Brassy new design, a heap of gizmos and gadgets, but a lot to live up to for the newest Merc; I got invited to the premier of the Mercedes Benz ML here in Costa Rica and took my time analyzing what Mercedes brings to the plate.

Click here to see a cool picture of the premier from last night.

The first ever Mercedes Benz ML entered the market in 1997 after very smart marketing moves by the company, giving movie wizard Steven Spielberg two pre-release models for his blockbuster movie, Jurassic Park (filmed in Costa Rica), and catching the interest of many on the way. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver.

Firstly, no one could actually define what the car was at the time. In those years, the term SUV was still abstract and the thought of having a big car mainly for urban driving had to fight its way amongst the none-believers driving Range Rovers, Patrols, Monteros and Land Cruisers. Even after winning awards in 1998, reliability and build quality were subpar; then, there was reputation, Mercedes Benz had the great, utterly perfect G-Series and the ML slowly turned into the family’s weird cousin. Things weren’t looking good for the lone ML but after a quick facelift and subsequent change in generation, it bounced back just slightly.

Now on the third generation, and with loads of competition coming from all directions such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and even the land of the rising sun with the Lexus RX and such cheaper options as the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Veracruz and Mitsubishi Outlander, Mercedes promises that its new ML will set a standard amongst mid-size SUVs.

What does the new kid bring to the party?

In regards to design, it keeps a close resemblance to its predecessor, with aggressive curves on the front and sharp cut straight lines on the back, the combination provides for a sometimes confusing look. The interior is, as always, full on Mercedes Benz: luxury. Wooden trim, leather seats and climate control are just the tip of the iceberg. You can find the following as either standard or optional, when you actually understand the control system:

-Eight-speaker sound system, compatible with DVDs, MP3s, six CDs and Bluetooth connectivity.
-Rear set entertainment.
-10 GB hard drive
-Night vision
-Blind Spot detection

The technology is not limited to the interior, as you can get stuff you once only dreamed of and we’re talking about major technology, like a 7-speed automatic (that’s right, seven), with the possibility of an 8-speed coming up. Though it might lack low-range, as it happens with the U.S. market, the ML provides an adaptive system called the Multi-Terrain system that makes adjustments to the suspension and drivetrain depending on the terrain.

As is expected, ride quality is superb, no buts about it; the driving position is comfortable and there is plenty of room around. The power under the hood comes from either a small 2.2L I4 diesel or 3.5L V6 petrol, with the latter being my choice at the moment, the ML is just too heavy for such a small diesel engine. You should expect a decent 7.2 km/L (17 mpg) in city driving and 10 km/L (22 mpg) in highway conditions, but with such a price, people buying the ML wouldn’t really bother with this aspect.

Final thoughts:

The ML has its work cut out against the many competitors. The brand will, in my opinion, rely mostly on customer loyalty; after the dip in quality Mercedes endured during the late nineties, they have upped the ante and are now major competitors for the luxury SUV market. Is this SUV a game changer? We’ll have to see if the quality is enough to ignore the hefty price tag.