Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012) Review
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Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012) At A Glance
Comfortable ride, tidy handling, excellent engines including 320 CDI, plenty of safety kit, upmarket interior.
Only has five seats, a BMW X5 is a sharper drive, expensive to buy new.
Life is full of compromises. Do you choose the Rioja because you like it, or the Chardonnay because she likes it, or settle in between for the Viura? Do you buy a small house near your work or big house 30 miles away or a medium size house in the suburbs? Do you go for a prestige 4x4 that's good off the road or one that's good on the road or one that's half good at both?
Until recently those were the choices you faced. LandRovers of all types (apart from Freelanders) were brilliant off the road but dismal on it. BMW X5s and Porsche Cayennes were the opposite. Mercedes MLs, being the first posh ‘lifestyle' SUVs, were neither. Only VW Touaregs and Range Rover Sports have proved surprisingly good wherever you point them.
With the new ML, Mercedes has decided that it won't make the decision for you. Instead, it sells the car in three different spec levels with three different wheel sizes, makes self-raising air suspension optional, and, for serious off-roaders, offers serious off-road gear as a factory fitted option.
Reviews for Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from ML300 CDI BlueEfficiency to ML63 AMG
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 11–36 mpg
The new ML is longer, wider and lower than before. Altogether more impressive without looking aggressive. It's a monococque instead of a body on a ladder frame chassis, so is much stiffer and not prone to rattles. Basic spec brings you a 7 speed automatic transmission with steering wheel rocker switches for manual gear changing and a column selector for D, R, N and P, Speedtronic cruise control with speed limiter, ABS, offroad ABS, ASR, BAS, Downhill Speed Regulator, ESP and 4-ETS.
For improved offroad ability you can specify the addition of Airmatic air suspension that enables you to increase the ground clearance to centimetres. This costs £1,265.
Having plumped for that you can go one further with ‘Off Road Pro' that increases Airmatic gound clearance to a maximum of 30 centimetres and also includes a low range transfer box, centre diff lock and centre and rear diff locks.
All new MLs can tow 3,500kg braked trailer weight. They have a 462 litre luggage area to window height, 801 litres to ceiling height and up to 2,012 litres of loadspace with the rear seats folded. It's worth mentioning here that the rear seats fold in a particularly satisfying manner. Just tip the 60/40 split squabs and fold the backrests down. They also go back down without trapping the seatbelt latches, which is a nice touch.
The range kicks off with the 224bhp 3.0 V6 320 CDI and the 272bhp 3.5 V6 350 (same price), rising to the 306bhp 5.0 V8 500. Next April we'll see a lower priced 190bhp 3.0 V6 280 CDI and next summer the terrifying prospect of a 510bhp ML 63 AMG.
We started by driving the cars off-road round a tricky course through woodland, then progressed to on-road afterwards.
The first car we drove was an ML350 Sport on 19" wheels but fitted with the Off Road Pro pack. 17" wheels with proper off road tyres would have been better for the job, but Mercedes wanted to show how it would manage on high performance road tyres.
Making the appropriate decisions is very easy. With the Off Road Pro Pack and low range selected by steering wheel rocker switch you can lock the box in D1 and use the speed limiter to select the maximum speed of your descent from 3mph to 10mph (3mph is recommended for the steep ones). Then, when you get to the bottom, use the column shift to select D and romp up the other side. It was very effective, marred only by the 350 petrol engine's relative lack of torque at low engine speeds. When cresting an ascent, the comparatively low bonnet gives you a view ahead a vital fraction of a second earlier than with square-fronted 4x4s.
We then moved on to an ML320CDI with Airmatic, but without Off Road Pro. This proved even more impressive because of the far greater low speed torque of the engine (maximum from just 1,600rpm). You drive it differently, using the DSR downhill speed regulator rather than engine braking in a low gear and it works very well. Obviously, for ultimate off road ability you would go for the ML320CDI with Airmatic and Off Road Pro on 17" wheels with off road tyres. But, as was proved, very few drivers will ever need that level of off-road ability.
And that's just as well because on the road the ML320CDI Sport shows a strong turn of speed and decent (though not sportscar) handling through the bends. You don't need to bother with the gearchange rocker switches because, as with the CLS350 I drove earlier this year, the box makes very good decisions for itself. The only downside is very low geared steering. It feels like a big 4x4, not a car, and on ultimate handling I reckon the Cayenne and some versions of the Touareg are more ‘sporty'.
Then we tried the car on standard suspension and standard 17" wheels. The ride is a little bit more comfortable on these but the car pitches and squirms and does not give a driver anything like the confidence or the pleasure of the 19" wheels. So, mystery cleared up. That's why Mercedes put us through the off road course on the 19" wheels. To show us that the best wheels and tyres for on road use could also make a decent fist of it off the road.
Any glaring faults? Well, my co-driver was a big bloke and he has some difficulty inserting himself into the driving seat under the immensely strong door frame that slopes sharply back. And with the Airmatic at maximum height, ride not only becomes bone jarring, it's a long jump down to the ground.
It's a good vehicle, though, and makes Mercedes competitive against BMW, Porsche and VW. If some sort of fuel economy is important to you, then Mercedes has a better diesel than BMW. But before you buy an X5, a Cayenne, a Touareg or a new ML you should do your homework and preferably drive all of them.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ML300 CDI BlueEfficiency | 33 mpg | 8.3 s | 230–240 g/km |
| ML350 CDI BlueEfficiency | 33 mpg | 7.6 s | 230–240 g/km |
| ML450 CDI | 27 mpg | 6.5 s | 279–292 g/km |
| ML500 | 22 mpg | 5.8 s | 304 g/km |
| ML63 AMG | 17 mpg | 5.0 s | 392 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
93%
Real MPG
11–36 mpg
MPGs submitted
243
Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (2005 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4780–4781 mm |
| Width | 1911 mm |
| Height | 1815 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2915 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2135–2315 kg |
| Boot Space | 833–2050 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £36,735–£78,430 |
| Insurance Groups | 43–50 |
| Road Tax Bands | L–M |
| Official MPG | 17.1–32.5 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | 3 |
| Pedestrian | 1 |
| Overall | 5 |
On sale until February 2012
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Grand Edition 5dr Auto | £49,875 | 32.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 5dr Auto | £42,265 | 32.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 5dr Auto | £44,815 | 32.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| ML 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Grand Edition 5dr Auto | £51,970 | 32.5 mpg | 7.6 s |
| ML 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE 5dr Auto | £44,360 | 32.5 mpg | 7.6 s |
| ML 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 5dr Auto | £46,910 | 32.5 mpg | 7.6 s |
| ML 500 SE 5dr Auto | £56,465 | 21.6 mpg | 5.8 s |
| ML 500 Sport 5dr Auto | £59,015 | 21.6 mpg | 5.8 s |
On sale until July 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| ML 450 CDI SE Auto | £54,810 | 26.6 mpg | 6.5 s |
| ML 450 CDI Sport Auto | £57,310 | 26.6 mpg | 6.5 s |
| ML 63 AMG Auto | £78,430 | 17.1 mpg | 5.0 s |
On sale until July 2009
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto | £38,905 | - | - |
| ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto | £41,352 | - | - |
| ML 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Auto | £40,912 | - | - |
| ML 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport Auto | £43,358 | - | - |
On sale until May 2009
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| ML 280 CDI SE Auto | £38,905 | - | - |
| ML 280 CDI Sport Auto | £41,352 | - | - |
| ML 320 CDI SE Auto | £40,912 | - | - |
| ML 320 CDI Sport Auto | £43,358 | - | - |
| ML 420 CDI SE Auto | £52,314 | - | - |
| ML 420 CDI Sport Auto | £54,761 | - | - |
On sale until August 2008
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| ML 280 CDI Auto | £36,735 | - | - |
| ML 320 CDI Auto | £38,785 | - | - |
| ML 350 Auto | £38,785 | - | - |
| ML 350 SE Auto | £41,535 | - | - |
| ML 350 Sport Auto | £41,535 | - | - |
Model History
January 2005
New M-Class premiered in Euorpe Summer 2005 and in UK autumn 2005. Measures 4,788mm long x 1,904mm wide x 1,811mm high, so longer and wider but slightly lower than old model.
Features standard-fit seven-speed 7G-TRONIC, PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection (as seen in S Class), AIRMATIC air suspension, more effective 4-ETS four-wheel drive system. Cd down to 0.34.
V6 320CDI takes the place of the outgoing five-cylinder in-line engine. Has 224bhp and 510nm torque from 1,600rpm. 280CDI offers 190bhp and 440Nm and also 30mpg combined. ML350 V6 petrol has 272bhp. ML500 V8 has 306bhp.
7G-TRONIC can be ordered with steering wheel shift buttons. 4ETS traction system now has downhill driving aid, start-off Assist and off-road ABS system. M-Class can be ordered with two different variants of the four-wheel drive system, allowing it to meet varying requirements of off-road drivers: a new off-road package is available as an optional extra. Has two-speed transfer case with an off-road ratio, manually or automatically selectable differential locks (100 per cent) between the front and rear axle and on the rear axle, and a modified version of AIRMATIC, which raises ground clearance by 110 mm to as much as 291 mm and the vehicle’s fording depth to a maximum of 600 mm.
Standard-fit alloy wheels and wide 235/65 R 17 (V6 models) or 255/55 R 18 (V8 model) tyres. Up to 2050 litres of load capacity. EASY PACK system makes boot area easier to load and unload. Outrageous ML 63 AMG has 510bhp and 630Nm torque. ML63AMG in UK from Summer 2006. ML280 from April 2006 from £35,175.
April 2008
Comprehensively revamped for Spring 2008:
- All-new front-end design with prominent horizontal lines
- New radiator grille with three black louvres and chrome highlights (available in sterling silver look with chrome highlights as an option in the exterior sports package)
- New-look projection-beam headlamps
- New exterior mirrors with larger mirror surfaces
- New rear bumper
- Tail lights with darkened lenses
- (LED tail lights with clear-glass look as an option)
- Twin exhaust system with oval tailpipes (rectangular chromed tailpipes in the exterior sports package as an option, standard for V8)
- Roof rails included in standard specification
- Chrome trim strip in the rub strips (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
- Waistline trim strip in chrome (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
- Load sill guard on the rear bumper in chrome (optional in the exterior sports package, standard for V8)
- Exterior sports package with new, enhanced features such as aluminium-look roof rails
What to watch out for
One reader suffered an appalling series of faults wirth a new ML purchased in July 2006: On one of her first outings with her children the gearbox failed. Further failures have occurred to the electronics, air suspension, steering etc resulting in the car having to be returned to the Mercedes dealer 11 times for repairs. 4 more faults re-emerged late June, all of which had previously been rectified under warranty.
27-08-2011:Problem of premature wear of timing chain sprocket for balancer shaft of V6 petrol engines. Mercedes Star bulletin about this. Big job. Can cost £4,000.
24-02-2012:2006 320 M Class with 65,000 miles. 3 complete electrical failures resulting in total loss of battery power and gradual shutdown of all power assisted functions. The command system totally packed up twice rendering the vehicle immobile. MB simply re-set the system with no comment on cause.
04-07-2013:Report that 265/45 R20 tyres on the front wheels of MLs only last 4,000 miles. Other wheels sizes are 17", 18" and 19" (MB dealer tols the customer it was "normal"). The smaller the wheels and the deeper the profile of the tyres, the longer they will last.
28-03-2014:Another camshaft failure of M272 engine reported in a circa 46,000 mile 2005 ML350. Engine had undergone an £11,000 repair guaranteed for 3 years 2 years and 2 months and 13,000 miles previously, but now failure seems to ahve occurred again.
03-09-2015:Failure of three wheel bearings within 11 months on 2010 ML bought used in 2014.
29-08-2018:Report of chronic unrelibility of 2011/61 Mercedes Benz ML300 bought used in December 2016. Since then the car has been returned under warranty 12 times. Items replaced under warranty have been: all four discs and pads, brake fluid changed, ride height level sensors, all four wheel speed sensors, both rear springs, front to rear brake pipes (corroded), 2 sets of towbar electrics, and now, most recently, there is a fault with the steering column. The car is currently with the Mercedes dealer and has been there since 16th August. They advised on 29-8-2018 that the replacement part will not be available until 18-10-2018.
10-02-2020:Report of problem with electronic ignition switch (EIS) of 2011 Mercedes ML350.
