Mercedes M-Class Estate 2005 - Present

The new M-Class is Mercedes-Benz back on form. With understated styling and an elegant, comfortable interior.  If the good looks and quality finish aren’t enough it drives brilliantly - both on and off road, in fact the whole package oozes subtle sophistication.

The exterior of the M-Class looks very much like any of the other 4X4s on the market.  More polished than the big Volvos, but less than the Porsche Cayenne.  On the inside of the M-Class drivers and passengers are treated to quality materials and good finish throughout the cabin.  This is handy because the actual seating in the Mercedes is pretty disappointing.  The levels of room afforded to the driver and front passenger are both decent, as long as there are no rear passengers out of junior school.  If there are then you’ll need to have the seats forward and loose quite a bit of that legroom.  The lack of space isn’t confined to just leg room either, three adults will find the shoulder room in the rear something of a squash too.  Headroom and visibility are good throughout the cabin; all of the seating is extremely supportive and comfortable.  The rear seats fold forward to make a flat load floor and owners can gain access to the ample boot space via the optional powered tailgate if they don’t fancy lifting their luggage on.

From the bottom up the engines are excellent too, including a brand new whisper-quiet V6 diesel, a very powerful 4.2-litre diesel and an outstanding 5.0-litre V8. For those with the stomach and deep enough wallets there’s a 510bhp 6.3-litre model, which offers stellar performance, if at a punishing cost. None of the M-Class engines can make any claim to be economical, with the best performer returning 29 mpg.  The 320 CDi probably offers the best mix of power and economy with vital stats of 8.3 seconds for the sprint and 134 mph top speed, all while returning 29 mpg.  The best performer is the 63 AMG, with a 0 – 60 time of4.8 seconds and top speed of 155 mph, but the economy is a shattering 17 mpg. 

When behind the wheel you can’t help but to bask in the ease of driving the M-Class.  The handling is light and nimble and cornering precise and predictable.  There is the mildest hint at bodyroll when aggressively cornering but the main sense is that of control and taught suspension.  The suspension is also very forgiving over bumps and breeds confidence in the driver being able to take on whatever the road throws up. 

As with all Mercedes the M-Class doesn't come cheap but prices are equitable to that of its rivals and there's plenty of standard equipment, although that doesn’t include a spare wheel.  The M-Class isn’t especially cheap but with a great list of standard equipment, and sensational finish and performance it stakes a good case for buyer’s attention.  Expect Mercedes to look at how to make better use of the space for future models as it’s really the only gripe that can be levelled at the M-class.

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