WRAP UP
Yet no matter how good this vehicle is – and it’s very good – two critical issues may hurt: the lack of a third row, and the conservative design.
So here it is, finally. And just in time to stop the leak of luxury SUV buyers to Lexus, BMW and Cadillac. At least that’s the fervent hope of the folks at Mercedes-Benz. It’s clearly no longer an also-ran, and has definitely re-emerged. Yet no matter how good this vehicle is – and it’s very good – two critical issues may hurt its chances: the lack of a third row, and the conservative design. The new is just a bit too much of the old, perhaps, especially when standing next to the new Mercedes-Benz R-Class. It also will take a little doing to convince people to forget about that missing third-row seat, and to be wowed by the exterior style, to be sure. The trick will be to get Mr. or Mrs. Well-heeled America into the car. Once they’re in the seat, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 – and especially the ML 500 – should provide a compelling argument to stay right there Specifications
Test Vehicles: 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 and ML 500
Price Range: $39,750 - $48,500 (without $720 destination)
Engine Size and Type: 3.5-liter V6 (ML 350); 5.0-liter V8 (ML 500)
Engine Horsepower: 268 at 6,000 rpm (V6); 306 at 5,200 rpm (V8)
Engine Torque: 258 at 2,400 rpm (V6); 339 at 2,700 rpm (V8)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic with TouchShift manual control
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 16/20 (ML 350); 14/19 (ML 500)
Length: 188.2 in.
Width: 75.2 in.
Wheelbase: 114.7 in.
Height: 71.5 in.
Leg room (f/r): 42.2 in./40.0 in.
Head room (f/r): 39.9 in./39.9 in.
Max. Seating Capacity: 5
Max. Cargo Volume: 72.4 cu. ft.
Max. Payload: 1,587 lbs.
Max. Towing Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
Ground Clearance: 5.5 in.
Competitors: Acura MDX, BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX, Hummer H2, Infiniti FX35 and FX45, Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470, Lexus RX 330, Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Navigator, Porsche Cayenne, Saab 9-7X, Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90 Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
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About Brian Chee
Prior to joining Autobytel in the Spring of 2000, Brian Chee spent 15 years as a writer and editor in his native southern California, his work appearing in a wide variety of regional newspapers and online publications. As an editor at Autobytel, Brian has been quoted in numerous regional and national publications, including the Wall St. Journal and InStyle Magazine. He is responsible for writing, editing and planning content for three of the company’s consumer websites: autobytel.com, autoweb.com and carsmart.com. His “beat” includes vehicle reviews, features, news and Auto Show coverage. Brian considers himself a “SoCal” car enthusiast: the kind who grades a car on how it handles today’s urban and suburban reality of daily traffic gridlock, rising fuel prices and fast-paced lifestyles. Brian is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Motor Press Guild, and the California State University Advisory Board for Internet Writing. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism.
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