Mercedes-Benz Third Generation ML

Mercedes might have taken the big razor to the fuel consumption, but its all-new third-generation M-Class will otherwise stick to the formula for its big-selling soft roader.

With the first ever M-Class four-cylinder diesel engine stretching a tank of fuel out to as much as 1500km, a new range of petrol and diesel engines will slash up to 28 percent from the pump bill.

Based on the completely new architecture that just happens to share its wheelbase with the second-generation M-Class, its weights are claimed to be almost identical to the outgoing car, even with far more equipment and greater crash safety. Built in the United States, the new ML will offer more elbow and shoulder room in the front and the back, and more luggage capacity as well.

With seating for five and up to nine airbags, it's also safer and more spacious with greater refinement, thanks to new isolating tricks to keep the worst of the vibrations of the engines and gearboxes away from the chassis.

While there is a hybrid ML in the near future, the eco flag will be waved largely by the ML250 Bluetec, which boasts a 150kW/500Nm engine that uses just six litres of diesel per 100km. The twin-turbo four replaces the old 300CDI V6 that had exactly the same horsepower and torque, but used 28 percent more fuel, and it comes with AdBlue urea injection as standard to slash nitrogen oxide emissions.

It's the engine that will account for around 35 percent of European M-Class sales, and its outstanding economy figure means it is comfortably inside Volkswagen's much-touted Touareg Hybrid as the most economical big SUV on the market. It's so economical that it has pushed Benz's own M-Class diesel-electric hybrid out to 2013, with a fuel-consumption target of just 5.2L/100km.

It's the same story on the V6 turbo-diesel, with huge moves to reduce friction inside the diesel allowing it to generate 190kW (plus 20) and 620Nm (plus 80) from the same 2987cc capacity, while using 24 per cent less fuel. It posts 6.8L/100km on the standard 17-inch tyres, while emitting 179g/km of CO2 and can be delivered with an optional long-range fuel tank.

Boasting a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.4 seconds, it's 1.6 seconds quicker than the ML250, to become the fastest accelerating ML in the range, running out to 224km/h.

The petrol engined ML is also heavily revised, and though it keeps the same 3498cc capacity, the V6 has moved from a 90-degree vee to 60 degrees — as we reported this time last year — to eliminate the balancing shafts and smooth out vibrations.

That hasn't hurt its performance, though, because it generates 225kW (up 25) and 370Nm (up 20) to push the big Benz to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and a 235km/h top speed.

It's also far more economical, pulling the fuel consumption down from 11.4 litres per 100km to 8.5 and slipping the emissions below the 200 barrier at 199 grams.

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