When we think of SUVs bearing the three-pointed star, what springs to mind, naturally, is the iconic G-Wagon. Also known as the G-Class, it is one of the most revered SUVs in the market - and that seems to have sheltered the M-Class from the limelight.
Many of us, however, may have forgotten that the M-Class did have its stint of stardom. Before its global launch, Merc's family SUV was starred in The Lost World, the second installment to the Jurassic Park movie series, where it battled a pair of mighty T-Rexes in one of the most epic and thrilling scenes of the show.
Though the heroic act ended with nothing more than a ball of flames, it shoved the M-Class' off to a rolling start, demonstrating its rugged and 'go-anywhere' prowess to the global audience.
Up close and Personal
Two generations on, the M-Class has taken on a grown-up and more 'civilised' look. We first sampled Merc's third and latest M-Class two years ago, and it appeared refined and more suited as a grand tourer rather than a rugged off-roader.
Many of us, however, may have forgotten that the M-Class did have its stint of stardom. Before its global launch, Merc's family SUV was starred in The Lost World, the second installment to the Jurassic Park movie series, where it battled a pair of mighty T-Rexes in one of the most epic and thrilling scenes of the show.
Though the heroic act ended with nothing more than a ball of flames, it shoved the M-Class' off to a rolling start, demonstrating its rugged and 'go-anywhere' prowess to the global audience.
Up close and Personal
Two generations on, the M-Class has taken on a grown-up and more 'civilised' look. We first sampled Merc's third and latest M-Class two years ago, and it appeared refined and more suited as a grand tourer rather than a rugged off-roader.
For instance, taking the place of matt black bumpers are shiny, body-coloured ones, which look more at home in the cityscape than in jungles.
In this latest version, the M-Class gets a slew of nips and tucks, such as redesigned headlamps with integrated daytime running lights.
But the significant change in the base petrol variant lies underneath the hood, where the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 has been replaced by a 3.0-litre V6 Bi-turbo unit. The moniker has also been altered - from ML350 to ML400.
In this latest version, the M-Class gets a slew of nips and tucks, such as redesigned headlamps with integrated daytime running lights.
But the significant change in the base petrol variant lies underneath the hood, where the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 has been replaced by a 3.0-litre V6 Bi-turbo unit. The moniker has also been altered - from ML350 to ML400.
The Drive
The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit delivers 328bhp and 480Nm of torque - 22 horses and 110Nm more than its predecessor. But what's more impressive about the downsized unit is the way it pulls from just 1,500 revs.
And if you were to keep the throttle on till it hits the 3,000rpm mark, you would be fast-approaching the maximum highway legal speed limit - in such a jiffy that defies the car's heft of 2.1 tonnes.
While its straight line performance is close to a warm hatchback's, the ML400 is no petite dancer - especially around corners, where its comfort-biased setup comes at the cost of greater body roll.
But what's good to know is that like any modern Merc, there's a cleverly-assisted steering rack that puts you in the right direction with minimal fuss, which is especially handy when it comes to parking and turning the 4.8-metre SUV around.
The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit delivers 328bhp and 480Nm of torque - 22 horses and 110Nm more than its predecessor. But what's more impressive about the downsized unit is the way it pulls from just 1,500 revs.
And if you were to keep the throttle on till it hits the 3,000rpm mark, you would be fast-approaching the maximum highway legal speed limit - in such a jiffy that defies the car's heft of 2.1 tonnes.
While its straight line performance is close to a warm hatchback's, the ML400 is no petite dancer - especially around corners, where its comfort-biased setup comes at the cost of greater body roll.
But what's good to know is that like any modern Merc, there's a cleverly-assisted steering rack that puts you in the right direction with minimal fuss, which is especially handy when it comes to parking and turning the 4.8-metre SUV around.
Conclusion
While Merc's latest M-Class is still not as engaging to drive as BMW's equivalent, the X5 xDrive35i, the ML400 returned a slightly better fuel economy during our short test drive - 7.6km/L compared to 6.5km/L on the latter.
The ML400 is also more powerful, and at $348,888 (as of 22nd December 2014), it is close to $7k cheaper than the Bavarian's offer.
The downside is that it lacks the option of a third row of seats should the occasion call for it - which is found in the Bimmer.
But if you are in the market for a five-seater family SUV, the M-Class is every bit fitting to be the bearer of the prestigious badge with its elegant dressing and luxurious experience.
