The Mercedes-Benz ML 250 BlueTEC 4Matic, to use its full name, is nothing like what has gone before. Well, actually it’s just a new luxury SUV, but there is a crucial difference. While entry-level rivals such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 have six-cylinder engines, the ML 250 is the first of its kind to come with a four-cylinder motor. Usually I wouldn’t bother with such technical information but in this case it has real-world benefits.
Mercedes was the first company to come up with the idea of an upmarket, car-like SUV when it launched the original ML in 1997. Its third generation again breaks new ground. Some number-crunching is required, but trust me, it’s not boring.
Last December if you wanted an ML, you needed ¤79,685 for the 300 CDI. This 201bhp, 3-litre, six-cylinder diesel was the cheapest version of the car on the market, with emissions of 224g/km and motor tax of ¤1,129 a year. It cost ¤3,105 more than the BMW X5 xDrive30d and ¤5,685 more than the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI V6 Tiptronic.
Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. The new four-cylinder ML 250 will do 47mpg and it emits a relatively low 158 g/km of CO2. Although it has a much smaller 2.1-litre engine, the power output is the same as the old ML 300 CDI — and the ML 250 is just 0.7 seconds slower to 62mph.
There’s more good news. The ML 250 at ¤71,060 is ¤8,625 cheaper than the old ML 300 CDI, and its road tax is just ¤481 a year. This means it is substantially cheaper than its direct X5 and Q7 rivals with a far lower annual tax and better fuel consumption.
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The X5 is more powerful, but who cares? The ML 250 is the first of its kind to go four-cylinder, but is unlikely to be the last. There are other engine options available in the new ML range, but this one is going to be the big seller in Ireland.
If you are thinking of buying a luxury SUV, it just makes sense.
To start with, this is a substantial beast of a car. A friend who saw me in it said “your head is too small for that”. The last ML was big and dull but the new ML 250 looks sharper even though it is longer and wider. My test model featured an AMG exterior sports package which adds to the car’s “dynamic presence” and, yes, its price.
On the inside, everything is as you would expect from Mercedes-Benz. The cabin is luxurious, reasonably spacious and well designed, and the finish is high quality. There is a huge boot and the seating position is comfortable.
While a driver will be aware of the ML’s size, the car does not feel awkward. The ride quality is excellent and handling is good. Power is fine although accelerating from mid-range can be steady unless worked hard. Excellent overall refinement levels are only slightly compromised by a somewhat strained but not noisy engine note.
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Most SUV drivers never take their cars off-road and if this is you then the ML 250, a four-wheel drive, will suit you perfectly.
If you do want a more capable SUV then you should invest in the must-have options such as “off-road driving mode”, a button that adapts settings, and “on & off-road package”, a system that allows you to select a setting for the prevailing conditions. Even with these gizmos though, your ML 250 won’t match a Land Rover Discovery off-road.
And speaking of options, Mercedes’ list of extras for the ML 250 is extensive and can add significantly to the final bill.
My test car featured some optional and unnecessary safety gadgets as well as some “yes-please” LED daytime running lights, metallic paint, ambient lighting, heated front seats, media interface and the sports pack I mentioned earlier.
All these added €14,160 to the bill for what is probably the most sensible luxury, conventional-powered SUV that money can buy right now.
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ENGINE 2143cc, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel
POWER 201 bhp@4200 rpm
TORQUE 369lb@1600-1800 rpm
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TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic
ACCELERATION 0-62mph: 9 sec
TOP SPEED 130mph
FUEL 47.1 mpg
CO2 158 g/km
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ROAD TAX Band D (€481)
PRICE €85,220 (from €71,060)
RELEASE DATE On sale now