Mercedes-Benz M-Class Review
Published: 9th November 2006
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
How It Looks - Exterior
For most people owning an expensive four wheel drive is all about kudos and status, which the M-Class slips into with ease. Where we feel the Range Rover Sport is tacky, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is more sophisticated and discrete in comparison.
How It Looks - Interior
Mercedes-Benz has followed the trend of making all their cars interiors look the same. Which is not a bad thing as their interiors are functional and well laid out, if not a little bland. There are a number of storage trays and compartments in the central tunnel. It might have been nice to see a 'real' cool box between the seats as Land Rover has fitted to certain models of the Discovery 3. We did like that the optional 6-disc autochanger had been fitted into the glove compartment, cleverly hinging itself down from the top of the compartment but this was a £360 option.
In Car Entertainment and Satellite Navigation
Our test car was fitted with a Mercedes-Benz Audio 20 Radio/ Single Slot CD player powering 8 speakers. The sound quality is more than adequate to fill the M-Class's vast cabin. Plus there was an optional 6-disc autochanger (£ 360) fitted in the glove compartment. Sadly Satellite Navigation had been left off the options list and we felt that the plastic front of the standard fit audio system 'cheapens' the dashboard and of course Sat Nav would have been beneficial on our cross country trip.
Rivals
- Audi Q7, BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery 3, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90
What We Liked
- Ride & handling
- Performance
- Fuel consumption
- Interior/exterior styling
- Easy-Pack tailgate (which opens and closes automatically)
- Bi-Xenon Active Light Headlamp System
- 7G-Tronic 7-Speed Automatic Gearbox
- AirMATIC air-suspension with level adjustment and Adaptive Damping System
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