First Impressions

India can’t get enough of SUV’s it seems, and the auto majors are realizing this in a big big way. In fact, it’s not just cars – but bikes too. Bigger is always better, seems to be the idea of the season. With a lot of Indians exploring their adventurous side, it is easy to see the reason behind the booming SUV market. And to tap it, most European, Asian and American auto makers have already launched their best SUV’s. Not, Merc has taken another step by introducing their newest M Series SUV. It’s longer yet lower, more expensive and more powerful. 

The Drive

On paper, the specifications of this car seemed really impressive. But, considering the price tag – we should be expecting nothing short of spectacular. With the drive, as well as every other aspect of this Luxury SUV. It’s certainly got the right looks to take on the competition, with dramatic ideas thrown in by the designers to almost every body part. There is detail in the exteriors as well as interiors of this SUV, which really sets the tone for the drive ahead. Power-on the 3.0-litre common-rail diesel engine, and the growl from the 258bhp engine invites you to take it on an adventure trip. The new diesel ML 350 CDI is just so smooth and sweet sounding even from the outside, that anyone could easily mistake it for a petrol-powered car. There’s no hint of diesel motor rattle, there’s very little vibration and even when you rev it, it is as smooth as honey mixed with syrup. With 63.2kgm of torque — some 10kgm more than the old car — the oil-burner makes light work of the substantial 2175kg kerb weight. Its best work is achieved on part-throttle loads; the new Mercedes off-roader cruises in a relaxed, serene manner. Thanks to the linear power delivery of the engine the big M-class feels easy to drive in traffic too. The gearshifts, though, are on the slow side and the smooth and slow shifts clearly indicate that Mercedes has put refinement and comfort before performance.

The Interiors

You can always expect really classy materials used on the inside of every Merc and this is no exception. A truly high-quality interior, superb-looking instruments, nicely damped controls, a commanding view of the road from the driver’s seat, a spacious cabin, copious luggage space, state-of-the-art entertainment and communication systems and outstanding quality to name a few – which certainly adds to the overall appeal. It is unmistakably a Mercedes in terms of its cabin design and the smooth shapes, improved materials and flashes of alloy-effect trim create a quality atmosphere. The M-class sticks with five seats and there are no great surprises in either its packaging or internal features. Legroom is adequate for passengers in the rear and the headroom is particularly impressive.

The Engine
The ML 350 BlueTec 4Matic has 34bhp more than the old ML 350 CDI. It comes mated to the latest version of Mercedes-Benz’s silky seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, complete with an automatic stop/start and brake energy recuperation functions, and a permanent four-wheel-drive system as standard. The Diesel Engine can deliver 255bhp @ 3,600 rpm. It’s a front installation type, with longitudinal set-up with AWD. It is capable of producing 63.2kgm of Torque at 1600-2400 of rpm. The 6 cylinders that make up the engine are turbo-powered in the preferred ‘vee’ design. 

Thumbs Up

• Spacious
• Powerful, aggressive engine
• Excellent drive

Thumbs Down

• Fuel consumption

Specifications

• 2987cc Turbo Diesel Engine
• V6 Engine, AWD
• 255bhp @ 3600 rpm
• 7 speed automatic gearbox
• 70 litre fuel tank

Price: Rs. 49 lakh (est, approx)

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