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2006 Mercedes ML Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
…Continued
An alien encounter in a Mercedes
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It's a seven-speed automatic, which seems a little like overkill until you realize how buttery the gear changes are and how much it improves gas mileage over a more traditional automatic. That seventh gear amounts to an extra-low overdrive on the highway, giving it an EPA-rated fuel economy of 27 miles per gallon with the V6 engine.
Another interesting thing about this tranny is that it doesn't have a normal gear selector. On every other automatic transmission, you push a lever somewhere that's physically connected to the gearbox in some way, so you feel a "ka-CHUNK" when it slots into gear.
On this Mercedes, though, there's only a little electric switch on the steering column that's not mechanically linked to the transmission, so you don't get any sensation that it's connected to the drivetrain. It's strange at first, but you quickly get used to it and come to appreciate its simplicity.
One more of the ML's strengths -- one I was thankful I didn't have the opportunity to test -- is its advanced set of safety features. It has a system called PRE-SAFE that automatically prepares the vehicle for an accident when sensors detect that one is about to occur. It will move the seats to a safer position, tension the seat belts and close the sunroof if a rollover is imminent, and it's one of the first SUVs to be awarded the government's five-star crash rating for front and side impacts.
Even the price is relatively reasonable, something you can't say about a lot of Mercedes products. It starts around $40,000 for a well-equipped ML 350 with a V6 engine and around $49,000 for the V8-powered ML 500, both of which are competitive and downright affordable compared with the hyper-expensive luxury SUVs they compete with.
Keep a close eye on the options list, though, because -- in the grand German tradition -- add-ons can be extremely pricey.
The only other downside might be doubts about Mercedes quality that linger from the late '90s. Surveys are showing better products coming off the M-B assembly lines today than a few years ago, but the Japanese and even some American brands are gaining better reputations for reliability.
Still, nothing has the panache of that Mercedes badge. Lexus and Cadillac make some great SUVs, but neither can get folks at the Poteau Wal-Mart talking like a Mercedes ML can.
Just think what it would do at the country club.
Pros: It looks sharp and drives even better. It has an amazing, seven-speed automatic transmission and gets up to 27 miles per gallon with a V6 engine. Even the price isn't too bad for the luxury-SUV segment.
Cons: Options can be extremely pricey, and Mercedes' reputation hasn't fully recovered from the quality dip the company took in the late '90s.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 10
- Performance: 9
- Price: 8
- Handling: 7
- Ride: 10
- Comfort: 9
- Quality: 8
- Overall: 9
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Trim Package, Sunroof Package, Premium Packages, AMG Sport Package, Appearance Package, Comfort Package, Entertainment Package, Lighting Package, Air Suspension Package. Rear side airbags, Front- and rear-obstacle-detection system, Navigation system, Heated front seats, Satellite radio, Power liftgate, Trailer hitch, Double-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels.
Seating: 5.
Number of Rows: 2.
Length in Inches: 188.5
Warrantees: 4/50,000 miles Bumper to Bumper, 4/50,000 miles Corrosion Protection.
Weight in Pounds: 4,623 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 5,000 lbs.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 25.1
Destination Charge: $720
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