Test Drive Mercedes Benz ML-Class W166 since 2011 SUV

In sports amplua

After parting with the spa frame, the M-Class claims the title of king asphalt soldiers.




Yes, he is completely different!
Moscow drivers know: a turn with a large stone bridge on a moss is a great place to check the stability of the car on the prience. Haling gas under the socio, leaving the outer radius, leaving the crowd of the strains to the right ... No, the speed, perhaps, is highly fit in almost the limit. But for the sacrifice, the new Mercedes-Benz stands in turn quite well.
 

It is not confused with the same: the increasing slope of the front racks lengthened the rear Sve, the wheels of the larger diameter. Being below just 5 mm (and it seems to be at least 50), the car no longer looks like a labast. It is much more important that the center of the mass of the ML ML of the second generation has received the body carrying the body. In addition, already at 75 mm, the rut expanded, which is much more responsible to the aspirations of those who love to ride quickly.
 

It is easy to imagine how the old M-class would believe, I wrap it on a moss at the same speed. The choice would be small: either stupidly hold the steering wheel, feeling how the right wheels are removed from the asphalt (oh, it is necessary to finish on the roof the test drive car for 80,000 euros), or straighten the trajectory and plow green hodges at the foot of the house Pashkov.
 

So, the main focus on fast ride on asphalt. In addition to the increased rigidity of the body of the cruise, the chassis is radically changed. Torsions in the front suspension gave way to springs, and the top transverse levers The Germans carried out as high as possible. The rear suspension has become a multi-dimensional passenger, highway solution, not so often occurring at jeeps. However, the twisted springs, apparently, are present in the Thawy new emelki purely nominally: Well, who, tell me, giving 60,000 euros, will regret 2424 euros on adaptive pneumatic suspension with hardness adjustment and road lumen? On the carpeclock, the pneumatics allows you to raise the car by 80 mm, and at speeds over 100 km / h automatically reduces the clearance of 15 mm for the sake of such versatility and it was worth to invent the asphalt sacrifice.
 

 
The rapid silhouette and far from the all-terrain road clearance M-Class really became completely different
    


And if still cooler?

The one who has little 272 liters. With. Or you need a Mercedes-Benz with a ladies in more powerful, can buy ML500 with the V-shaped eight in 306 liters. With. Its maximum speed is already 240 km / h. In the starting configuration, it is more expensive for 23,000 euros, but this amount already includes 3-zone climates-control of the terrorist, leather interior with wood trim and multi-constructive front seats, chrome trim, mirrors with automatic darkening, rain sensor and a grid separating the trunk From the cabin. Special series for ML500 is not provided, since buyers of such cars do not save on trifles. Only here the coolest sacrifice of the firm five hundred will not be long. In order not to disagree before the guys, you will have to sell it in 2006 in 2006. The Germans will roll out a much more expensive and prestigious ML63AMG with a 510-strong motor and acceleration from a seat up to 100 km / h in 5 seconds.




Spacious, more convenient, safer
We just wanted to check first of all his high-speed qualities. Therefore, they chose the ML350 with the so-called sports package. In order for the appearance of the machine to fully comply with its changed character. Outside, such a version is distinguished by 5-spoke 19-inch wheels against 4-spoke 17-inch on the usual 350-M, darkened rear lamps and an abundance of chromium on the radiator grille, moldings, rear bumpers and exhaust pipes.
 

Salon under the exterior. Sports leather with inserts from Alcantara seats suede, aluminum lining on the doors and handrails of the central tunnel, glitter perforated stainless steel on pedals ... And what are the high, shiny glasses of the speedometer and tachometer!
 

Landing behind the wheel is impeccable, the electrically regulating seats perceive as a given. Controls are easily accessible, I did not notice any inconvenience. Mercedesov's custom to give rest to the right hand of the driver, having a cluster of the steering wheel switches on the left, here, perhaps, justified. After all, the convenient American ACP selector is shoved on the right.

 
   
Darken rear lights are included in the sports package.

Rear passengers have its climate control console and a pair of 12-volt sockets

In a convenient armrest table, the cup holders are located


Behind the entourage of the prestigious car is still an intelligent autonomous climate control panel, it is clearly hinting at the fact that the car owner will be on his pocket and personal driver. Prostor, rear passengers added not only the grown sizes, but also notches for knees in the backs of the front seats. And yet, remembering sacrifice luxury from Sweden and Japan, I was a little disappointed. Where are the longitudinal salads of the rear seats? Where is the separate adjustment of the back of the back? And further. For the whole day I could not adapt to the doors, slamming them only one click. It is known that the Germans fell behind the Japanese in the softness of the triggering of the castles, but they could put closers on such heavy doors as on the S-class.
 



We chase?
I barely tried from the scene, you understand this car I want to go fast. The former M-class, even with a more powerful V8, gave such a feeling except on the desert, running over the horizon of the motorway. And this can be cleaned, despite the pedalization of the prospectus protracted by machines. Herd out of 272 horses in the city is enough for his eyes enough to make a desire to overtake it, and you will always be the first. The new 7-speed automatic (the M-class now is equipped only in such a way) it seemed not to be so agile as a similar unit on the CLS sedan. Let only half a second pause the pause of the power flow break when switching, but for such a expensive car and this is a bit too much. In manual mode, pressing the keys on the back of the steering wheel, you can join transmissions with ahead. But it does not want to do this with a pseudo-alone switching method, the hydrotransformer does not smooth the jerk in the transmission, and the comfortable leisure of Mercedes-Benz begins to twitch nervously.

 
   
The central console is sleeping with buttons, but it is easy to understand them

On the left, next to the traditional light switcher exhaust handbrake. Pulling it, let go of a push scissor

What is Mercedes-Benz without shooting hours? I can not get the principles ...


But how cool to control the automaton in the parking lots! The girdle lever is, in fact, not even a selector that is taken to choose from a variety of unnecessary one needed, peering into the beaks on the scale, but a simple two-position switch. Without leaning the view from the road, and the hands from the steering wheel, and not afraid to push the poker to the mysterious mode 2, which will come in handy only in life, push the punch up: reverse. Now down and we are again in the drive. Yes, with this machine, I turn in a close courtyard as quickly as with mechanics! As instantly, by pressing the button on the end of the lever, the ACP is translated into parking mode from any position.
 

The traffic jams stayed behind, and I climbed, circling back through, like chips. The suspension and steering are gorgeous except in the most extreme turns, I would prefer an alternative in the form of an E-class in the all-wheel drive version of the company. However, if I missed a deep pothole, Emelka will simply crack off the annoyance and bend the nose, as a last resort, it will stop the meter to the side. But after all, it will meet! The passenger sedan after such a grill is likely to be dragged to the service on the tow truck. And on the sough you can also go from the asphalt.

 
  
Impossible possible racing perforated pedals and automatic

With a five-seater salon, the volume of the trunk is 550 liters. But folding the back seat (if you like parts), the space for booties can be increased to 2050 liters.


True, I did not intentionally check the ML350. For fans of soldier adventures in Stuttgart, a package of office was developed. About which we will definitely tell in one of the nearest rooms. The athletic version is designed to overcome the typical city crossed borders, steps, shallow ditch in the park. But it is obvious that with such a clearance, a constant full-wheel drive and electronic brazing of any of the Zabuxed wheels, ML does not save in the snow-covered yard, and on the primer to a unfinished cottage.
    
Mahane sneakers on swamp boots?

Paying only 2500 euros, you will receive a pack of OF-Road-Pro, which includes a rigid blocking of the mid-scene and rear differentials, downward (not even twice, and almost tripled!) Transferring in a distribution and a longer-speed pneumatic suspension that allows you to increase clearance up to 291 mm. And, of course, the protection of the Carter. And besides the built-in compass, so as not to get lost in the wilderness. To bring all this all-time equipment to the options is very successful thought, given that those who want to break the bumpers and mive the thresholds, drove the lacquered shoe on the forest rectack, will be a bit.
 

In fact, dividing one universal model into two special, Mercedes-Benz significantly improved the highway qualities of its M-class, retaining the advantage over off-road competitors. After all, the nearest rivals, for example, BMW-X5 and Volvo-hs90 typical parquets. As for the diesel version of the emulka, the most suitable for off-road, it is unlikely that it will be popular in Russia, given that it is worth the ML320CDI as much as ML350, yielding to him in good 48 liters. With.




Special Charm of Special Series
One who, contrary to the rules of etiquette, is interested in prices of yachts and mercedes, is unlikely to please that the M-class has risen in price. The basic ML350 is 8,000 euros compared to the former ML320. True, there is a very attractive special series, that is, the standard equipment is more expensive than the base for 10,000 euros and contains an impressive list of pretty expensive options. For example, leather interior, bixenon swivel lights, seats adjustment electric drives, etc. But the most remarkable in a special series the opportunity to get a sportspaket complete with a pneumatic suspension, paying only 2500 euros instead of 6213 euros. Agree, why not save, acquiring a modern, prestigious parckarter with an impressive set of advantages.
 
PER

High prestige brand, excellent running quality on the highway, high comfort, batch system options
AGAINST

Transfer inclusion delays, no door closers
 
Mercedes-Benz ML350

common data
 
Body, number of places / doors
Universal, 5/5.
 
Curb weight, kg
2060.
 
Length x Width x Height, mm
4780x1910x1815
 
Base, mm.
2915.
 
Pitch in front / rear, mm
1593/1603
 
Speed, km / h
215.
 
Acceleration time 0100 km / h, with
8,4.
 
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km highway / city
9.4 / 15,2
 

Engine
 
Location
Front prolong
 
Design
Gasoline, V-shaped, 6-cylinder
 
Working volume, SMZ
3498.
 
Power, hp at rpm
272/6000.
 
Torque, kgmm at rpm
36/2400.
 

Chassis
 
Drive unit
permanent
 
Transmission
automatic 7-speed
 
Suspension:
Independent, with transverse stability stabilizers
 
in front
on double transverse levers
 
behind
Multi-type
 
Steering
Rack type with hydraulic
 
Torkemose
Disk, ventilated front
 
Tires
235/60 R17
 

Car
0.91 $ / km
 
 
Anton Utkin, Maxim Goncharov
 
 

A source: Journal buy cars [17/2005]