Test drive Mercedes Benz ML class w164 2005-2008 SUV

Off -road - comfortable

Mercedes-Benz ml has acquired a special off-robe package

I believe that it is easier to meet a bear in Moscow than Mercedes-Benz on an off-road is not the case? Cars of this brand, and even SUVs, are extremely rarely purchased for sorties to nature, hunting or fishing. One of my good acquaintances has ML, but for game, in the literal sense of the word, prefers to go to some prehistoric monster. Why? I ask. Because it’s a pity! He honestly answers. Isn't he sorry for yourself? Why experience discomfort, risk stall somewhere in a remote place, if there is an opportunity to move humanly? True, he has a regular ML, and more recently, an unusual one with an Off-Road package appeared on the market. I'll tell you about him, and let him think

We will see the difference

A fan of the brand at first glance will become clear that this Mercedes Ml is a little different. Sunctional elements of chrome inserts in the lower part of the bumper, for example, were neatly inscribed in the elegant appearance of the SUV, for example. But in the end, the model did not at all lose its inherent solidity, rather the opposite. Plus, a certain hint of brutality appeared in the car, which does not spoil, in my opinion, a general impression.

Secondly, the style of the salon has changed a bit. More chrome elements appeared and, I will say so, off -road strokes. Of course, this did not affect the highest degree at the highest level of comfort. As before, finding a convenient landing at the wheel is not a problem for that are electric drives of the seat and adjustable both in height and in departure of the steering wheel. The seats themselves remained soft, but with fairly developed lateral support, and high -quality skin Nika did not disappear. Just as in the usual ML, music sounds pleasant here, and the luggage compartment pleases with its volume, which can be increased in the moment, folding the rear seat entirely or in parts.

Technically, there are much more differences. The Mercedes-Benz ML350 with OFF-ROD received an enhanced protection of the motor compartment and, most importantly, a new chassis and a 2-speed hand-gearbox. The suspension, the settings of pneumo elements and shock absorbers were changed in such a way that on the road, almost in any conditions the car behaved with its inherent dignity and did not fail the owner.

We will feel the difference

The very first kilometers on ordinary roads showed that the work carried out somewhat changed the character of the car. The usual ML350 seemed assembled by the car, and the one with the OFF-ROD package turned out to be somehow more imposing. Apparently, for the sake of large moves of pendants, the shock absorbers made a little softer, which immediately affected the running qualities. So, the rolls of the body in corners have grown significantly, even if you lower the body to the lowest position. Partly corrects the matter of a sports algorithm for the operation of shock absorbers, which can be activated by a simple press of the button on the central console. Actually, it was he who was most often used in the test drive, since the ML350 is in order with the dynamics.

A 3.5-liter power unit gives a large jeep a very good dynamics. Accelerated acceleration, with a tangible pickup in the region of 4000 rpm. In addition, a 7-speed automatic transmission is also quite quick, which adapts to the driving style, and with the pressing of the same Sport button goes to the sports algorithm of work, holding the speed at a fairly high level to ensure a pickup at any time. It is not difficult to match the power unit and brakes, despite the long move of the pedal itself, it is not difficult to control the slowdown, and the power of the calipers with more than enough to inspire confidence in the driver. In a word, even with Off-Road a package in the city and on highways at the wheel of ML you feel quite at ease. And on off -road?

To check, I headed to a familiar area where I hoped to ride along a well -known off -road highway. However, in connection with the construction work, the track turned out to be closed, it was necessary to be content with its small, remaining untouched civilization and construction boom. Nevertheless, they were enough to make sure the ML350 with the Off-Road package is capable of much. You press the corresponding button and raise the body above the ground (the range offered by the Airmatic system changes the clearance in the range from 181 to 291 mm), block the center or immediately interdosseous and the rear differentials by turning the switch, and go! The passages of suspensions are very large, so the car is quite capable of force quite serious obstacles. In other words, what was not too happy when traveling in the city turned into an obvious plus on the road. I crossed huge puddles, climbed on a slippery slope, fell into the pits, when one, and sometimes two wheels were in the air nothing, was going! True, a somewhat alerted into the pendants, apparently, a new frame implanted into the body and representing a single whole sounds. In addition, you can still sit on ml. And let it happen not with diagonal hanging from this situation will help to come out of electronics, but with a frank fall on the belly, when the wheels spin in search of the support, light bulbs flash on the panel, and the computer begins to go crazy. But the most remarkable even after such experiments ML350 remained intact and unharmed, saved additional protection of the bottom and motor compartment.

I note that to everything else, the on -board computer constantly monitors the rotation speed of each wheels and, if necessary, directs most of the moment exactly where it is most in demand. In normal movement mode, the power of the power unit is distributed between the front and rear wheels in an equal proportion of 50:50. However, one of the wheels should be seen how the electronics immediately begin to brake it pulp, and exactly the volume of the torque that climbs from this wheel will come to others with the best adhesion to the soil.

On the descents, the DSR (Download Speed \u200b\u200bRegulation) system will help, which allows the driver to choose the speed with which he wants to go down the proposed range of 4-18 km/h. In addition, you can turn on a reduced series of transmission, which will give even greater confidence in difficult situations.

We’ll know about it

I don’t know if my friend-hunter will decide on the purchase of such ml, but it is hardly of Off-Road that the package will be in great demand. And the matter is not at all in price an off -road package increases the cost of a standard ML350 by 5,000 euros, to 77,000. The reason is that we do not drive on the off -road on Mercedes. Lovers of SUVs from Stuttgart will prefer a standard ML rather, on which, maybe not to get to the place of the fall of the Tunguska meteorite, but it is convenient in the city

Text: Andrey Osipov
Brief technical characteristics of Mercedes-Benz ML350
Engine volume, cubic meter. See 3498
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Power, l. with. at about./min. 272/6000
Max. Torque, NM at about./Min. 350/2400 5000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p. 8.4
Maximum speed, km/h 225
The average fuel consumption l./100 km. 11.5
The volume of the fuel tank, l. 95
Car mass, kg. 2060
Dimensions, mm. 4780x1911x1815
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 18 (107), 2006]