What's New for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class?
For 2005, a new Special Edition package is available on the Mercedes-Benz ML350. The Special Edition includes running boards, front AMG sport seats, privacy glass, the choice of birch or burl wood trim accents, 17-inch thick-spoke alloy wheels, an AMG-sourced power dome hood, polished aluminum roof rails, smoked tail lamp lenses, a chrome-ringed instrument cluster, and Special Edition floor mats and badging. All ML350s get chromed rear cargo door handles, and both the ML350 and ML500 receive two new exterior colors: Iridium Silver and Pewter. Free scheduled maintenance is no longer offered, making the BMW X5 look more appealing than ever.

Advantages of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class:

• Advanced safety features
• Roomy interior
• Comfortable seating

Objections to the 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class:

• Ride and handling leans more toward a truck than a car
• Some interior materials don’t live up to expectations set by the sticker price
• Exterior design is more minivan than SUV

Editor's Advice:
The 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class was one of the progenitors of the luxury SUV movement, a vehicle that simultaneously offered the off-road capability of an SUV and the amenities befitting a Benz. It quickly became one of the best sellers in the Mercedes lineup, and other luxury carmakers followed suit with luxury SUVs of their own. Now eight years old, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has many more competitors than it did upon its introduction, including the Acura MDX, BMW X5, Infiniti FX, Lexus RX 330, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg, all of which provide more civilized on-road manners than the Mercedes. The M-Class is due for a redesign soon; we recommend that you wait or try one of the other luxury SUVs available today.