The Management Fleet // ML350 // Another new experience

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I love SUVs.  I love Range Rovers – in fact I’ve had numerous Range Rovers.  But more recently, the three pointed star of Mercedes-Benz has caught my eye.  With two Range Rover Vogue’s up the drive-way, a growing family and an ever burgeoning stream of visitors from the UK it was time to move towards seven seats.

Buying a seven seater was an easy decision.  Discounting the LR4 and the vast swathe of Japanese metal (aka Land Cruiser et al), there is nothing in the luxury ultra-large SUV section to compete with the Mercedes GL500.  So the deal was done, one Range Rover was sold and a new GL500 was delivered as our family bus.  We’ve been extremely happy with the GL.  TV’s for the kids and two extra seats for the grand-parents mean that we can all travel together in a single (peaceful) car now.  It also looks stunning for such a large vehicle.  Great wheels, awesome angles and a front profile that says ‘move over!’.  The bumps on the bonnet give it an even more aggressive feel and a rear stance that is awesome.

Earlier this week I was given the offer to run the ML350 for a day on my daily commute from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.  My usual hack is my Range Rover Vogue Supercharged (sadly in for some work), therefore I had rather low expectations for the ML.  It can’t possibly match a Range Rover nor a GL500.  But let’s be clear, the ML is pretending to be neither – it’s some machine in its own right.

Let’s begin with the interior.  In the Grand Edition guise it almost mirrors that of the GL500.  The build quality is excellent – the entire dash draped in matching leather trim with Bentley-esque  stitching.  Great visibility all around and a host of toys to play with.  Rear legroom is perfect for both three adults or kids alike and the boot very capable of swallowing golf clubs, shopping and strollers all at the same time.

Now the performance and ride.  This is where I expected the ML to fail – and was I proven wrong!  It’s not a sports car by a long shot but proved a spritely pace when required.  The 6-cylinder unit that Benz have added to the ML is smooth, responsive and pretty frugal…….very important when commuting 260kms daily.  And in the cruise it maintained its composure at all speed levels along SZR.

I have to say it certainly exceeded my expectations and I see the ML as a very credible contender for those that like to drive X5’s and Q7’s.  For those of you who are considering the larger GL I have one piece of advice for you – if you don’t need the two additional seats, buy the ML and pocket the change.