Mercedes Benz

M-Class (incl AMG)

If it’s an executive model that you’re striving for then the Mercedes M-Class should be right up your street. Brimming with highly advanced technology and with looks to bring out the green-eyed monster in anyone watching, this beauty is one to look out for.

Test Drive

Mercedes ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC Sport

Guaranteed to bring out the green eyed monster in any onlooker the new generation Mercedes M-Class is certainly a car for the perfectionist.

Admittedly, the price-tag of just over £61k including £15k of optional extras is not exactly for the faint-hearted, but neither is this vehicle’s performance and handling capability.

The new ML 250 has a sportier stance than its predecessors, mainly due to the sloping roofline, but there are plenty of other attention-grabbing features of note.

These include 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, green tinted glass, LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights, aluminium roof rails, an electric glass sunroof, courtesy lighting on the underside of the door mirrors, brushed aluminium trim and plenty more besides.

And once inside, this vehicle certainly has the wow factor with Mercedes utilising the very finest leathers and trim to create a sophisticated, classy, stylish and incredibly comfortable cabin area.

All occupants are treated to the highest possible standards of comfort and even rear passengers can stretch out with ample leg, head and elbow space.

The on-board technology is seemingly endless and there are creature comforts galore including a brilliant multi-media system incorporating a DAB radio, CD player, hard disc drive, in-car internet access, a 10GB music storage facility, leather heated seats that can be electrically adjusted every which way with memory settings, luxury automatic climate control with multi-zone function, ambient lighting with a choice of three colours and an easy-to-operate satellite navigation system which is displayed via a 7-inch colour display screen.

In fact, this has to be one of the most comprehensively equipped cars I have come across to date.

But the ML 250 is not just about show. It’s competing in a very competitive market and with a premium price there has to be a premium performance.

It doesn’t disappoint.

The 2.2-litre diesel powered engine delivers plenty of get-up-and-go and this vehicle is just as capable ambling alongside busy city centre traffic as it is powering its way along fast country lanes and motorways.

The seven-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and despite its size, the cabin noise is almost non-existent.

The ML 250 also proved deceptively agile and the excellent all-round visibility is another must these days with pedestrians and cars appearing from all angles.

Mercedes has packed a comprehensive list of top notch safety features into the car.

As well as the more instantly recognisable specifications, it also features blind spot assist, a lane departure warning system and attention assist which monitors the driver for fatigue.

All in all, the ML 250 is a brilliant all-rounder and when you take into consideration the excellent fuel economy average of 44.8mpg, then the asking price suddenly becomes a lot more appealing.

Test Drive

Mercedes ML 350 BlueTec 4MATIC Sport

When the cost of the optional extras on a car equate to the price of three city cars then it has quite a lot to live up to.

Thankfully for Mercedes, its luxurious 4×4 M-Class model oozes quality at every turn, features incredible levels of elegance and comfort, has technical wizardry that would not be out of place on the Starship Enterprise and boasts performance statistics to impress the pickiest of motoring experts.

Okay, so it’s not cheap so let’s get that out of the way first. The test model had a base price of £48,490 which was increased to just shy of £68k with a raft of optional extras.

But this model is taking on luxurious premium models and in order to compete at the highest level it needs all the bells and whistles you could dream of.

First impressions are vital these days and the ML350 looks amazing from every angle with eye-catching features such as a panoramic glass sunroof, tinted windows, aluminium-finished roof rails, 19-inch five-spoke alloys, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights and a sleek design that is both imposing and somehow inviting at the same time. To be honest, it’s a vehicle that grabs your attention when you first lay eyes on it and then it’s very hard to look away.

And once you take your seat inside the cabin, the build quality and level of sophistication simply cannot fail to impress.

The electrically-adjustable leather seats can be heated or cooled and there are memory functions for preferred driving positions, steering wheel settings and also door mirror alignments.

These can be stored and easily reverted back to at the push of a button.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include an outstanding infotainment system with 7-inch colour screen.

There is satellite navigation, an amazing 14-speaker surround-sound audio system with 10GB hard drive along with MP3 and iPod compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control with multi-zone options, plus plenty more besides.

But there is so much more to this vehicle than looks, comfort and styling. For the M-Class loves to show off its performance capabilities and can sprint from a standing start to 62mph in just 7.4 seconds which is pretty impressive for a car of its size.

The driver benefits from excellent, unobstructed all-round visibility and the rear parking camera and sensors make squeezing into tight spaces a complete doddle.

There is ample space for five adults to travel in comfort and luggage restrictions won’t be necessary thanks to the generously-sized boot area.

In and around town, the car cruises along attracting attention from onlookers, but out on the faster road it eases smoothly and responsively through the seven-speed automatic transmission. There are paddle shifts on the steering wheel if you want to change gears manually.

The handling at higher speeds is flawless and cabin noise is extremely low as the vehicle eats up the road absorbing all the lumps and bumps with ease.

Mercedes has fitted a very comprehensive list of safety features to the vehicle, including anti-lock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability programme, a tyre pressure loss warning system, numerous airbags and much more.

And then there is the permanent four-wheel-drive which means the M-Class is ready for any eventuality Mother Nature should throw in its path.

All in all, the M350 may make a massive dent in your savings, but when quality, performance, safety and elegance feature highly on your wish list, this car comes out very near the top on all counts.

Test Drive

Mercedes M-Class 3.0 ML350 CDI Grand Edition

In our ever-changing climate there’s something very reassuring about larger more protective vehicles with higher seated positions offering better visibility and that oh-so-vital factor – all wheel drive.

So when our latest cold snap struck, I was delighted to be test driving the mighty Mercedes M-Class with its beefy design and first class luxurious touches at every turn.

From the second you lay eyes on the M-Class, it just oozes quality with its eye-catching lines, side steps, roof rails, chunky wheels and twin exhaust.

And that level of class is just as apparent when you take your place behind the multi-function steering wheel. The seats – leather and heated – can be adjusted every which way to find the perfect driving position and the comfort they deliver can only be compared to that of your favourite armchair.

And I can state this with absolute confidence as I clocked up more than 400 miles in one day and still arrived refreshed.

However, it’s not just down to the extreme comfort the vehicle offers, but the quality of equipment that surrounds you. There is a 3D instrument cluster, a reversing camera and all-round sensors, Bluetooth technology, a brilliant multi-media system with 6.5-inch colour display, dual-zone automatic climate control, sat nav and plenty more besides.

And it’s not just the driver who travels in luxury – all occupants are treated to plenty of leg, head and elbow space and the large rear windows mean the rear of the vehicle has light flooding in… even though there is tinted privacy glass.

The boot is very generously-sized and is easily accessed via the automatically opening and closing tailgate. Elsewhere there are plenty of other useful storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin.

And when it comes to the drive itself, that lives up to all the high expectations too.

Despite slippery, icy surfaces and, at times, several inches of freezing snow, the vehicle somehow managed to grip the surface and never showed any signs of sliding or wheel spin. And in those conditions that is a true credit to the M-Class’ ability.

The 3-0-litre diesel-driven engine delivered ample power and the seven-speed automatic transmission – which could also be operated manually by paddles on the steering wheel – was very smooth and responsive.

Of course, the list of safety specifications is extremely comprehensive too.

All in all, the only downside to the M-Class is the £53k asking price, but for that outlay, you get a vehicle guaranteed not to let you down no matter what Mother Nature throws in its path.

Test Drive

Mercedes-Benz ML 280 CDI

If you look out the rearview mirror of your Mercedes M-Class, you’ll likely spot a banner-waving disciple from the green brigade in pursuit, but as far as I’m concerned this 4×4 gets a resounding thumbs-up.

Now, I am not saying we should ignore warnings of environmental Armageddon, but we still have to live and if the snow storms of early 2010 are anything to go by, the bigger the vehicle the more likely we can get on with our lives.

The M-Class boasts tinted windows, very elegant streamlining that’s guaranteed to turn heads along with snazzy chrome exhaust pipes and very bold, distinctive features.

But don’t be fooled by this somewhat beefy and rigid look as the M-Class can rise to most challenges and is not afraid to venture off road and get dirty where it performs with a perfect blend of agility and strength.

The creature comforts inside the cabin include upholstered seats with armrests, an excellent sound system complete with eight speakers, easy-to-read controls and dials plus automatic climate control and much more. There is ample room for five adults to travel in style and there’s also bags of storage space for all their luggage.

Driver visibility is excellent thanks to the high-seated position and the optional parking sensor is a real must as the curved bonnet really slopes away deceptively out of eye-shot.

The ride itself is very smooth and the vehicle gracefully eases through its seven-speed automatic transmission with ease. The added reassurance of permanent four-wheel-drive is another bonus and makes for excellent road-holding both in and around town and out on the open road.

Mercedes has loaded this vehicle with safety features including anti-lock brakes, electric stability program with acceleration skid control, numerous airbags and plenty more.

So, the M-Class seems to have it all. It boasts great looks, a distinctive Mercedes style that is the envy of many rival companies, it is nippy and responsive without having a reckless element and it’s fairly reasonably priced. All great accolades, albeit not planet-saving!