Do not let the understated appearance of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML250 make you shy away from taking a long look at this diesel- powered sport utility vehicle.
Although Mercedes offers a wide array of crossovers and SUVs in many shapes and sizes, I found the ML250 to be a solid, subtle, sporty and hearty entry, if not a head-turner like some of its stablemates.
With its new-to-the-U.S.-market 2.1-liter twin turbo, 200 horsepower engine, this diesel-fuel-sipping SUV is an easy-driving cargo-hauling machine that offers the luxurious, upscale interior finery of the top of the fleet. Yet it's the everyday driving ease that impressed me, along with the very secure sense of wellbeing the vehicle embodies.
But it's the power plant that shines in this car. With average mileage of 26 mpg, I was able to drive the vehicle for a week in mixed driving and used just about 11 gallons out of a 24 gallon tank. What's impressive is the low-end acceleration and quickness of the SUV. A good-sized vehicle, it moves quite amiably, and although the steering has an electronic feel to it, the truck is very responsive and nimble. It's a quiet rider, too. Road noise is minimized, and the standard 18-inch wheels prove a good match.
Hop into the leather-trimmed seats, note the simple yet well crafted door panels and dash, and you'll find the ML250 makes you feel right at home. A thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel frames a two-gauge cluster with all digital information in line of sight. The steering column controls include the gear shifter, wipers, cruise settings and directionals. They are compact and literally at your fingertips. The redundant infotainment controls are classically set at your thumbs while the main controller is driven off the center console.
The standard 4Matic all-wheel drive turns through a seven-speed transmission and, along with a nice Harman Kardon sound system, rounds out some of the core features of this truck. Checking in at an MSRP of about $51,000, our tester was a well-packaged model that priced out at nearly $64,000. A moonroof with powered shade helped give the comfortable cabin a bit of an airy feel, and the legroom in the rear seats was excellent. Some of the extra goodies on the tester included the safety package featuring lane drift, blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control.
Having just tested the BMW X3 diesel a couple of weeks ago, I found both SUVs to be of excellent value and premium construction. Although the ML250 is closer to the X5 in body size, the engines compare favorably. I'd have a tough time deciding which way to go if I were in the market. If you're shopping the luxury and upscale ends of the diesel-powered SUV market, do drive these two.
The ML250 replaces the diesel-powered ML350, and although you give up some raw muscle in horsepower, you make up for it with superior mileage.
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