2006 Mercedes ML350

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We really wanted to be excited by the all-new M-Class. The 'minivan of SUVs' received a long-overdue redesign for 2006, and got a wider, longer body, a much more stylish face and interior, and a range of new engines. So why aren't we blown away by the new ML350?

It may be that the luxury SUV market has just gotten that competitive. The ML350's rivals include hot rods like the BMW X5 and Infiniti FX45, off-road athletes like the Land Rover LR3 and surprising Volkswagen Touareg, and versatile crossovers like the Lexus RX330 and freshly-minted Audi Q7. Lower-priced challengers like the Volvo XC90 and Subaru B9 Tribeca are also well-appointed enough to nibble away at the ML350's market share. With all of those contenders, the redesigned M-Class lands squarely in the middle of the road, and manages to succeed, but not quite exceed.

The more expressive design is welcome. No longer the ugly duckling of the Mercedes lineup, the new ML350 features a broad hood with styling cues from Mercedes' sedans and a pair of hood vents in the style of the McLaren SLR supercar. Also like Mercedes' sports cars, the overall shape is a great deal more wedge-like. At the rear, large wraparound taillights are coupled with a rear window that seems to wrap around the body. The new design masks an increase in size; the ML350 has gained almost six inches in length and 2.8 in width.

The ML350 has picked up a more stylish interior as well. The center console and ancillary controls are similar to those of Mercedes' sedans, with a rakish instrument panel design to match. The cargo area is a high lift, but will hold 29.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 72.4 with them folded. The generous cargo space behind the rear seats makes the ML350 a good choice for carrying a family of three or four. A power liftgate and a cargo organizer are available. Need third-row seats? You'll have to step up to the new, longer Mercedes GL-Class or the zeppelin-like R-Class for those. The usual complement of Mercedes stuff includes an available navigation system and heated seats.

What the ML350 does best is haul people. The larger body means more passenger space, and legroom has been increased front and rear. The ride is a bit harsher than that of the Mercedes sedan lineup, and we frequently felt the ML350's high center of gravity making the handling uncertain compared to a car's. This is par for the course in an SUV, of course, but somewhat at odds with the new unibody platform. Sophisticated double wishbones up front and an independent, multi-link rear suggest a ride that's someone more poised than we found the ML350's to be. The Touareg and B9 Tribeca are notably more stable on the road. Yet the things that are clear from the driver's seat are much subtler in the rest of the car, and the ML350's passengers never noticed the occasionally wobbly handling.

Even equipped with the 3.5 liter V6 instead of the available V8, the ML350 doesn't manage to be particularly fuel-efficient. Like the Infiniti FX and Acura MDX, the ML350's forte is freeway travel rather than mud bogging. That's not to say that Mercedes' all-new 3.5 liter disappoints, however. This 268-horse engine offers up excellent passing power on the freeway and smooth, silent operation at nearly all speeds. The 302-horsepower 5.0 V8 is also available, in the ML500. We never found ourselves wishing for more power, though. The new seven-speed automatic transmission was flexible enough to mostly refrain from hunting for gears during a trip up and down the mountains of Pennsylvania. A permanent four-wheel drive system is standard. Equipped with a Class III hitch, the ML350 will tow up to 5000 pounds.

For drivers who want to take the ML350 off-road, the traction control system includes a hill descent speed regulator and an off-road mode that changes the transmission, throttle and traction control reaction times to better suit extreme conditions.

The new ML350 scores well on a variety of fronts. This luxury SUV is a generalist--it'll haul people, cargo, tow or road-trip with equal skill. But is that enough? As the SUV market fragments further and further, it's the less compromising vehicles that tend to stand out--the take-no-prisoners FX45 makes a much stronger impression, though it can't carry as many passengers, and the Touareg gives up nothing in the way of ability or luxury and costs a great deal less. Considering these competitors, we found the ML350's cost of entry--$39,750 to start and over $46,000 once our tester was optioned up--to be a bit steep.


Specifications:

All specs are for the 2006 Mercedes ML350.
Length: 188.5 in.
Width: 75.2 in.
Height: 71.5 in.
Wheelbase: 114.7 in.
Curb weight: 4623 lb.
Towing capacity: 5000 lb.
Cargo space: 72.4 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Base price: $39,750
Price as tested: $46,045
Engine: 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: seven-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Horsepower: 238 @ 6000
Torque: 258 @ 2400-5000
Fuel capacity: 25.1 gal.
Est. mileage: 16/20


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