Carazoo Rating: 4.5/5
The Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML320 CDI
By Sarbashish Bhattacharjee
Team Carazoo
I got an opportunity to test drive the Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML320 CDI in Bangalore recently. I spent 6 hours driving the vehicle and took it to the new Airport Road and a few off-road locations in Bangalore city with roads having plenty of potholes and very few signs of tar, with the intention to put the M-Class through a “more than standard” test.
I was extremely pleased with the outward appearance of the M-Class. It looks brilliant with its new grille. The new M-Class 320 CDI is a very tall passenger car (mid-size SUV) with a seating capacity of 5. The M-Class is comparable with the BMW X5 and Audi Q5 which are in similar price segment and with similar lists of features.
I was extremely pleased with the outward appearance of the M-Class. It looks brilliant with its new grille. The new M-Class 320 CDI is a very tall passenger car (mid-size SUV) with a seating capacity of 5. The M-Class is comparable with the BMW X5 and Audi Q5 which are in similar price segment and with similar lists of features.
Inside the Vehicle
The Mercedes Benz M-Class comes with a dual tone dashboard with high quality interior materials that are desired in a luxury SUV of its kind. It packs plenty of features for comfort and convenience - power leather seats, paddle shifters, cruise control, climate control zone settings for front and rear passengers, and TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System).
One thing I cannot miss mentioning is the Air Conditioning system which is really powerful. I stepped out for lunch for an hour leaving the vehicle in an open parking spot. When I climbed back into it later, the cabin was blistering hot. I rolled down the windows and switched on the AC and in a few seconds, the interiors cooled.
The centrally located dashboard carries a large LCD screen with reversing camera display, Bluetooth connectivity, keypad and more. The multi-function steering wheel has fingertip controls to allow you to take calls while driving, change the volume level of the audio system, and change the menu/sub-menu of the centre console. I really liked the Telematic Systems Audio20 sound system on the vehicle.
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are located on the right hand side of the steering column. This is where we normally find the turning signal indicator lever. Similar deviation from the common trend is seen with other switches as well. The controls for main beam headlamps and headlamp flasher are located to the left of the steering column. Indian drivers who are not accustomed to Mercedes’ design concept for controls will require some time to adapt to it. Initially, I faced this problem of adaptability while changing lanes as I was looking for the turning indicator lever on the right side of the steering column. If you already own a Mercedes-Benz, you will probably never encounter this problem!
In the M-Class, the mirrors do not cover much area around the vehicle. You have to regularly stretch your look across your shoulders while changing lanes and at times even bend forward to check the side mirrors. For a passenger car of this build and size, the area covered by the mirrors is disappointing.
The driver’s door control panel is neatly laid out. Without reading the manuals, it is possible to figure out the controls from accompanying symbols and a little playfulness on your part. It is extremely user friendly.
Safety
Mercedes-Benz is extremely well known for safety and the M-Class holds the manufacturer’s reputation in good stead. This vehicle has some fantastic safety features. Mentioned below are a few:
a) ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
This feature monitors the vehicle’s drive stability and traction i.e. power transmission between the tyres and the road surface. It is not recommended to deactivate the ESP®. If ESP® detects that the vehicle is deviating from its regular course as desired by the driver, brakes are engaged on one or more wheels to stabilize the vehicle. The engine output is also modified if necessary to keep the vehicle on the desired course within physical limits. ESP® assists the driver when pulling away on wet or slippery roads. The system can also stabilize the vehicle during braking. To activate/deactivate ESP®, press the switch that is provided in the centre console control panel.
b) DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
DSR is an aid to assist you when driving downhill. It keeps the speed of travel at the speed set on the on-board computer. The steeper the downhill gradient, the greater the DSR braking effect on the vehicle. When driving on flat stretches of road or on an uphill gradient, the DSR braking effect is minimal or non-existent. The speed is set to 6 km/h at the factory. You can only activate DSR when driving at speeds below 30 km/h. To increase or decrease the speed of the DSR, briefly press the cruise control switch in upward or downward direction. The DSR switch is available in the centre console control panel as well.
c) ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that the wheels do not lock when you brake. This gives you the freedom to continue steering the vehicle while braking. ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h and upwards regardless of road surface conditions. It works well on slippery surfaces even if you brake gently.
d) Airbags in different positions and all-round the cabin
Driver’s front airbag, front passenger front airbag, front and rear side airbags, and window airbags. This meets the high safety standards.
e) Automatic Door Locking
The doors of the vehicle automatically lock after the vehicle starts moving and reaches a certain speed.
Engine, Transmission & Performance
When I first started the engine, I was unable to tell if it was petrol or a diesel engine as it was absolutely quiet, besides the vehicle had absolutely no cabin noise. You will never feel that the engine is running and it is really smooth. Personally, I don't think any other make keeps its diesel engines as quiet as Mercedes, and the M-Class 320 CDI is definitely one of the quietest. The engine is environment-friendly not only in terms of noise but also in emissions as it employs Mercedes-Benz’s clean diesel technology.
The vehicle is assisted by a 7G-tronic (7 Speed Automatic Transmission). The good thing about the 7G-tronic is that the gear change processes are optimized not to allow noticeable gear shifts so as to enhance driving pleasure. Overtaking a vehicle with the help of sudden acceleration gives you a feeling of controlling the gear changes with a stick shift. While braking rapidly or accelerating very quickly, the 7G-tronic skips individual gears and takes it directly to the optimum gear. The M-Class is equipped with a 4-Matic transmission system which delivers power to all the 4 wheels. This is a term used by Mercedes Benz for AWD (All Wheel Drive). The 4Matic is best suited for driving through slippery terrain. It will also help in keeping the vehicle stable when it is snowing, although I doubt we need to take this into consideration in India (with few exceptions)!.
The heart of the M-Class CDI is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine which churns out 234 bhp. It does 0-100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds. In my test drive, I could go up to 180 km/hour while heading towards Bangalore from the Bangalore International Airport. It was raining heavily and I was pleased to discover that the vehicle has rain sensing wipers which got activated automatically. The Vehicle and I both were very comfortable taking sharp turns and going around tight corners. The vehicle didn’t skid at all as it has a good traction control system. I also went through a large body of water that had accumulated at the corner of the road and the vehicle just passed over it with ease.
Ride Quality
One of the key features of the vehicle is the airmatic suspension package with ADS (Adaptive Damping System) which comes in 3 modes (Auto, Sports and Comfort). These modes can be changed on the fly using the console module switch. Because of the airmatic suspension, even if you go on a full load, the level of the vehicle from the road is maintained. In other vehicles, you will find that due to load, the ground clearance of the vehicle reduces. So even with full load, you can take on the big humps of the city roads. This is a big plus point for this vehicle.
In my test drive, I have used all the 3 modes of the airmatic suspension package. In the sports mode, the vehicle gets lowered but you will not enjoy the ride as you will get direct feedback of the road surface conditions. This is ideal if you are driving over a smooth surface and you will get a better handling of the vehicle. One thing I noticed is that though I kept the ADS mode set to COMF (Comfort), I was getting direct feedback from the road surface if it had small stones/ pebbles. The tyres used in this vehicle had short sidewalls and I believe the vehicle would do better with tyres with taller sidewalls, as they would deliver a better cushioning effect.
The Mercedes-Benz M-Class 320 CDI is a soft off-roader as it comes with limited off-road packages and capabilities.
Features of the M-Class at a Glance
- Fuel efficient in its class.
- Excellent Braking System
- Abundant Safety Features
- HID Headlamps
- Good Audio System
- Automatic Door Locks
- Power Leather Seats
- Cruise Control
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
- Automatic Climate Control System
- Reversing Camera
- Advantage over BMW X5 is the spare wheel. The X5 does not carry a spare wheel and its run-flat tyres are expensive and the costs of replacing each tire can go above Rs 15,000.
Downsides of the M-Class
- Side mirrors should be slightly wider.
- 5-seater only. No option of 3rd row seat (Probably you need to pay extra)
- Spare wheel gives an awesome look to the rear but makes it difficult to spot two-wheelers/3-wheelers that are tailgating you in city traffic. You have to brake carefully. Also makes parking difficult.
- Does not have an upmodule kit. So, if you left the windows rolled down and you lock the vehicle, the windows will not roll up! A vehicle with a price tag upwards of Rs 52 Lakhs should have this as standard feature.
- Due to large size of vehicle, parking in tight spots is a huge feat even when assisted by the reversing camera.
