The 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-class is rated at 302 hp.
By BOB GRITZINGER on 7/13/2011
What is it?
Power is up, along with fuel economy, in the third generation of the Mercedes-Benz M-class sport-utility vehicle. It debuts in September in the United States in two versions: The ML350 Bluetec 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel has an output of 240 hp and 455-lb-ft of torque and estimated fuel consumption of 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The gasoline direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 ML350 4Matic, with 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, has an estimated fuel economy of 17/22 mpg.
Despite significant upgrades, pricing stays the same for 2012, with the ML350 4Matic checking in at $49,865 including destination, while the diesel adds just $1,500 to that base price.
Mercedes says it invented the crossover-utility segment 14 years ago with the original M-class. With the latest iteration, it plans to reclaim leadership in the segment where competitors include the BMW X5, the Lexus RX, the Acura MDX and the Cadillac SRX. Hardly a small hill to climb, but Mercedes officials say their car's combination of refinement, luxury, safety and high technology will give it an edge.
What is it like to drive?
We got behind the wheel of both models in the wilds of Montana, where the pavement is smooth and winds through mountains and wide-open spaces. Though most Mercedes M-class cars will spend much of their time on suburban driving cycles, running through the twisty roads provided ample opportunity to push the car to the limit.
You get a feel for the relative differences between the standard suspension and the optional dual-mode active-chassis setup. The regular suspension is likely fine for most drivers, but if your driving style leans toward sporty, you'll want to investigate an upgrade to the optional suspension.
The sport setting on the M-class chassis does a fantastic job of keeping the vehicle flat through corners and seems to all but eliminate dive under hard braking. At the same time, the ride remains reasonably supple, not losing its smoothness at the expense of body stability. Both engines are up to the task of propelling the 4,753-pound vehicle from launch (7.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph for either engine), but higher-speed response suffers in the diesel. Both are quick to react to a call for power at speed, but the gasoline engine is more capable of delivering. If you need more grunt, you'll have to wait for the 4.6-liter biturbo V8 model due in early 2012.
The electromechanical steering is steady and linear, but we sometimes found the "Lane Keeping Assist" safety option a little too active in nudging us back into our lane when we strayed across the center line. An adaptive setting reduces much of the intervention when driving enthusiastically, while the standard setting actively taps the brakes to bring the 2012 M-class back into the lane when it detects drift.
Do I want it?
As the latest and greatest of the suburban utility vehicles on the market, the 2012 Mercedes M-class is certainly worth a look. Whether you choose gasoline or diesel is really a matter of personal preference--both perform well in this model. If you need more power, you'll have to wait until early next year when V8s and AMG models arrive. And if you want three rows of seating, you'll have to upgrade to the GL-class or wait for the M-class third-row option coming after 2013.
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