Insurance Group: 44
MPG: 32.5
CO2: 240
0-62 Mph: 7.6 secs
BHP: 228 BHP
Range: 679 miles
The Grand Edition comes with loads of features and extras, giving the cabin a smart, unique style, although the quality is let down by a couple of cheap looking materials.
The price is high, but the 4x4 does perform well and largely looks the part.
PROS: A great engine and good performance from the practical 4x4, which also comes with loads of equipment and the Grand Edition unique styling.
CONS: This is not a 4x4 to take off-road and the smooth drive suffers on bumpy roads.
The handling of the M-Class is smooth and controlled. The four-wheel-drive means great stability. The only time the drive gets a little bumpy is on very uneven road. As such, it is not a great off-roader.
The V6 engine is 2987cc and uses diesel fuel with a fuel tank capacity of 95 litres. There is a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.
The engine is refined to a near silent level and there is hardly any wind or road noise.
The 350 CDI has a 228bhp engine delivering 398lb-ft of torque at 1600-2400rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds with a top speed of 137mph.
The interior of the M-Class 4x4 is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as a stylish manufacturer. There are a few cheaper looking parts of the cabin though.
The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is comprehensive with the Command system proving easy access to the equipment such as satellite navigation and stereo, although it is a bit more distracting than the BMW’s iDrive system. The seats are supportive and comfortable. Rear visibility is a little impaired.
The 350 CDI comes with leather seats, power steering, cruise control, metallic paint, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, satellite navigation, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard.
For fuel economy, the M-Class 4x4 has a start/stop system, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
The M-Class 4x4 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has the stability control, Attention Assist system, which alerts tired drivers, the Pre-Safe anticipatory crash-protection system and a pop-up bonnet to protect pedestrians in the case of a collision.
Mercedes-Benz has a great record in reliability and came 6th in the 2011 JD Power survey out of 28 other manufacturers.
The boot is a fairly large size offering 833 litres of space with the seats up and 2050 litres with the seats folded down. The M-Class 4x4 has plenty of room in both the front and the back seats for four passengers, with a middle seat for a fifth who only has a shallow centre tunnel to deal with between their feet.
The running costs are high with the M-Class 4x4s despite the efficient engine stop/start system. The 350 CDI model costs £51,970 and has a combined economy of 32.5mpg and CO2 emission rate of 240g/km.
The price is high and the running costs equally so. The performance is great, but this is not a worthwhile investment if you need an off-road 4x4.
The amount of equipment and the cabin trim are suitably luxurious for this type of high-quality car. The Grand Edition is the best trim option available and comes with a unique look.
The resale value on the M-Class 4x4 is good and Mercedes-Benz promise good service and reliability as well, although servicing is expensive.
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