1. 59 || 58
engines
ML 350
BlueTECH 4MATIC
You will be so impressed with the driving aides
you’ll give your car a namE.

2. 61 || 60
engines
All the controls are in easy reach, as you would expect, but the quality
is a vast improvement over the outgoing model. Gone is the clumpy
dashboard to a more sleek redesigned style that sweeps from one side
of the cabin to the other. The dash is finished in Burl Walnut wood trim,
an option, which gives it a darker quality look than the lighter colours
used of old.
I feel like I’m in First Class.
The gear selector is mounted on the steering column which frees up the
centre console where we find the drinks holder, which not only keeps
your drinks cool at 56ºF but will keep your coffee hot at a maximum
131ºF. On the other side of the steering column you will find an array of
stalks that control the wipers, electric four way steering and underneath
that you’ll find the cruise control. There is really no confusion as to
what does what - everything is smoothly laid out and ergonomically
designed.
The movement of the buttons around the dash have just the right of
amount of each operation with a quality bounce back feel. It just shows
how much attention to detail has been done in the development.
s we arrived at Mercedes Press Centre to collect the keys,
keen to try out all the latest advanced driver aides that the
car has been spec out with, but nervous. Do I put myself
and crew at risk, or not? These driving aids because they
only kick into action to help prevent or reduce the impact
from any impending accidents. This is the first time I need to bond
and make friends with a piece of machinery before I get going, with
the entire new driver assisted features it’s almost human like. Hmm...
what shall I call her?
We have been now called and standing in front of the press centre we
are presented with a stunning obsidian black metallic ML standing on
its own, big and proud. This all new redesigned ML gets an evolutionary
blueprint and some serious improvements to the chassis and cabin.
Our test car came with standard 19” alloy wheels, which gives a sporty
look incorporating a stylish design. At the front, it comes with handsome
grill work the with the Mercedes emblem accentuated against a black
background with simulated stainless steel underguards. The side
mirrors have LED turn indicator with colour matching, fully electric and
power folding.
Below the headlights are brilliant LED day running lamps that ensure
you would get noticed day or night. The projector beam halogen
headlamp, aptly named Active Bi-Xenon, creates a light that’s much
closer to natural day light; it sits in a housing that is reminiscent of an
eye.
This includes Active Curve where the lights turn where you turn; Adaptive
High Beam assist (optional) which varies the beam of light, thus giving
you light where you want it the most - the quicker you travel the further
the beam shines ahead; and Adaptive Highbeam Assist ensuring there
is no fumbling around for the light stork as the headlamps automatically
dips for any oncoming vehicles. Needless to say it does it all for you.
If that’s just the headlights you can only begin imagine what the rest of
each part of the car is going to be like.
At the rear the automatic power tail gate which makes it easier to open,
when your hands full, can be operated from either the key fob, driver
side door or from the door itself, the tail gate can be height adjustable
for your perfect reach when using the switch from the tail gate.
Time to open the door and jump in, what can say, “HEAVEN”, as I sit
on these supportive duel tone leather with contrasting stitching the
driving position, it’s spot on. I can fine-tune the seating position with its
8 way adjustable switches from the door console, with a further 4-way
pneumatically adjustable lumbar support. In the back, the seats have an
adjustable back rest for different seating positions providing comfort and
enough leg room for our 6’4” photographer Bernard, who’s surprised
with the amount of leg room. The rear seats fold ‘flat’ with a 2 step
operation from the 60-40 split arrangement providing an 80.3 cubic
feet of space from floor to ceiling.
AFinally ML 3rd generation has
now moved into the Upper Class,
it’s on a totally different level than
the outgoing model.
Built on an all new platform that
will also serve the underneath of
the new Mercedes GL that offers
the 7 seat option as the ML only
offers 5.

3. 63 || 62
engines
As I fire up the 3.0L turbo diesel it’s a lot
quieter than expected, which produces no
smoke or smell from its V6 BlueTECH engine.
Is there anything wrong? No, so far so great!
This ML350’s engine puts out 258 bhp, not a
lot for a big SUV, but it’s the engine delivers
a hefty 457 lb-ft pounds of torque at 1,600-
2,400 rpm so no need to rev the engine to
get things going which makes it feel light on
its feet. Speaking of which, at low speeds the
steering with electromechanical power assist
becomes as light as a feather in only needing
a light touch to turn the wheel so dodging
those crazy taxi drivers in the city becomes
extremely easy as you manoeuvre this SUV
weighing just over 2.2 tons.
On the open road the ML feels flat and
sturdy that’s because this car is fitted with
the optional AIRMATIC Air Suspension. This
electronically controls adaptive air spring-struts
that constantly adjust which makes it feel like
it’s riding on air. This works in conjunction
with the Adaptive Damping System that
continuously monitors your driving style and
road conditions then adjusts the cars dampers
within milliseconds to make the ride as
comfortable and flat as possible over bumpy
roads This is one option box that needs to
be ticked this will then make it one of the
most comfortable SUVs on the planet that
can handle any anything that an African road
wants to throw at it.
After getting used to the driving dynamics and
stability you gain confidence with the handling
allowing you to enter corners a little quicker.
So here I find myself cruising along at about
65mph looking for someone to have fun
with.... oh! here we go, just a little Mercedes
SLK putting it’s foot down! Here is something
I can use as a pace maker. As I floor the
accelerator, the 7 speed trip auto box drops
a couple of gears and there a surge of power
that seems limitless, within no time at all I’m
well over 100mph - and you will only know
this when you look down at the Speedometer.
Gosh this car’s quick! With a 0-62 time of 7.4
seconds and a top speed of 139mph that I
can believe. But then pushing this diesel
engine hard will only achieve about 22miles
per gallon. Drive like your grandmother and
600 miles can be gained from the 70 litre
tank at 41 mpg.
Price
0-62mph
Top speed
Economy
(combined)
C02
Kerb weight
$87,642
7.4sec
139mph
39.2 mpg
189g/km
2950 kg
TECHNICAL
Specifications
Engine
Power
Torque
Gearbox
Fuel tank
Wheels
Tyres
V6, 2987cc
258 bhp
457 lbs/ft
7-Speed Automatic
70 litres
8.0” x 19.0”
255/50 R19
The Command System has been simplified. I found
it easy to use for the first time navigating through the
menus, displayed on a 7” high-resolution colour LCD
screen. With up to ten different ways to bring your
music and film into your environment. You can play
audio DVD/CDs.
There is a connection via Bluetooth for your Apple
devices, or direct wire connection for auxiliary audio
with a USB connection to upload your music to a
in-dash 10 GB hard drive. So out comes my iPhone,
Bluetooth® on, synchronise, done, as I turn it up to
the African beats of Fela resonating around the car
from its 13 speaker Dolby surround sound, pumping
out a massive 830watts of power. Very impressive
with a concert-like sound. Fela never sounded so
good outside Shrine! I found every element and
function seamlessly integrated to one another -
while listening to music it will quieten when receiving
directions from the Sat Nav, which will in turn not
interrupt during a call your connected mobile device
which can be operated via voice control from a one
touch button on the steering wheel. With internet
access on my mobile device and connected to the
cars system via Bluetooth ® this enabling me to
access the internet for local information and weather
directly from the car’s display screen.

4. 65 || 64
enginesNow let’s try some these driver aids like Lane Keeping Assist, which
warns the driver if the vehicle is about to drift out of it’s lane; and Active
Blind Spot Assist were if you’re considering a lane change, it warns you
if another vehicle is in your blind spot. These system works by using 5
radars to monitor the outside of the car. Many accidents happen each
year simply because drivers change lanes, the system will intervene
automatically steering the vehicle out of the way of an imminent accident
if you fail to respond to several warnings of a flashing triangle in the side
mirror, bleeping sounds and a vibrating steering wheel, I’m beginning to
like this so much so I find myself drifting around for a while just to feel
the sensation, all in the name of scientific experimentation, of course.
Upgrading to the Driver Assist Package will also include DISTRONIC PLUS
(with PRE-Safe® Brake). This uses the radar based cruise control that
adapts your set speed to the following car in front, if they slow to a halt
so will you, then automatically starts moving again when they do. This
makes it a more relaxed affair in traffic jams and go-slows.
Driving around under the sun can be tiring and you find that different
parts of your car will be at different temperatures. Not with the ML. It
constantly monitors the temperature all around the inside and adjusts the
climax control accordingly; unfortunately the sun today is not participating
in our experiment, but I’ve been assured that this system will be able to
handle anything the Africa sun wants to throw at it. To maintain a high
level of specification, Mercedes has added a feature that will keep the
car cool for up to twenty minutes while you’re away from the car. Now,
that’s really cool!
Time for a bit of ‘track and field’. Let’s check out the off-road
capabilities on the rough stuff with the Off-Road Package, the 6
mode driving program is located on another rotary selector on the
centre console offering various terrains driving modes: Auto, Snow,
Sport, Trailer and two Off Road modes which both raise the height
to give a very impressive ground clearance. The display screen
shows in detail all the settings selected from the controller. As we
turn off the major onto some farm track, I leave the driving mode
in Auto and step up the speed on this beaten tack, now can feel
the benefits of the driving dynamics, its good really good soaking
up the bumps and you get a good feel of the road conditions
through the steering as you cruise along an uneven road.
As darkness falls, it’s time to head back to the Mercedes Press
Centre so I turn on the interior Ambient Lighting, it’s an array of
LED and fibre optics lights that cast a glow from beneath the
trim on the dash, I choose the one best fitting my mood from an
option three colours, yet again a reminder that your of being in
the lap of luxury.
If you’re on the fence about buying a diesel, the BlueTECH V6 is
good very, very good option to consider. If you haven’t driven a
diesel before then you owe it to yourself.
In the future with more technological advancements, humans will
have to now gain trust with vehicle electronics, but it is not an
excuse to get complacent and completely lose all your drivers
awareness.
Go to the App Store to download the Mercedes App and configure
your ML today. /