  2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
Review and photos by Justin Pritchard
With over 900 kilometres on the trip meter since my last fill, the Mercedes ML 350 Bluetec’s ‘refuel me please’ light illuminated just before I reached the gas station. A few moments, a little math, and over 90 litres of pungent, sudsy diesel later, and I had a tank average consumption figure of 10.2 L/100 km.
That’s considerably less than I’ve put through any number of similarly sized, gas-powered SUV models with considerably less power output. Actually, it’s better than a Ford Fusion AWD. I didn’t even slog that machine through any mud ruts, either.
This early-spring fill-up covered about 450 clicks worth of highway cruising between 110 and 120 km/h, as well as daily in-town jaunts to the grocery store, gym, mall, and coffee shop.
And, the kicker: the driving included on this measured tank also included two heavy-footed jaunts down my favorite terribly-rutted, muddy camp-road to test out the ground clearance and 4Matic traction and goof about in the dirt a little.
With less off-roading and speeding, I’d have seen consumption fall under 10 L/100 km.
So, here’s a luxury hauler built to get you, your people and your things off to the cottage or slopes or mall or soccer field in the lap of luxury. With the “Bluetec” diesel engine on board, the ML’s priorities are widened to include improved fuel efficiency and manly-man torque output, too.
Diesel engines make loads of torque without burning through their fuel supply like an orbit-bound rocket thruster. My tester had more of the stuff than all but the most enormous gas V8 engines on the road, but still turned in fuel economy on par with a family sedan.
Remember: torque is the all-important figure when you’ve got to get something heavy moving – like a train, transport truck, or luxury ute with a trailer in back.
Largely because they used to be obnoxiously noisy, smelly and smoky powerplants, diesel engines have a reputation for being obnoxious, smelly and smoky powerplants. But more shoppers are catching on that today, owning a diesel doesn’t mean generation of greasy emissions that could be harvested for chemical warfare. Diesel engines no longer stink or sound like a washing machine full of wrenches or barf out obnoxious clouds of soot.
   2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
Performance is interesting. Heaping mounds of torque are delivered in a shapeless, flat and unexciting power curve. The seven-speed transmission prefers to use a higher gear – utilizing that torque, sans-downshift, to glide things along. Punch it hard, and you just get an instant, tremendous surge of forward thrust delivered with a quiet effortlessness.
Does she ever roll some coal when you give ’er the boots. This thing hauls.
The engine bay is, admittedly, lined with more soundproofing than a recording studio, but still, you barely hear a peep from the boosted V6 most of the time.
The 4Matic 4×4 system has no low-range or locking mode for serious off-roading, but in most every situation I tossed the ML’s way, the computer calling the shots knew what was up. There was minimal wasted wheel spin, and in some situations you can actually ‘feel’ it working the power around to extract the most traction possible from the ground beneath.
When a little pre-emptive wheel spin is required, the ESC system can be dialed down several notches with a quick tap on the console-mounted button.
It’s all taken in from a cabin that’s formal and understated, not overly techy and styled like a piece of space travel equipment. From the driver’s seat, you get a commanding forward view, even if step-in proved a little awkward for your writer thanks to the wide rocker panels and step rails bolted to them.
    2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
Steering wheel mounted controls manipulate the driver computer, stereo and phone systems, and fully automatic operation from the lights, wipers and climate control turn in ‘set it and forget it’ operation.
In all, the cabin is classy and comfortable and very easy to relax and socialize in. The below-expected levels of wind and road noise, even at higher speeds, helped here, too.
My tallest rear-seat passengers, one maxing out at six-foot-four, had enough room in the rear seat row, and I found plenty of at-hand storage for all of my smaller items, too.
   2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
A fast-acting powered tailgate adds convenience, and includes a ‘close and lock’ button to secure the ML with a single touch if your hands are full of stuff that doesn’t include the key fob.
The ride is tuned nicely between responsiveness and comfort, more towards the latter. On the highway, I imagined German engineers around a table debating suspension calibrations – and what they agreed on works nicely. The ML rides quietly and with a composed and solid feel over all but the biggest potholes and bumps. Smaller imperfections in the road, like tar strips, paint lines and even rumble-bumps simply aren’t felt inside.
Only over severe washboard and rut-laden surfaces did the ride get uncomfortable and noisy. I’d peg the ML’s ride quality on extremely rough surfaces about the same as its off-road worthy competitors. Let’s call it a six out of ten. It’s still the Toyota 4Runner, Land Rover LR4 and Jeep Grand Cherokee that ride the most comfortably over the nasty stuff.
On the highway, the ML is laid back and soft footed, but without riding like a complete sponge cake. Steering feels locked on and dense at speed, though added power assist for parking makes the wheel light as a feather. Impressively tight turning circle for such a big ute, too.
I also noted fantastic performance from the adaptive xenon lights, which flood and saturate the road and treeline ahead with clean light that points into bends when you steer.
In typical Harman/Kardon fashion, the stereo is punchy, clear and all-around potent for playback of anything from Phil Collins to Rage Against the Machine to Skrillex. I wondered if Mercedes personnel would notice if their tester came back with the speakers from my 1993 Toyota MR2 installed instead. Tradesies!?
A few complaints did surface.
Key among them was the head-scratching layout to the controls around the steering wheel. This saw the column-style, tap-activated gear shifter mounted at 2 o’clock, where the wiper controls should be. The wiper controls are mounted to an awkward dial at the end of the turn signal lever, which is mounted at 10 o’clock. The cruise control, which should be at 5 o’clock, is at about half-past 8. With only an hour and a half between cruise and turn signal controls, my fingertips frequently signaled left or activated the high beams when trying to slow or cancel the cruise control.
Additionally, I had to stop myself numerous times from popping the ML into Reverse or Park when trying to clean the windshield. At highway speeds, that would be an expensive mistake.
  2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec Diesel. Click image to enlarge |
Did I mention that the ML will actually shift into park while moving?
Here’s how I know: while travelling at crawling speed, I spotted a sharp rock in a mud rut and unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door and leaned out to ensure proper tire placement. Common practice. The ML reacted by slamming itself into park and beeping out a warning to buckle back up. Thank goodness I was barely moving. Turns out, it doesn’t like to be in motion when a door opens.
End of the day, though, here’s a ute that provides relaxing, capable, comfortable and extremely fuel-efficient operation in virtually any weather or driving situation. The luxury and technology are very much a part of the driving experience too, though far from ‘in your face’ about it.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, the ML 350 Bluetec should be given your immediate attention – alongside comparable diesel machinery from Jeep, Audi and BMW.
What’s Hot: comfortable, classy, moderately capable, fantastic on fuel, heaps of power
What’s Not: tall step-in height, confusing controls around steering wheel, fussy navigation system
Pricing: 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec
Base price: $59,500
Base price (ML 350 Bluetec): $61,000
Options: Bi-Xenon Headlamps Package ($1,000); Premium Package ($5,500); Driving Assistance Package ($800); Aluminum Running Boards ($750); Rear Seat Entertainment Package ($2,400)
Freight: $2,075
AC Fee: $100
Price as tested: $73,625
Competitors
Audi Q7
Acura MDX
BMW X5
Infiniti FX
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover LR4
Lexus RX
Porsche Cayenne
