Autocar ML63 AMG review

Deutsch · 04-18-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

What's new?
On paper, the new Mercedes ML63 AMG makes little sense. On the road, it mesmerises with a breadth of talent no two-tonne-plus car has any right to possess. This is a muscle car as quick as any current 4x4 in a straight line – Porsche Cayenne Turbo S included.

You won’t have too much trouble distinguishing the ML63 from lesser M-classes when it arrives in the UK in June. Exterior changes include deeper front and rear spoilers, widened wheelarches, and imposing 19-inch wheels.

The AMG makeover continues in the cabin. Sport seats and steering wheel, and carbonfibre-look trim go some way to justifying the
estimated £60,000 price.

It’s under the bonnet, however, that the real interest lies, in the form of a new naturally aspirated 6.2-litre 503bhp V8.

What's it like?
One probing nudge on the throttle has the ML63 shimmying excitedly and unleashing a genuine muscle-car soundtrack. For all its bravado, though, the big off-roader is remarkably docile around town.

Merc’s 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto gearbox has been upgraded to handle the power and torque. It’s a great transmission: kicking down eagerly and holding onto gears through corners. AMG has also tweaked the four-wheel-drive system to dole out the drive in a rear-biased 40:60 split rather than the standard M-class’s 50:50 arrangement.

Mercedes claims 0-62mph in 5.0sec, but if anything the in-gear acceleration is even more remarkable, thanks to the transmission’s broad spread of ratios and the engine’s belting mid-range urge.

Find a suitable back road and the ML63 offers sharper lines of communication between steering wheel and road than just about any rival, feeling more like a well-sorted estate car than big off-roader.

Should I buy one?
Although it’s unlikely anyone buying an ML63 will care much about economy, its thirst cannot be denied. AMG quotes just 17.4mpg, so even with a huge 95-litre fuel tank you’ll be stopping regularly to fill up. At least that magnificent V8 makes the journey away from the pumps something special.

Greg Kable

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For those of you that read car magazines religously like myself, I've made a keen observation here. Both Autocar and CAR magazine write the same style reviews where they ask questions then create an answer in detailed explanation. I don't know, maybe this is part of CAR magazine's going downhill w/ new editor Jason Barlow, but w/ many of the reviews I read in CAR it seems like they waltz around in brit jargon that can leave non brit readers, such as myself, cold, bored, and greatly uninformed. Autocar on the other hand, from the same country, very clear and undiluted auto journalsim at it's best.

Splenditenes · 04-18-2006, 09:27 PM

Nice review. I believe this is the first test of the ML63. I can`t wait for this vehicle to arrive here in the US and get tested by American testers.

Centurion · 04-19-2006, 10:37 AM

I'm waiting for a ML63 vs. Cayenne Turbo S comparison.

Just_me · 04-19-2006, 11:51 AM

I see a lot of new ML here in Sweden and the car grows on me. Look better than the old one.

Merc1 · 04-20-2006, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I'm waiting for a ML63 vs. Cayenne Turbo S comparison.

Yeah that is the only comparo that matters right now. It will be interesting to see what BMW does about this concerning their new hi-po version of the new X5.

M

04-18-2006, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Splenditenes Devotee Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kansas City, USA. Posts: 2,573 Thanks: 51 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Autocar ML63 AMG review Nice review. I believe this is the first test of the ML63. I can`t wait for this vehicle to arrive here in the US and get tested by American testers.

04-19-2006, 10:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Centurion Trendsetter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,069 Thanks: 587 Thanked 717 Times in 416 Posts	Re: Autocar ML63 AMG review I'm waiting for a ML63 vs. Cayenne Turbo S comparison.

04-19-2006, 11:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
Just_me Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 12,612 Thanks: 741 Thanked 2,035 Times in 1,028 Posts	Re: Autocar ML63 AMG review I see a lot of new ML here in Sweden and the car grows on me. Look better than the old one.

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