Background: Mercedes-Benz entered the mid-size sport utility sweepstakes in the fall of 1997 when the M-Class joined the ever-expanding lineup of German-engineered vehicles. In the 2002 model year, Mercedes offers nine different segments, or “Classes” of vehicles; everything from a line of entry-luxury cars to off-road sport utilities. Several trim levels are available in each Class.
Even though the M-Class is a relative newcomer, the popular SUV category accounted for approximately 22 percent of Mercedes sales in 2001. In fact, three of nine classes, the E-Class of full-size luxury sedans and wagons, the C-Class line of mid-size sedans and coupes along with the M-Class accounted for about 67 percent of vehicles sold in the United States. The German automaker’s formula for success includes assembling a wide variety of low-volume vehicles; emphasizing comfort over quantity.
During the 2001 calendar year, Mercedes sold 206,638 vehicles in the United States, it’s best year ever. While this number pales in contrast to General Motors’ 4.9 million vehicles sold in 2001, its up considerably from 1993 when Mercedes sold only 61,899 cars. Of the 206,638 vehicles sold in 2001, 45,655 were M-Class offerings. The big M-Class news for 2002 is that the up-level, eight-cylinder ML 430 gets an engine boost, going from 4.3-liters to 5.0 liters (thus necessitating a name change to ML 500). Several inside and outside changes accompany the power boost as well. The M-Class is the only Mercedes built on U.S. soil at a plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Engines and trim levels: The luxury-appointed M-Class consists of three vehicles, each with its own unique engines. The only V-6 of the group is the ML 320 with 3.2-liter engine delivering 215 horsepower. The ML 500 replaces the ML 430 (which debuted in 1998) and boasts a 5.0-liter V-8 producing 288 horses. The high-performance, limited production ML 55 AMG (introduced in the 2000 model year) bumps up horsepower to a potent 342.
The AMG designation is used throughout several Mercedes-Benz Classes to signify vehicles with an even higher degree of braking, handling and acceleration. All AMG engines are hand-assembled and tested at a Mercedes facility in Germany. All three engines utilize sequential fuel injection with electronic throttle control.
All are mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission featuring Touchshift controls, allowing drivers to manually shift gear points without a clutch by tapping the floor-mounted gear shift. Otherwise when positioned in drive, the transmission acts as a conventional automatic transmission. Every M-Class offering has full-time, four-wheel drive with no buttons to push or levers to pull. Four-wheel drive is always in use and active.
Price: Our 2002, ML 320 test vehicle included a starting price of $36,965, an increase of $1,165 from 2001. With options including heated front seats ($635), luxury package (eight-way power front seats, leather upholstery- $16,635), sunroof ($1,295) and optional upgraded stereo ($1,200), the bottom line ended up at $42,205. The more potent, new for 2002 ML 500 checks in at $45,615 and the special edition ML 55 AMG lists for $66,565. All prices include a $665 destination charge. By comparison, BMW’s 2002 all-wheel-drive X5 SUV with six-cylinder engine starts at $38,900; an eight-cylinder edition checks in at $49,400.
Standard equipment: The ML 320 comes standard with power steering, tilt adjustable steering column, power windows, cruise control, power heated sideview mirrors, automatic climate control, power locks, roof rack, rear window defroster, intermittent front and rear windshield wipers, micron air filter, front and rear reading lights and AM/FM/cassette stereo. Options include a premium sound system with six unit compact disc player, heated front seats, eight-way power front seats, sunroof and third-row jump seats.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 110.0 inches
Overall length: 182.6 inches
Overall width: 72.4 inches
Overall height: 71.7 inches
Ground clearance: 8.7 inches
Curb weight: 4,786 pounds
Interior: The M-Class receives many new interior tweaks for 2002. The newly designed instrument cluster incorporates three circular gauges. The speedometer is located in the center circle with a digital odometer along the bottom. Flanked to the left is a fuel/temperature gauge with digital readout at the bottom. Towards the right is the tachometer with digital clock. Along the bottom of the cluster are a series of small, square, horizontally-arranged warning icons that illuminate when trouble is detected. The Modular Control System, located on the center dash, combines audio, telephone weather band and GPS navigation functions together with a square screen and telephone keypad to the right. The keypads double as radio station pre-set buttons.
Cassette tapes can be loaded directly into the system but compact discs must be loaded into a magazine found in the cargo area. While our test drive ML 320 did not include the optional navigation system or in-car telephone, just operating the radio features proved confusing at times. Our ML 320 would have benefited greatly from secondary steering wheel radio functions. Below the Modular Control System are three circular climate control dials monitoring fan speed, temperature and direction. Below are a series of horizontal buttons operating heated front seats and rear window defroster. Headlights monitor from the turn signal stalk. Front windshield wipers activate from a right-hand-side appendage.
The button activating hazard lights is on top of the steering column. The steering column is also home to the ignition cylinder. The parking brake is foot operated. Surrounding the floor-mounted automatic transmission are power lock, mirror and window controls. A bi-level storage bin, hinged in back, doubles as an arm rest. Another beverage holder projects out from the front of the storage bin. Single-unit beverage holders extend out from each end of dashboard; a nice touch. Burl walnut nuances are standard through the dashboard. Front doors include map pockets with chrome handles adorning all doors.
Seating comfort: The M-Class of sport utilities has five-passenger seating standard. Optional are third-row, side, fold-down jump seats adding two more seating positions. These third-row seats, however, have very little leg room since the floor of the cargo area is as far down as feet will descend. This third-seat area is best left for the pre-teen set.
More and more mid-size SUVs now offer third-row bench seating better accommodating seven travelers, an option showing a strong potential for growth down the road. The 2002 Ford Explorer and Mountaineer offer this option and this spring, General Motors lineup of all-new mid-size 2002 SUVs (Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy) will begin showcasing three rows of seats. The two rear doors, positioned far enough in front of the back tires, allow the doors to swing out wide enough to enable easy ingress and egress. Some compact competitors place rear doors too close to the rear tires, reducing leg room entry way. The chassis is low enough to require a scoot-in rather than a step-up movement.
Second row travelers have access to retractable dual beverage holders, ash tray and blower climate controls found between the front bucket seats. Second-row seatbacks, with a 70/30 split, fold down onto seat cushions. Cargo capacity with the middle seat up measures 34.7 cubic feet. With the seat down, that number grows to 81.2 cubic feet. While the two third-row jump seats can be completely removed from the vehicle, second-row seats always remain intact. Vehicles without the optional third-row seats include a retractable cargo cover that stretches from the second row to the lift gate when needed. Ceiling handles are above all four doors.
Exterior: The M-Class boasts several new exterior nuances in 2002 including a reworked front bumper with integrated fog lights, side-view mirrors with secondary, band-like turn signal flashers, and clearcoat headlights. All M-Class vehicles have four doors. No two-door versions are available. In front, the imposing grille includes the familiar, circular Mercedes three-point tri-star logo, tri-level horizontal bar layout and headlights incased in tri-angular housing. Rear bumpers are new as are clear glass taillights with enhanced reflectors and new tailgate trim.
The rear hatch, hinged at the top, opens from the bottom as one unit, and allows ample headroom clearance for those 6-foot-3-inches and shorter. The circular, unlocked fuel door is on the left rear fender. Strap-like door handles adorn all doors. A roof rack comes standard. The spare tire stows under the vehicle. Seventeen-inch wheels are featured on the ML 320 and ML 500. Larger 18-inch varieties are found in the AMG version.
Demographics: The average age of an M-Class buyer is 45. A majority are married and work in some sort of professional-type career. Seventy-six percent have incomes in excess of $100,000.
Safety features: New for 2002 are side curtain airbags spanning both sides of the vehicle and deploy like an air mattress protecting head and shoulders in side collisions. Each is over six feet long and 14 inches tall and helps prevent glass splinters or other objects from hitting occupants. This system works in conjunction with already existing door-mounted side air bags. The front air bags deploy at different speeds depending on the severity of the impact.
Other amenities include: brake assist, reducing stopping distances during emergency situations, front and rear crumple zones, four-channel anti-lock brakes, anti-theft system and pre-wiring for in-car phone. Also standard in all Mercedes products sold in the U.S. is Tele Aid telematics package, a global position satellite (GPS) system linking occupants with a 24-hour-a-day manned center. If air bags deploy, the system automatically opens a channel connecting occupants with the manned center. If no voice contact is established, local emergency services get dispatched. During non-emergency situations, the system can be used to arrange travel reservations and other personalized services.
Fuel economy: The ML 320 is the fuel leader of the M-Class pack, but checks in on the low end of the spectrum when compared to mid-size rivals. The six-cylinder ML 320 averages 15 miles per gallon in city travel and 19 m.p.g. on the highway. The eight-cylinder ML 430 along with the ML 55 AMG average 14 m.p.g. city and 17 m.p.g. highway. The ML 430 holds 22.6 gallons of premium unleaded fuel.
Final thoughts: Despite an overall slow economy, 2001 was a very good year for Mercedes-Benz sales in the United States; in fact, it was the best year ever. Sport utilities of all shapes and sizes are selling well and the ML 320 is no exception. In a few short years, the M-Class has risen to one of the most popular-selling segments offered by century-old Mercedes-Benz. The large number of safety features best sets the M-Class apart from its throng of competitors. The M-Class also offers optional seating for seven, a feature currently only offered in a handful of competitors. However, keep in mind the two third-row jump seats are best suited for the pre-teen crowd. |