Interiors – Plush is the word which best describes the interiors which radiate luxury all around them. The built quality, fit, finish and the quality of interiors is typical of Mercedes, top notch. The 2-tone Designo leather upholstery looks rich and is extremely comfortable too. The leather and wood finish dashboard feels and looks fantastic. The fronts seats are equipped with ventilated function which can be activated by a button located on the center console. The air con is effective and the controls are of signature Mercedes style. There is a three zone climate control system with three climate modes, namely Focus, Medium and Diffuse. The rear passengers have vents both, in the centre console and on the B pillars.
The M-Class now gets a 17.8 cm color display which also doubles up as the rear parking camera screen as seen in the GL-Class. The audio system has a 10 GB Music register which can store all your favorite songs. SD card slot has also been provided with USB/AUX being standard. The voice operated control or Linguatronic in Mercedes speak can also be used to search for your favorite songs. Sound quality is fantastic.
The rear bench is more roomy than the outgoing model and there is sufficient headroom and knee room. Three medium sized passengers can comfortably fit behind.
There is no last row of seats and the M-Class is strictly a 5-seater, though for a vehicle of this category, buyers don’t really want a 7-seater, do they? If you still want a 7-seater with a star, the GL is the car for you. Boot space is a healthy 690-liters and the middle row seats can be folded to make for more room if required.
The spare wheel is a space saver and this is a welcome change rather than it being mounted on the tailgate as seen with the previous generation vehicles.
Amongst the list of goodies is an ECO mode. In this mode, the engine will switch off automatically when you stop at a signal and will switch on immediately as you step on the gas. This system has been beautifully optimized, there is hardly any lag between the start and stop. In fact, it happens so smoothly that you would not even notice it. The ECO mode contributes in reducing emissions and fuel consumption.
There are numerous other features as well such as Active Parking Assist, Presafe, Attention Assist. There are a total of 9-airbags in the car including the driver knee airbag.
Head over to the next page below, to read how the new M-Class drives.
