A Sneak Peek at Mercedes' SUVs

2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550, ML550

8/22/2007

M, GL Dressed to Impress

I spent my 35th birthday at a press launch for Mercedes’ M-Class and GL-Class SUVs and their new V-8 engines. Let me tell you, 35 is weird. It’s not that I’m having a problem with the whole aging thing, I just don’t know where the last 10 years went. Case in point: I’m going to see the Beastie Boys tonight. The last time I saw them I was wearing jeans and sneaks; this time I’ll be dressed to impress (killer brown halter dress; wish I had time to get a beehive). I never would have imagined that, at 35, I’d be going to see the Beastie Boys, wishing I had a Mercedes SUV to drive to the show.

Yet here I am — I fell in love with Mercedes’ ML550 and GL550 models. It’s hard not to; they’re so swanky. Both these SUVs are definitely dressed to impress, with their aggressive styling. As for the driving, I loved being able to just sit back and cruise if I wanted to, then at the next moment get on the gas and have the vehicle drive all sporty and aggressive on twisty roads. The ML’s base model, the ML320, has a diesel engine, meaning better gas mileage but without any of that rumbly noise I used to associate with diesels.

The ML and GL are an interesting dichotomy, part rugged SUV, part refined driving machine — much like slumming around in matchy-matchy designer sweats all day, then dressing up and rocking out at night.

2008 Mercedes-Benz ML550

No one would ever accuse Mercedes’ 2008 SUVs of being like mundane daily sweats, considering they’ve got more power, not to mention more leather, wood trim and special features than you can shake a stick at — the GL550’s automatic folding rear seats blow my mind. Between this and all the space in the GL (six adults fit comfortably), I could have used it as a quasi-touring vehicle to follow my favorite bands around this summer. If only the Wiggles were touring, we could make it a family event. On tour, I could hook up my iPod to the adapter in the glove box, both psyching me up for the show AND charging my iPod, all at the same time.

The Latch connectors in the third row are great (it’s still a surprise to me when they show up in that venue). My kids’ friends could tag along, and my stroller would fit, too. Not only that, but the Latch connectors on the ML and GL look like they’re gonna rock. They’re right on the back of the seat, hidden behind a little lid that I managed to remove without breaking a nail. I’m hoping they’ll live up to their appearance when we get these cars for a standard two-week test. Based on my sneak peek, I’m guessing that will be a good two weeks.