2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff

Fighting for market share with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Range Rover and Volkswagen Touareg, the new 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has a tough slog ahead of it.

When it first launched back in 1997, the M-Class had about half the rivals it has today.

But as the genre grows and the popularity of these ambitious luxury SUVs increases, more and more car marques are willing to undergo the costly R&D (sometimes sharing platforms to save costs - like Porsche and VW) in order to tempt buyers.

The current Mercedes M-Class is getting old now, its styling falling behind newer, trendier models, yet it must be said that it is also one of the most successful luxury SUVs, with more than 600,000 drivers world wide having bought one.

But after a long and generally successful stint, the almost seven year old M-Class will be comprehensively upgraded with a new look, a spacious new interior and of course more power thanks to a bevy of new motors.

Making it's public debut at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, the 2nd generation M-Class will begin sales in the second quarter of 2005 and heralds a new look that begins with the headlights, which have just a hint of Volkswagen Golf Mk.V to them, taking the older-style headlights and giving them a more angular appearance.

Though the grille's geometry hasn't changed greatly, the three horizontal bars that reside within are thicker and more prominent than before, and are finished using a more elegant design that's instantly eye catching.

The C-pillar is placed at a leaner angle as well and this helps give the rear a sportier appearance and though Mercedes would be loathe to admit it, the profile is a bit reminiscent of the Lexus RX330, particularly towards the rear. The roof, too, tapers off slightly towards the rear, where the original M-Class's roof was uniformly flat.

While sales of the new Merc tractor won't begin until the second quarter of 2005, the German marque will launch the new M-Class at the North American Motor Show in January 2005, where it is anticipated a good percentage of the sales will be located.

The contemporary new design was obviously needed to keep up with the rest of pack, but also came about thanks to the newer - and bigger - proportions of the body. The new M-Class is 150mm longer, 71mm wider and 9mm lower on the road than its predecessor and its wheelbase has grown by 95mm to 2915mm.

While this considerable increase in size may please luxury SUV buyers, those who have a penchant for waving their fists at 4x4s who block the view of the road won't be at all pleased with the popular cars increased girth.

The interior of the new M-Class will exhibit typical Mercedes quality and "more pleasant touch and feel characteristics" according Mercedes. Better rubber buttons perhaps? Or a granite dashboard maybe?

Significantly improved spaciousness for all the vehicle's passengers is a result of the larger dimensions. For example, at 880mm, the distance between the front and rear seats is 15mm greater than that in the outgoing model, achieving a level more familiar in a luxury-class saloon.

M-Class customers can select the seats for their new off-roader to suit their personal comfort requirements. In addition to the standard-fitted front seats with electrically adjustable height, backrest and cushion angle, sports seats with special backrest contours can also be specified.

As well as increased room for occupants, up to 2050 litres of cargo capacity offers ample space for luggage, sports equipment, or even furniture, which is up 30 litres on the superceded M-Class range.

The cushions and backrests of the rear seats are split 63:37 and can be folded down. Removable cushions can be ordered as an option, creating a level loading surface stretching 2.10 metres in length through the rear of the car.

An electrically operated tailgate system can be optioned and state-of-the-art assistance systems (or 'Tronics' as Merc fondly calls them) are on hand relieve the stress on the driver, raise comfort and further improve safety.

As such, the M-Class is available as an option with the newly developed multi-zone 'Thermotronic' automatic climate control system, the 'Parktronic' parking aid and the control and display system COMAND APS with DVD satellite navigation. Bi-xenon headlamps with the Active Light System and the cornering light function (optional) enhance driving safety during the hours of darkness.

Three of the four engines available for the 2005 model M-Class are hot off the press and outstrip the output and torque of the power units for the outgoing model to the tune of up to 38 per cent.

Cutting-edge drive-system technology and impressive aerodynamics combine to cut fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent. The Cd (drag coefficient) value is down considerably to 0.34 from 0.39 previously.

The V6 diesel engine with third-generation common-rail direct injection, which takes the place of the outgoing 5-cylinder inline unit, is celebrating its series-production premiere.

Put to work under the bonnet of the new ML 320 CDI, the new power unit delivers 165kW (224hp) of power and squeeze out 510Nm of torque @ just 1600rpm. Also on hand to offer the twin benefits of 6-cylinder comfort and dynamism is the new ML 280 CDI, serving up 140 kilowatts (190hp) of power and a peak torque of 440 Newton metres. This diesel model burns just 9.4 litres of fuel per 100 km (NEDC combined), making the new M-Class one of the most economical off-roaders in its class.

Another new arrival is the V6 petrol unit powering the ML 350 – your ticket to 200kW (272hp) and maximum torque of 350Nm. The petrol engine range is headed by the proven eight-cylinder unit at the heart of the ML 500, which now delivers 225kW or 306hp.

The globally unique 7-speed automatic transmission (7G-Tronic) is fitted as standard in all variants of the new M-Class, which will no doubt put the wind up many of its rivals. 7G-Tronic can now be operated electronically using a selector level positioned close to the steering wheel, technology which Mercedes-Benz has christened Direct Select. Additional steering-wheel gearshift buttons, meanwhile, enable the driver to glide manually through the seven gears with a minimum of fuss.

When it comes to luxury SUVs, few of them actually have the ability to go bush bashing, save for the Land Rovers offerings. Mercedes, however, reckons its new M-Class will be quite the mudslinger. With a permanent 4-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems, not to mention functions such as a downhill driving aid, start-off assist and the off-road ABS system, the new Merc's offroad credentials look promising on paper.

Mercedes new rock hopper can also be ordered with two different variants of the four-wheel drive system. A new offroad package is available as an optional extra, allowing the M-Class to master tough routes across rough terrain and among its primary features are a two-speed transfer case with an offroad ratio, manually or automatically selectable differential locks (100 per cent) between the front and rear axle and on the rear axle, and a modified version of the Airmatic air suspension system tailored to offroad driving, which raises ground clearance by 110mm to as much as 291mm, which gives the vehicle a fording depth of up 600mm.

The air suspension also significantly increases ride comfort, which is why Mercedes-Benz offers a road-tweaked version of this technology as an option (not as part of the offroad package). 'Airmatic' teams up as standard with the Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which adjusts the responses of the shock absorbers to the situation in hand, giving the heavy SUV handling dynamics that contradict its monstrous size.

Standard-fitted 17- and 18-inch diametre light-alloy wheels and wide 235/65 R17 (V6 models) or 255/55 R18 (V8 model) tyres will endow the 4x4 models with good levels of grip.

With the option of adding the occupant protection system PRE-SAFE to the mix - which tightens the driver and front passenger seat belts among other things - the new Mercedes off-roader raises the bar in its class when it comes to matters of safety. This multi-award-winning technology provides a reflex response to critical driving situations where an accident threatens to occur, preparing the car and occupants for a collision.

Part of the standard specification for the off-roader is a new type of paint finish developed on the back of nano-technology, which made its series-production debut in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Offering significantly improved scratch resistance compared to conventional non-metallic or metallic paint finishes, nano-particle clearcoat provides a noticeably enhanced shine. Like all Mercedes passenger cars, the M-Class also comes with the 30-year MobiloLife mobility and value-retention warranty.

Though there's nothing particularly groundbreaking about the new M-Class from Mercedes-Benz, the new range of engines, 7-speed transmissions and the modern design cues are the biggest changes, and will do much to improve the image of the M-Class. While a range of safety features abound, none are new, but don't expect this to stop the new Mercedes AWD from dominating the sales charts in 2005. The new M-Class will arrive in Australia later in 2005, with prices starting at about $75,000.