There is a certain air one develops when driving a Mercedes. It is not arrogance or a feeling of superiority, but rather the knowledge that you are driving one of the best brands of automobiles made in the world. And you pay for those benefits. But who can put a price on beauty, safety, convenience, and the great dynamic of the driving experience?
Each year I get to drive over a hundred new cars. Some of these vehicles may not be released to the public for several months, yet the opportunity is presented to automobile reviewers for their consideration. The Mercedes ML 550 SUV that I drove this week was the best and finest vehicle that I have driven this year.
Now the cost of this loaded version ($67,800) is not for the faint of heart. Yet the experience and noble feeling one gets from the driving experience may not be for everyone anyway. If you are a rugged individual who likes to go "mudding" or make monthly trips to the deer lease, then the ML550 is probably not the car for you. If you want to tow a car behind your motor home as you visit national parks, then the ML 550 is not the car for the task. Should you want to teach your 16-year-old daughter to drive, I suggest another vehicle. But if you like the power of a sports car that accelerates so fast you can get a nosebleed, then the ML550 may be the car for you.
"Safety. It is a matter of brains, as well as brawn," says a Mercedes slogan. Mercedes proves that with numerous safety features. The Electronic Stability Program senses wheel spinning or extreme under steering or over steering, and adjusts power and braking to help correct the situation. Each Mercedes vehicle has a frame constructed with high-strength/low-alloy that has a crumple zone. This zone helps to absorb and deflect the force of a collision. And every outboard seat enjoys air-bag protection, and in most cases, multiple-air-bag protection. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the vehicle a 5-star crash safety rating.
Mercedes-Benz SUV features unibody construction, making the vehicle comfortable, responsive, ands very pleasurable to drive.
The engine is powerful, whether you select the 6-cylinder found in the ML 350 or 8-cylinder gasoline engine found in the ML550. Under the ML 550's hood is 382 hp with the 5.5-liter engine. There is a standard 4-wheel drive with the ML550, along with 391 lbs of torque and 2,000-4,800 rpm.
Dual Climate Control and activated charcoal dust and pollen filter make the Mercedes' cab clean, quiet, and environmentally sound. Heated seats and a leather-trimmed steering wheel along with maple wood trim add additional luster to the aluminum trim on console assist handles.
This is just a brief sketch of the experience and feeling I derived from test-driving the ML550. The report could be expanded into several pages laden with reasons why the ML 550 is such a terrific car.
Durhl Caussey writes a syndicated car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net
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