Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG present swell up straight-line speed and a comfy interior but disadvantaged by a rough ride and appallingly low fuel economy. The performance arm of Mercedes-Benz AMG, seems to be on a mission. It wants to expand its fearsome reach to every corner of the Benz lineup, as well as areas that appear to defy logic.

For the common of buyers, the ML350 SUV gets around quite smartly with its 268-horsepower V6 engine. Its $44,825 base price isn’t too painful, and it’s even tolerable at the pump, with fuel economy rated at 15 miles per gallon city/20 mpg highway. The diesel-powered ML320 CDI, for $1,000 more, boosts mileage to 18/24 mpg. (It delivered the highest tested fuel economy we’ve ever seen in a midsize SUV, at a combined 24 mpg over a week’s worth of driving.)

At the ML’s heart is a 6.2-liter V8 engine that appears in other vehicles in Mercedes’ AMG line, like the S63 AMG sedan. In the ML63, it’s tuned to deliver 503 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.
Just how strong is it? How about 0-60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds, faster than many sports cars, and nearly two full seconds quicker than the V6 model. Hammer the gas at any speed, and prepare for giddy thrills as the Benz howls to its 7,200 rpm peak, leaving everything in its battleship wake. This magnificent hand-built engine spurs the big Benz to 120 or 130 mph with ridiculous ease, and on to an electronically limited, 155-mph top speed.

The engine is well-mated to Mercedes’ brilliant new seven-speed automatic transmission, which features comfort, sport, and manual-shift settings. While the transmission is nearly faultless, we’d like to see Mercedes rework the steering-wheel shift buttons on its performance models. The little plastic triangles currently used seem like an afterthought on such sport-oriented machines.

The ML 63 rides on a special AMG version of Mercedes’ Airmatic suspension, here with adjustable ride height. Mercedes’ adaptive damping system smooths the bumps and keeps the body flat and composed in corners. Between the thin 20-inch tires and the suspension’s sport setting, the ride was noticeably harsh for rear-seat occupants, making the comfort setting the default choice for most situations.