2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 Sport Utility Wagon AWD Tuscaloosa, Alabama The TeleAid emergency calling system is now standard on every M-Class model, and smart, dual-stage front airbags know when to deploy with partial force or full force. All models also feature expanded off-road capabilities with new downhill traction control and a new crawling mode for very slow and steep off-roading. Finally, a new M-Class sport package debuts this year. Lots of interior space, quite comfortable, carlike ride and handling, excellent snow vehicle. Poor reputation for build quality, looks like a minivan, not particularly adept off-road. Since its introduction, Mercedes has made constant improvements to the M-Class, upping the feature content and performance, improving its looks, and addressing the build quality issues that plagued early models. The base ML320 is powered by a peppy 215-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 while the upscale ML430 offers an authoritative and advanced 4.3-liter V8 that makes 268 horsepower. Both engines are mated to a driver adaptive five-speed automatic with TouchShift control for manual shifting. New this year is an expanded full-time four-wheel-drive system that offers 50/50 torque distribution through the M-Class' front and rear fully independent suspensions. A new downhill traction control system (no doubt inspired by BMW's Hill Descent Control available on that company's X5 SUV), which maintains a low vehicle speed when descending steep grades with loose footing, is accompanied by a new "two-foot" crawling mode that has the same effect as applying the brake while climbing a steep hill. This mode can be engaged when the M-Class is in low range and is traveling under 3 mph to maximize traction. Contributing to these new off-road maneuverability improvements, an active brake booster builds pressure assistance faster, allowing spinning wheels to be slowed with quicker response. In addition to advanced drivetrain technology, safety features such as TeleAid, traction control, stability control, ABS, dual-stage "smart" airbags, and 24-hour roadside assistance offer safety on par with Mercedes' best sedans. In fact, the M-Class is so crashworthy that the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety even rated it as the "Best Pick" in the SUV class in terms of occupant protection. But don't buy this SUV just for safety reasons. The interior of the base ML320 features such niceties as leather and burl walnut trim, while the 430 model gets standard GPS navigation, 17-inch wheels and leather seats. A third-row seat can be had in either model, and a new sport package, with unique body cladding, integrated fog lamps, a chrome exhaust tip and 17-inch alloy wheels, is available to curtail some of the ML's "minivan" look. Blend these safety features with an inherent ability on pavement and in the slippery stuff, along with the M's cavernous 80.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo space and long list of standard equipment, and the ingredients for a perfect luxury sport-ute are in place. But even with this year's drivetrain improvements, true off-road aficionados will want to shop elsewhere for wheels. The M-Class, despite its boxed frame and four-wheel drive, is much more suited to Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway than scurrying across the Continental Divide. Acura MDX BMW X5 Land Rover Discovery Series II Lexus RX 300 450,000 450,000 Unlimited 450,000 NA NA NA 8 4.3 liters V8 268 hp @ 5500 rpm 288 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm 81 cu.ft. 1684 lbs. 5000 lbs. 180.6 in. 72.2 in. 69.9 in. 4696 lbs. 111 in. 37 ft. .8 in. 39.8 in. 39.7 in. NA NA NA NA 40.3 in. 38 in. 5 Standard Standard Not Available Standard Not Available Standard Standard Rating = Not Tested Rating = Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 19.5 gal. 16 mpg / 20 mpg 312 mi. / 390 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. $41,106 $44,200 7.35% $645 N/A 3% of the Total MSRP ML320 (5A): 3.2L V6 SOHC SMPI 18-valve engine, (requires premium unleaded fuel); 5-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; 600 amp battery; engine oil cooler; auto-manual transmission; full-time 4 wheel drive, traction control, 3.69 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; electronic stability control, front independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bar, front torsion springs, front torsion bar, gas-pressurized front shocks, rear independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, gas-pressurized rear shocks; rack-and-pinion power steering; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; 19.5 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; liftback rear cargo door; roof rack, 99.8; front and rear body-colored bumpers with front and rear tow hooks; body-colored bodyside molding; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps with delay-off feature; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors;16" x 8" silver alloy wheels; P255/65HR16 BSW M&S tires; underbody mounted compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, air filter, rear heat ducts, residual heat recirculation; AM/FM stereo radio, seek-scan feature, cassette player, CD changer pre-wiring, 4 speakers, amplifier, theft deterrent, window grid diversity antenna; cruise control; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, child-safety rear door locks, power remote fuel door release; cell phone pre-wiring, 3 power accessory outlets, front lighter element, driver's foot rest, retained accessory power, garage door opener, smokers' package, emergency S.O.S.; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, exterior temp, trip odometer; warning indicators include water temp, battery, low oil level, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, service interval; driver's and passenger's front airbags, driver's and front passenger's door-mounted side airbags; ignitiondisable, panic alarm, tracker system, security system; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's and passenger's 1-touch down function, fixed 1/4 vent windows; fixed-interval front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, fixed-interval rear wiper, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable tilt headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's and passenger's seats include 6-way adjustment; 60/40 folding rear split-bench seat with tilt headrests, center armrest; height-adjustable front and rear seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, leather door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats, genuine wood dashboard insert, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, genuine wood door panel insert, genuine wood console insert, chrome interior accents; interior lights include dome light with fade, front and rear reading lights, door curb lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tiltadjustment; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, mini overhead console glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins, rear door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo cover, cargo tie downs, cargo light, concealed cargo storage; black grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding and black door handles. ML430 (5A) (in addition to or instead of ML320 (5A) equipment): 4.3L V8 SOHC SMPI 24-valve engine; full-time 4 wheel drive, traction control, 3.46 axle ratio; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors, driver's auto-dimming outside mirror; 17" x 8.5" silver alloy wheels; P275/55HR17 BSW M&S tires; single-disc CD player; additional instrumentation display includes compass, trip computer, navigation system; deep tinted windows; heated-cushion driver's and passenger's seats, driver and passenger seats include 8-way power adjustment; leather seats, leather door trim insert, wood gearshift knob and auto-dimming day/night rearview mirror. 103 Convenience Package M3 $646 $695 149 Paint: Polar White $0 $0 152 Third Row Seat Package M7 $1,256 $1,350 168 Bose Sound System $1,000 $1,075 172 Xenon Headlamps with Washer System $791 $850 189 Paint: Black Opal Metallic $451 $485 198 Designo Cognac Edition $3,720 $4,000 201 Designo Mystic Green Edition $3,720 $4,000 272 Paint: Cypress Green Metallic $451 $485 345 Paint: Orion Blue Metallic $451 $485 366 Paint: Azure Blue Metallic $451 $485 414 Glass Sunroof $1,018 $1,095 417 Power Skyview Top $2,279 $2,450 567 Paint: Bordeaux Red Metallic $451 $485 693 Paint: Desert Silver Metallic $451 $485 744 Paint: Brilliant Silver Metallic $451 $485 772 Sport Package M6 $3,069 $3,300