As the first ML-Class Mercedes fell victim to increasing age, the latest version moved in to bring the company right back into contention as a prestige 4WD manufacturer. The ML-class is now entirely competitive with its peers on the open road, while it offers the potential of being a more capable occasional off-roader than it was before. The substitution of a ladder-frame chassis with unitary construction saves weight while allowing a larger, tauter body that takes full advantage of the all-new petrol V6 engine as well as the muscular V8 and the economical V6 turbodiesel. It looks tough and substantial, yet has been carefully designed to give sedan-like aerodynamic drag figures. In late 2007 Mercedes-Benz boosted the appeal of its V8-powered ML500 SUV by increasing its displacement and performance with a potent new V8 engine. It is a 5.5-litre bent eight with 285kW and 530Nm - considerably more than the previous ML500. The engine has already appeared in other tri-star models including the S-class.

As the first ML-Class Mercedes fell victim to increasing age, the latest version moved in to bring the company right back into contention as a prestige 4WD manufacturer. The ML-class is now entirely competitive with its peers on the open road, while it offers the potential of being a more capable occasional off-roader than it was before. The substitution of a ladder-frame chassis with unitary construction saves weight while allowing a larger, tauter body that takes full advantage of the all-new petrol V6 engine as well as the muscular V8 and the economical V6 turbodiesel. It looks tough and substantial, yet has been carefully designed to give sedan-like aerodynamic drag figures. In late 2007 Mercedes-Benz boosted the appeal of its V8-powered ML500 SUV by increasing its displacement and performance with a potent new V8 engine. It is a 5.5-litre bent eight with 285kW and 530Nm - considerably more than the previous ML500. The engine has already appeared in other tri-star models including the S-class.

Walk to your nearest street corner and stand there for fifteen minutes. Count the number of Mercedes ML models that roll by. You'll probably be surprised at how high the number is. Now in its third generation, the M-Class is on the verge of a reinvention. Its name is changing from M-Class to GLE-Class in order to fall in line with the brand's new taxonomy. It's also getting sleeker from just about every angle. N.B. Since M-Class is annoying to write in the possessive form, we'll be using ML from here on out. We always thought it was weird that every other two-letter vehicle gets a two-letter name, yet the ML is the M-Class, not the ML-Class. The third-generation ML's sporting a mishmash of looks both new and old. The general shape of the HVAC controls can be traced back to the dual-dial design of the facelifted second-generation ML. The rest of the center stack, though, is exclusive to the third-generation ML.

It's functional, and there's enough switchgear present to satisfy even the most tech-averse buyers. Unless you absolutely despise radio presets, nearly everything you'll need to do in a given day can be done without navigating through the COMAND infotainment system. The rest of the interior is exactly as comfortable as you'd expect in a large Mercedes-Benz; that is to say, it's very comfortable. The seats are just firm enough to stave off fatigue on longer drives (which isn't an issue at all if you opt for massaging front seats). With the exception of some very small trim pieces, anywhere your hand lands will be soft; the wheel feels like it's made from leather that was massaged by highly-paid masseuses for the cow's entire life. The only complaint one might be able to levy about the interior is a lack of center-console storage space. If you've got USB cables snaking around in there, it's going to be a little tough to shove a purse or small bag in that storage cubby.

While overall trimmings have changed over the years, the general silhouette of the ML remains instantly recognizable. Details like the angle of the C-pillar and the wraparound rear glass punctuate the current ML, as they did every one before it. The car has been freshened up in many ways, from LED lighting to cleaner fasciae, but it's hard to confuse the ML for anything else on the road (aside from another ML). It's large, but it's not physically imposing in a negative way; its size and shape give it a stately presence. Your author has always considered it the more professional of the two heavy-hitters in the segment, the other being the BMW X5. Driving the ML is like having the power to manipulate the world as you see fit. Within the span of seconds, you can have both an endlessly soft, compliant ride befitting a luxury vehicle, and an endlessly harsh, annoying ride befitting a luxury vehicle attempting to act like a sports car.