Mercedes M-Class Review
Car tested: 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class 350 CDI BlueEfficiency
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 75,96,260/-
Mercedes-Benz has brought in the new M-Class (W166) to India, which is now in its third-generation. The old M-Class never really posed a threat to its competitors but the new M is here to change that. The German automaker is betting big on the new M-Class, which the company plans to assemble locally via the CKD route. This has helped Mercedes-Benz price the new M-Class very aggressively at a price of Rs. 56.9 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). However the initial 100 units will be CBUs and will feature AMG styling. We drive one of the AMG kitted Mercedes M-Class to find out how it stacks up.
Exteriors – The new M-Class carries forward the new design language of Mercedes-Benz. The styling is more of a evolution than a revolution as the overall body and platform is undoubtedly like the previous generation model. The exteriors of the Mercedes M-Class look sharp and attractive with good amount of chrome being used. The model we tested is called the Edition1 and features the AMG body kit along with 20-inch AMG alloy wheels. The new M-Class has grown and is 23 mm longer and 15 mm wider than its predecessor. With the height coming down by 19 mm, it is more aerodynamic too with a CD value of just 0.32, which is the best in-class. It is based on a updated chassis, which now uses high-tensile steel along with aluminum to reduce weight.
The headlights looks sharp and the Mercedes M-Class now incorporates day-time LED lights. The AMG type vents on the hood and the cut wheel arches give it lot of street cred. The front gets a SLS style grille with the three pointed star sitting pretty in the center. The skid plates and the roof rails have been neatly incorporated. At the rear, the tail lights are very similar to the ones on the E-Class.
There is a lot of chrome at the rear too, with the bumper having a fat chrome strip running on it. Parking sensors and the rear spoiler have been neatly integrated. The most obvious change at the rear is the lack of tail gate mounted spare wheel, which is a big relief (old M-Class used to suffer from a vibrating tail gate due to the spare wheel mounting). The Mercedes M-Class now uses a space saver, which is mounted underneath. Notice the rear diffuser, it aids in maximizing the aerodynamic efficiency.
Head over to the next page below, to read about the interiors of the new M-Class.
