5. Mercedes ML
Style and efficiency go hand in hand in the Mercedes M-Class.
Style and efficiency go hand in hand in the Mercedes M-Class. This 4x4 seats only five people – if you want a seven-seater Mercedes SUV, you’ll have to go for the massive GL-Class – but provides plenty of luxury and driver appeal in a car that’s still capable over rough terrain.
The interior has a high-quality feel, with man-made leather trimming many surfaces, while standard equipment includes climate and cruise control and a large central display screen. Safety kit is comprehensive, too, with Pre-Safe reacting to an imminent collision, a host of airbags and ESP. Options include autobrake and lane departure warning.
There’s plenty of space in the front and rear seats, while the boot offers 690 litres of room with the seats and place and 2,010 litres when they’re folded.
Mercedes offers ML250 CDI and ML350 CDI diesel models, with a towing capacity of 2,950kg and 3,500kg respectively. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine in the former promises 44.8mpg fuel consumption and 165g/km emissions, but the 3.0-litre V6 model isn’t much thirstier. There’s also the option of a high-performance ML63 with a 5.5-litre V8.
