Introduction

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs deliver rugged looks, safety, room, and utility. For 2003, there's a new, more powerful base model, the ML350, which replaces the ML320, comes with a larger V6 engine. The ML500 comes with a V8. Also new for 2003 are a DVD- (rather than CD-) based navigation system, and a special Inspiration Edition with unique interior and exterior trim.

Walkaround

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is purposeful and compact in appearance, with a sculpted front end and sharply sloped hood. Its styling was freshened last year, with a new grille, new wheels, tighter-fitting bumpers, halogen headlamps with projected beams, halogen foglamps, revised taillamp lenses with a single rear foglamp integrated in the left taillamp, and side mirrors incorporating turn signals. M-Class is built with traditional body-on-frame construction used for trucks. Though heavier and more prone to squeaks than the unibody construction found in most sedans and minivans, this design is durable and better suited for towing, and is preferred by many truck buyers.

Interior Features

The Mercedes M-Class comes with leather and burl walnut trim. The interior got a makeover for 2002. The center console, rear console and instrument cluster were all cleaned up and made simpler to view and use. Mercedes added a covered storage area with a 32-ounce cupholder. The gauges are very clean. Overall, the controls are easy to locate, and they work with a soft, satisfying click. There's a traditional Mercedes look to the white-on-black gauges, which turn ivory-on-black when lit at night. The digital clock is intelligently located inside the tachometer, where it can be easily read; an ambient thermometer is located inside the speedometer, although we believe a compass located there would be more useful. The compass is on the overhead console, one of six functions on the trip computer, along with date, present and average fuel consumption, miles to empty, and a stop watch. The cupholders that fold out of the dash on each end are the best. Surprisingly, given Mercedes' focus on safety, there is no warning light when a door is ajar (also true of some of the company's sedans). The cruise control stalk is often criticized on Mercedes vehicles for being located above the turn signal stalk, set with an upward push. So during a right turn, your left hand flips the turn signal up, you turn the steering wheel, and if your fingers stayed extended a moment too long, you bump the cruise control stalk and set it, often without realizing it. It happened to us once, and we never knew it until we backed off for a stop sign, and the throttle stayed on. The fully automatic and filtered climate control system uses a large-capacity air conditioning compressor under the hood and six temperature sensors in the cabin to provide efficient and accurate air temperature and flow. Theoretically, that is. We suspect there's some German over-engineering here. For example, in automatic mode, the blower speed is determined by, among other things, a photo diode that registers sunlight on the dashboard. The default temperature setting is 72 degrees. To change it, refer to your 320-page hardcover owner's manual. But you don't have to use the automatic mode. There are three big well-designed dials to adjust manually. Rings around the circumference of the dials are used to adjust fan speed, temperature and air direction, and a little red LED light indicator that moves around the outside. However, they lack separate settings for each side of the forward cabin. The rear console (with two cupholders) allows back-seat passengers to set their own air speed and direction, but not temperature. It too has an automatic setting, meaning sunlight on the dash affects blower speed in the back seat. That's high technology at work. The Modular Control System includes the sound and navigation systems, both displayed on a console screen. The on-off/volume button is so small it will be very difficult to grip with gloves in winter. There's another small button for tuning both radio and navigation, which works like a teensy joystick. You can preset 10 radio channels from a keyboard. There's a learning curve to mastering the system. We've never figured out how to run the navigation system without the radio stepping in uninvited, for example. The compass and trip computer display are above the mirror and hard to read. There are no less than four power ports in the cabin, front and rear. There are good storage compartments all over, though we couldn't find a good place for toll change. We like the grab handles over each of the four doors, although climbing out isn't very difficult, as the door sills sit only 18 inches above the ground. That's a low step-in height by SUV standards. Parktronic ($1015) is an excellent feature. The system beeps as you're backing up, indicating how close you are to an object. The seats are supportive and comfortable, with thick, sturdy leather upholstery and enough bolstering for most SUV driving, although not enough for th