedes-Benz ML 250 CDI. Image by Mercedes-Benz.

First Drive: Mercedes-Benz ML 250 CDI
Bigger, bolder Mercedes-Benz ML gets smaller, more efficient engines to add green appeal to the SUV marketplace.

   



<< earlier review     later review >>

Reviews homepage -> Mercedes-Benz reviews

| First Drive | Munich, Germany | Mercedes-Benz ML 250 CDI |

Overall rating: 4 4 4 4 4

There's added environmental credibility from Merc's new four-cylinder turbodiesel ML, though fuel economy aside you'll want its V6 CDI relative.

Key Facts

Pricing: £40,000 (estimated)
Engine: 2.1-litre turbodiesel
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: five-door SUV
Rivals: BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus RX 400h
CO2 emissions: 165g/km
Combined economy: 44.8mpg
Top speed: 125mph
0-62mph: 9.0 seconds
Power: 196bhp
Torque: 369lb.ft at 1,600-1,800rpm

In the Metal: 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

The M-Class has gained weight, visually at least, and it doesn't carry it particularly well. Compared to the old M-Class the detailing is fussy, and it looks a touch awkward. The flanks look particularly heavy, with the vast expanse of metal barely reduced by the feature lines running along its sides. That's lessened if you avoid body coloured side skirts, but it is still a chunky looking car. The grille projects more gravitas, but in our eyes it has lost its sporty look. It's effective though, as the M-Class slips through the air very cleanly indeed, with a Cd value of 0.32 it's a class-leader at reducing drag.

Inside there's a distinct leap forward, with the M featuring an interior that's both high quality and user friendly. It feels big inside too, and comfortable, with virtually everything controllable via the multi-function wheel and central information display between the rev-counter and speedometer.

Driving it: 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

All M-Class come with selective damping on the standard steel suspension and the ride is nicely controlled as a result. There's the option of full air suspension with optional active roll stabilisation - called Active Curve System - which utilises active anti-roll bars front and rear to counter body roll. Save your money, as in ML 250 CDI guise it's unlikely you'll be hustling it through bends - the most economical of the new MLs not exactly lightning fast. It's frugal though, quite extraordinarily so, which is its key selling point. The 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel makes a decent attempt at shifting the ML, but its relative slovenliness is brought into sharp focus when you jump into the 3.0-litre V6 ML 350 CDI - it feeling effortless in comparison.

The quest for economy in the ML 250 CDI has the seven-speed automatic shifting up swiftly to utilise the 1,600-1,800rpm sweet spot for maximum torque. It does feel - and crucially, sound - like it's labouring a bit, it worth denting the economy a little and selecting the Sport setting on the gearbox to hold onto revs a longer. Doing so benefits response, too. It's quiet on the motorway, and while it's no rocket, it's difficult not to be impressed that a 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine is able to give the ML credible performance and headline grabbing economy figures. Officially it'll return 44.8mpg and emits just 165g/km, which is better than an automatic 2.0-litre turbodiesel Ford Kuga. It's quicker too, with a 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds.

As we've come to expect from Mercedes Benz there's a myriad of driving assist systems, with speed limit assist and attention assist as standard along with lane-keeping, intelligent lighting, blind-spot warning systems all offered optionally. It'd benefit from some more steering feel and better consistency in the wheel's weighting, as, although the turning circle is impressive, there's very little feel at the wheel and the weighting just off centre is odd. We didn't drive it off-road, but if getting muddy is your thing then it's offered optionally with an off-road specific package that includes under guards, a two-stage transfer case and enhanced ground clearance via Airmatic suspension.

What you get for your Money: 4 4 4 4 4

Trim details have yet to be confirmed, but on recent form the new ML should come in at a cost near identical to its predecessor yet with significantly enhanced levels of equipment. Expect all to have climate control among a lengthy standard specification list.

Worth Noting

The amount of safety equipment listed as standard is vast. Along with the Attention Assist there's PreSafe, adaptive brake lights, brake assist, ESP, a tyre pressure loss warning system and a pop up bonnet called Active Bonnet.

Summary

Bigger, of better quality, boasting more equipment, better to drive and significantly more economical than before the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a big improvement over the model it replaces. We're not entirely convinced yet by the styling, and as frugal as the 250 CDI engine is it does sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed in this application. As an overall package though it's difficult to fault, and those economy figures are hard to ignore as fuel prices continue to soar.


Kyle Fortune - 2 Sep 2011



  www.mercedes-benz.co.uk    - Mercedes-Benz road tests
- Mercedes-Benz news
- ML 250 CDI images

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.



2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Image by Mercedes-Benz.
 






 

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©