The first thing you will notice about this mid-size luxury SUV is the unique combination of prestige, luxury and technology, used by the manufacturer for satisfying the market. In terms of power, the ML 450 Hybrid comes with two electric motors, combined with a 3.5 liter V6 engine, being able to deliver up to 335 hp, of which 275 hp are due to the V6. The automatic transmission of the Mercedes Hybrid SUV includes eight speeds, being able to meet the expectations of the most demanding drivers.
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What is really impressive about this model is the possibility to be driven at very low speed by solely using the power of the electric motors, which are also able to increase the speed of the vehicle. The fuel efficiency is of 21 MPG, which is due to the fact that the gas engine is only triggered when more power is required. On the highway, this value increases to up to 24 MPG. However, considering the price of over $55,000, one can complain about the efficiency of this new Mercedes Hybrid SUV, despite the fact that it only uses half fuel than the similar model called ML550.
The current of the two electric motors is drawn from a metal hydride battery of 288-volt. In addition to this, another unique feature of this vehicle is the ability to reclaim electricity in the braking function, which often helps recharging the battery. Other luxury models that include such functionality are available on the market as well. These cars are all rated as Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles, meeting the highest emission standards for international combustion engines.
photo credit: Rohit Rath
In terms of design of the exterior, this new Mercedes Hybrid SUV is a stylish car, with a hood that is rather bulged and unique LED tail lamps installed. Other impressive features are the sunroof and the 19-inch wheels, which every Mercedes buyer would expect to find. The electronic interface included uses very advanced, user-friendly technologies. There is also the service known as .mbrace, which is used instead of the old Mercedes Tel Aid for security reasons. This system is capable of alerting authorities in case of collisions, in addition to providing roadside assistance as well and locating the vehicle in case someone steals it. The emergency calling feature will also be useful in certain situations.
Despite these numerous advantages, driving this new Mercedes hybrid SUV is not as spectacular as you might think. One of the reasons is the turbo-diesel like thrust, created when all the engines are powered. In addition to this, the time required for the vehicle to reach this state is rather high even in sports mode. As for the transmission, it is mostly similar to an eight-speed automatic with manual shifting. In general, driving this car does not bring anything special in comparison to other similar models from Mercedes, but it is worth considering if you are looking for an easy to drive, high-powered vehicle, with a high fuel efficiency at the same time.