By Kim Tae-jong
Mercedes-Benz has proved once again that it is the leader in the premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) market by introducing the third generation M-Class, equipped with new features, seven years after the debut of its previous model.
The German automaker's brand new SUV maintains the core aspects of the first two generations of the flagship model, and is tremendously successful with more than 1.2 million vehicles sold worldwide since its introduction.
The new M-Class offers the essential elements of the family vehicle through its dynamic driving experience and luxurious comfort but offers much more than its predecessors.
At a glance, the design of the new model first draws attention to the nose featuring a huge grille and long bonnet with aggressive air-intakes at the base of the windscreen.
Getting inside is a completely new experience, too, thanks to the drastically improved quality of the interior. The diesel engine is surprisingly quiet.
In particular, the Mercedes' COMAND system, which controls the car's audio, video and navigation, is much more user-friendly than that in the first M-Class generation, allowing drivers to enjoy driving in a more comfortable setting.
Three variants of the all-new M-Class are available here ― the ML 250 BlueTEC, the ML 350 BlueTEC and the ML 63 AMG, which all perfectly combine on and off-road drivability with dynamic, sporty styling and a complete range of integrated safety technology.
With a four cylinder diesel engine, the ML 250 BlueTEC provides performance on a par with plenty of larger and heavier 4x4s while delivering an average fuel consumption of 11.9km/l, and only emits 168g/km of CO2.
The ML 350 4MATIC comes equipped with a 3-liter diesel V6 engine that produces 258hp and 63.2kg/m of torque at just 1,600 rpm with fuel consumption at 10.4km/l.
The ML 63 AMG gets power from an AMG 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with peak horsepower of 525 and peak torque of 71.4kg/m. It can go from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds. They are priced at 79.9 million won, 92.4 million won and 150.9 million won.