Mercedes-Benz ML AMG 63 2007 Review

Road test

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 4.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

Mercedes' first generation ML soft-roader was, apart from the longstanding Range Rover, among the first of the luxury soft-roaders to jump on the SUV bandwagon when it was launched back in 1998. It was more than adequate on and off-road -- for light duty excursions -- although initially there were some concerns that the vehicle was not up to the usual Mercedes quality.

With a traditional body on frame chassis, it was not the most dynamic of vehicles on the blacktop and with a relatively soft suspension and two-tonne plus mass, it tended to roll about a bit when pushed. Arguably when AMG tightened things up and dropped a 255kW/510Nm 5.4-litre V8 under the bonnet, it was not one of the go-fast arm's better end products.

But now we have an all-new second generation ML that has moved to a monocoque construction and, overall, is vastly improved in its on-road handling and off-road capability. Indeed the remake has pushed it back up towards the top of the ladder among its now wider group of rivals including brand luminaries such as Audi, VW, Honda, Lexus, Range Rover, and of course, BMW.

So with a much better package to start with, this time around the AMG version comes up trumps as a very competent, very fast and eminently fun-to-drive SUV with a sportscar heart.

That heart is AMG's first ever ground up engine -- a monster 375kW/630Nm 6.3-litre V8. The ML 63 is the cheapest means of driving this engine in the AMG range which also finds its way under the bonnets of CLK, CLS and E-class models.

How much cheaper? In comparison to an E 63 Estate, a staggering $73,700 cheaper!

Despite the V8's peak outputs being high in the rev range (6800 and 5200rpm for power and torque respectively) from the moment you press the ML's accelerator pedal, the car surges off the line with very serious intent. While you do feel the weight of the vehicle such is the massive torque available that urgent thrust, no matter what the speed, requires little more than a decent prod of the throttle.

There is a price to pay, however, for enthusiastic driving with the car slurping premium unleaded at a rate that for our test averaged about 16lt/100km.

Mated to a very slick and seamless seven-speed automatic transmission (that offers Comfort, Sport and Manual operating modes for faster response times) the engine delivers its power in a very smooth and linear fashion and will keep pulling right through to the upper reaches of the rev band.

The transmission can also be shifted manually using the steering wheel mounted buttons for when you want to hold gears for enthusiastic driving. The permanent all-wheel drive system is split 40:60 under normal driving conditions giving the car a natural rear-drive bias in line with its performance capabilities.

The car sits on an adaptive air suspension that, as you would expect, has a default setting that is well and truly on the firm side. Nevertheless, on smooth freeway it remains suitably comfortable.

Despite being a spacious, practical and high riding SUV, the ML 63 handles as close to a sportscar as it possibly could given its obvious physical limitations. With the Airmatic suspension switched to Sport mode, the steering is delightfully sharp and responsive, and the car sits very flat and firm on the road.

Even over poor surfaces, it remains true to the desired line with an abundance of grip courtesy of the all-wheel drive and big fat tyres and only an ever-slight tendency to skip a little over really chopped up corners.

From the outside, the car dictates its intent as sports machine rather than an off-roader. Big 19-inch wheels with fat 295/45 tyres sit under an imposing body that sports a subtle body kit with front and rear aprons, flared wheel arches and stainless-steel running boards. At the rear dark-tinted taillights and the sports exhaust system with two sets of chromed twin tailpipes further adds to the sports flavour.

Stepping inside, the theme continues with big-bolstered front seats that are a little too narrow, an AMG leather-wrapped sports steering wheel with gearshift buttons and a range of alloy trim highlights.

And there is no shortage of luxury features either with full leather trim, power windows, mirrors, front seats, sunroof and tailgate, climate control for front and rear, satnav, reversing camera, rear DVD entertainment system and an excellent Harman/Kardon six-stack CD audio system.

Despite its SUV underpinnings, the ML 63 AMG is a car that can, and yearns to be, driven hard and it responds in kind offering the sort of driving dynamics and performance that few others in its class can match.

To read CarPoint/Carsales review of the Mercedes-Benz AMG '63' range click

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