The article was originally produced on November 27, 2011, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Mercedes ML

We are in an autumn-colored Skåne and on the menu is Mercedes' latest version of the ML, an SUV for those who want a little more of the good stuff but still care about consumption.

The Mercedes ML is now in its third generation, the first being launched in 1997 followed by the second generation which was introduced in 2005. The model was a fairly immediate success for the brand and has come in a plethora of variants, ranging from tired and stingy to spirited and thirsty. Now it's time for a combination of these words to the more beneficial, stingy and nimble. To achieve that, Mercedes has placed a 2.1-liter diesel four as the heart of the entry-level version with the designation 250 after ML. This means an engine with 204 horses but with a whopping 500 Newton meters of torque. Consumption is only 0.6 liters per mile, which is very good for the class. The models 350 Bluetec and 350 BlueEfficiency are also frugal machines, 0.67 per mile. During the test drive in Skåne, the frugal 250 was unfortunately not available, so we chose to drive the ML 350 Bluetec. Performance for the 3.5 liter V6 engine is 258 horses and 619 Newtons. The 0-100 sprint takes 7.4 seconds and the top speed is reached at 235 km/h. 

Enough about numbers and to the interesting part, how does the new ML feel? Exterior-wise, the ML has grown just like most models do nowadays when new versions are presented. This means that the cabin has become larger and more spacious, something that is felt and thanks to the large panoramic glass roof, the cabin feels even larger. All materials in the interior have been updated and the luxurious feel is palpable. You sit like a king in the comfortable chairs and the visibility is top class. The only thing to complain about is the anger to the temperature for the AC, they don't feel quite one hundred and play a little laterally. These knobs are found on most Mercedes models, but the question remains why this detail has not been changed for the better.

 

We roll out into the Scanian countryside, the sun is shining and the road is dry in front of us. Mile consumption in the new ML can be compared to a seven-year-old's voracious appetite for sweets on a Saturday night. This is partly thanks to a new speed-dependent electric servo assistance, which means that the steering feels very soft and compliant at all times, very comfortable. Even wind noise and the suspension do their part to contribute to the high level of comfort during long driving sessions. The car we drive is equipped with an AMG package, which partly means a pair of 21-inch rims, nice but of course contributing to some road noise in the cabin. 

But it's not just on the smooth country road that the new ML thrives on, if you equip it with an On&Offroad package for just over SEK 22,000, you get exceptionally good off-road characteristics, which turn the car into a full-fledged forest mule. The package includes a protective plate for the undercarriage, low gear and other functions for the air suspension such as e.g. a ground clearance of 285 millimeters and the ability to get through waterways of as much as 60 cm. Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to test how well the ML copes off the paved road, but with the above-mentioned functions, it should last far longer than most people need. To add, the air suspension is also an option for which you have to cough up just under 20,000.

Although we don't get to have fun with the ML in a mud puddle or sand pit to test the off-road characteristics, we get a lot of time on the country road instead. Our journey goes along the south coast of Scania, a fantastically beautiful stretch of road and ML steams along like a locomotive on tracks. One of the soul of the fine behavior on the road is the active roll system, Active Curve System (ACS). What it really means is that there are active anti-roll bars. And what it actually does is actively inhibit body movement, simply sensing when it is turning or going straight ahead for optimally comfortable walking. 

The Mercedes ML is expensive, that thing is probably pretty clear to most people after the descriptions of the car so far. Prices start at half a million and with some optional equipment that figure rises quickly. But that's the way the car behaves and feels now after a number of hours behind the wheel it starts to feel justified. And when you understand what competence the new ML has in all imaginable road situations, it becomes even more insidious. Add to that the extremely frugal new engine that makes this two-tonne locomotive consume as little fuel as some small cars makes the matter even more obvious. It's expensive to be poor because you can't afford to buy big economy packages, the new ML feels a bit like that, but if you can afford it, it's cheap in the end.