The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

For Mercedes-Benz, the road to the luxury SUV market has been a bumpy one.

The M-Class SUV debuted in 1997, an all-new vehicle for the famed automaker. But Mercedes-Benz’s reputation for superior engineering and reliability sank into a mud bog of reliability woes that sent the M-Class to the bottom of the J.D. Power surveys.

So why would people buy one?

A friend of mine had a theory. He suggested jokingly that the brand’s mystique was so powerful, people genuflected in front of a Mercedes-Benz before buying one. Obviously, M-B needed more than devout buyers to extract its reputation.

The all-new 2006 M-Class is the beginning of a range of luxury crossover SUVs coming from Mercedes-Benz. The M-Class is the entry point for now, with V-6 or V-8 power, two rows of seats and a price starting under $40,000. Above the M-Class will be the new R-Class, which will feature V-6 or V-8 power, three rows of seats and a starting price under $50,000. Further upscale, Mercedes-Benz will offer a new G-Class.

The new M-Class comes in two grades: ML350 with a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 (base price $39,750) or ML500 equipped with a 302-horsepower V-8 (base price $48,500). Both are equipped with full-time four-wheel-drive and traction control. One transmission will be offered, a new seven-speed automatic that can be shifted manually via two steering-wheel-mounted buttons.

Unlike the 2005 M-Class, where the body of the vehicle is attached to a frame, the 2006 model employs a single-piece or unibody construction. While trucks use body-on-frame construction for strength, cars tend to use unibody construction. Since most buyers of the M-Class never went off-road, switching to unibody allowed engineers to make the 2006 model 400 pounds lighter, despite being 2.8 inches wider and 5.9 inches longer.

Everything about the new M-Class makes the vehicle more car-like, a guiding influence for engineers, according to the vehicle’s project manager, David Larsen.

That starts with the styling, which is a huge improvement over the first model. Instead of looking like a loaf of bread, the new vehicle looks like a true Mercedes-Benz. It’s tautly stretched, with an athletic stance and subtle bulges in all the right places. Its muscular, yet graceful look pulls many of its cues from the sporty SLK roadster, rather than the box-like G-Class SUV.

The car-like feel continues in the impressive new cabin, which offers richer materials than the 2005 ML.

But the real proof is in the driving. Mercedes-Benz of North America provided an ML350 for testing.

Car-like? Absolutely. But better than most cars you can buy at any price, let alone most SUVs. The ML350 firmly soaks up bumps while returning good road feel. The ML stays relatively flat, with little or no lean in quick cornering. There is a trace of lean, but too little to mention. The steering is quick, benefiting the vehicle’s tight turning radius.

You can’t lock the vehicle into full-time four-wheel-drive. Locking differentials aren’t offered, but will be later in the year as part of an optional off-road package.

The six-cylinder pulls strongly, with a 0-60 mph time of just over 8 seconds. The V-8 does the same run in under 6. Both engines require premium fuel. The V-6 was true to its EPA mileage estimates of 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The transmission shifted imperceptibly, although it may take some time to get used to its actuation. The transmission lever is stubby and similar to the one used by BMW. Flick it up for reverse, down for drive and hit the button at the end of it for park.

Of course, the interior is decorated in wood and leather. Like too many vehicles there’s much plastic used, but its quality is quite good. Overall interior quality is vastly improved throughout, and buyers have a choice of interior decor, a sporty ”Appearance Package” or luxurious ”Premium Package.”

Seats are typically firm with excellent support. The second row seating, which is usually below par in most SUVs, is notable for its deep, supportive seats and easy entry and exit. The seats fold for more cargo room.

New luxury options include iPod integration kit, rear-seat DVD entertainment system with LCD screen and wireless headphones, hands-free cell phone, and Sirius satellite radio.

What’s most amazing about the new M-Class is how superior the new one is in every regard. Its handling, power, build quality and stunning new style make this vehicle an almost religious experience.

lprintz@mcall.com

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