Test Drive Mercedes Benz ML-Class W166 since 2011 SUV
Off-road - with comfort
Mercedes-Benz ML acquired a special off-road packageI suppose it is easier to meet the bear in Moscow than the Mercedes-Benz on off-road isn't it? Cars of this brand, and even SUVs, are extremely rarely purchased for rims on nature, hunting trips or fishing. One of my kind familiar has ML, but for a game, in the literal sense of the word, prefers to go on some prehistoric monster. Why? I ask. Because it is a pity! Honestly answers. But not a pity? Why experience discomfort, risk stall somewhere in a blind spot, if you can move in human? True, he has a regular ML, and quite recently an unusual off-road package appeared on the market. I'll tell you about him, and he thinks
We will see the difference
The fan of the brand at first glance will understand that this Mercedes ML is a bit different. In the elegant appearance of the SUV gently fit off-road elements chrome inserts at the bottom of the bumpers, for example. But as a result, the model did not lose its inherent solidity inherent in it, rather, on the contrary. Plus, a certain hint of brutality appeared in the car, which does not spoil at all, in my opinion, the overall impression. Secondly, the stylistics of the salon changed a little. There were more chrome elements and, I will say so, off-road strokes. Of course, it did not affect the highest level of comfort. Still, it is still a convenient landing behind the wheel is not a problem that there are electric drives and adjustable both in height and by departure the ram. The seats themselves remained soft, but with rather developed side support, and the high-quality skin has not disappeared. Just as in the usual ML, music sounds pleasantly sounds, and the luggage compartment pleases its volume, which in a moment you can increase, folding the back seat completely or in parts.
Technically, the differences are much more. Mercedes-Benz ML350 with Off-Road Package has received reinforced motor compartment protection and, most importantly, a new chassis and a 2-speed dispensing transmission. The suspension, the settings of the pneumatic elements and the shock absorbers changed so that both the car behaved on the off-road, almost in any conditions the car behaved with his own dignity and did not let the owner.
Feel the difference
The first kilometers on ordinary roads showed that the work carried out somewhat changed the nature of the car. The usual ML350 seemed to the car collected, and the one that with off-road package turned out to be some more impulua. Apparently, in the please, the shock absorbers made a little softer, which immediately affected the driving qualities. So, the casual rolls were significantly grown in turns, even if they lower the body to the lowest position. Partly corrects the case of the sports algorithm for the shock absorbers, activate which can be simply pressing the button on the central console. Actually, it was most often used in the process of a test drive, because with the dynamics of the ML350 everything is in order.
The 3.5-liter power unit gives a large jeep very good dynamics. Acceleration confident, with a tangible pickup around 4000 rpm. In addition, there is a rather terminal and a 7-speed ACP, which is adapted to the style of driving, and pressing the same Sport button goes to a sports algorithm of work, while holding the speed at a sufficiently high level to ensure the pickup at any time. By becoming a power unit and brake, despite the length of the pedal itself, it is not difficult to control the deceleration, and the power of the calipers is more than enough to instill confidence in the driver. In short, even with off-road package in the city and on the highways behind the wheel, ML feel quite in its plate. And on off-road? To check, I headed for a familiar area where I was hoping to ride through a well-known off-road track. However, due to the construction work, the track was closed, I had to be content with its small, remaining intact civilization and construction boom sites. However, they were enough to make sure the ML350 with Off-Road package is capable of much. You press the appropriate button and raise the body over the ground (the range offered by the AirMatic system changes the clearance in the range from 181 to 291 mm), block the inter-axis or immediately inter-axis and rear differentials with the rotation of the switch, and go ahead! Suspension moves are very high, so that the car is quite bye forces to force quite serious obstacles. In other words, what was not too pleased with the ride in the city turned out to be an obvious advantage of off-road. I forced huge puddles, climbed on slippery skate, fell into the pit, when one, and sometimes two wheels turned out to be in the air, rides! True, a few alarmed embroidents in the suspensions apparently sounds a new frame that implanted in the body and representing a single whole. In addition, it is still possible to sit on ML. And let it happen to the diagonal hanging from this situation, the electronics will help, and with a frank fall on the belly, when the wheels are spinning in search of support, light bulbs flashes on the panel, and the computer begins to go crazy. But the most remarkable, even after such experiments, the ML350 remained intact and unharmed, the additional protection of the bottom and the engine compartment saved.
I note that all the time the on-board computer constantly monitors the speed of rotation of each of the wheels and, if necessary, sends most of the moment where it is most in demand. In the usual mode of motion, the power of the power unit is distributed between the front and rear wheels in an equal proportion of 50:50. However, it stands one of the wheels to check how the electronics will immediately begin to determine it, and exactly the volume of torque that the wheel is taken from this wheel, will come to others having a better grip with the soil. The DSR system will help on the descents, which allows the driver to choose the speed with which he wants to descend the proposed range of 4-18 km / h. In addition, it is possible to include a reduced series of transmissions, which will give even greater confidence in difficult situations.
Amquate
I do not know whether my friend-hunter will be decided on the purchase of such a ML, but hardly off-road package will enjoy great demand. And the case is not at all in the price of the off-road package increases the cost of the standard ML350 by 5,000 euros, to 77,000. The reason is that our off-road on Mercedes do not go. Lovers of SUVs from Stuttgart will prefer the standard ML, on which, maybe and do not get to the place of falling Tungusse meteorite, but in the city convenient
Text: Andrei Osipov
Brief specifications Mercedes-Benz ML350
Engine volume, cube. See 3498.
Number of valves per cylinder 4
Power, l. with. for rpm. 272/6000
Max. Torque, nm at rpm. / Min. 350/2400 5000.
Acceleration up to 100 km / h, p. 8,4.
Maximum speed, km / h 225
Middle fuel consumption l. / 100 km. 11.5
Volume of fuel tank, l. 95.
Mass of the car, kg. 2060.
Dimensions, mm. 4780x1911x1815
