The blue star
Fans of sport utility vehicles (SUV) now have an opportunity to thumb their nose at environmentalists. As far as I'm concerned, one of the blue stars in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the 2009 ML320 BlueTEC 4MATIC, is particularly competent and surprisingly efficient.
Long spurned by North American consumers, diesel is finally making a comeback -- with quite a splash, too.
I'm a Believer now!
When I was handed the keys of this new ML, my very first reaction was "Wow!" Once inside, I started the engine and, unlike typical diesels, this one made no noise. It fact, it seemed so eerily quiet and refined that I had to get out of the vehicle and double-check the BlueTEC logo on the liftgate. Heck, I even opened the fuel door to smell. This is a diesel for sure!
I'll tell you, it's a true wonder of German engineering -- no noise, no vibrations, no bluish smoke. The engine is smooth and flexible. The 210 horsepower might not seem like much, but they're backed by a whopping 400 lb-ft of torque, available between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm!
Accelerations are direct and convincing. The ML320 BlueTEC is also capable of towing loads of up to 3,265 kilos (7,200 pounds).
The real benefit
Of course, the main benefit of diesel engines is their great fuel economy. While it's not an all-world leader, the ML320 BlueTEC is really dedicated to be as efficient as possible, allowing 30-percent more range than a comparable gasoline-powered model. You can actually travel 850 kilometers without having to stop for fuel. The tester's consumption average was 16 L/100 km, which isn't bad considering the winter conditions it had to face. Come summertime, this figure will most likely drop under 10 L/100 km.
The turbocharged BlueTEC V6 also meets the most stringent emission standards in the world. It uses common-rail direct injection (CDI) along with a urea-based solution called AdBlue and a particulate filter that combine to eliminate over 80 percent of nitrous oxides (NOx). Filter maintenance is performed at the dealership following every oil change.
Fans of sport utility vehicles (SUV) now have an opportunity to thumb their nose at environmentalists. As far as I'm concerned, one of the blue stars in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the 2009 ML320 BlueTEC 4MATIC, is particularly competent and surprisingly efficient.
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| The diesel-powered ML320 BlueTEC ($61,400) has virtually nothing to worry about right now. |
Long spurned by North American consumers, diesel is finally making a comeback -- with quite a splash, too.
I'm a Believer now!
When I was handed the keys of this new ML, my very first reaction was "Wow!" Once inside, I started the engine and, unlike typical diesels, this one made no noise. It fact, it seemed so eerily quiet and refined that I had to get out of the vehicle and double-check the BlueTEC logo on the liftgate. Heck, I even opened the fuel door to smell. This is a diesel for sure!
I'll tell you, it's a true wonder of German engineering -- no noise, no vibrations, no bluish smoke. The engine is smooth and flexible. The 210 horsepower might not seem like much, but they're backed by a whopping 400 lb-ft of torque, available between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm!
Accelerations are direct and convincing. The ML320 BlueTEC is also capable of towing loads of up to 3,265 kilos (7,200 pounds).
The real benefit
Of course, the main benefit of diesel engines is their great fuel economy. While it's not an all-world leader, the ML320 BlueTEC is really dedicated to be as efficient as possible, allowing 30-percent more range than a comparable gasoline-powered model. You can actually travel 850 kilometers without having to stop for fuel. The tester's consumption average was 16 L/100 km, which isn't bad considering the winter conditions it had to face. Come summertime, this figure will most likely drop under 10 L/100 km.
The turbocharged BlueTEC V6 also meets the most stringent emission standards in the world. It uses common-rail direct injection (CDI) along with a urea-based solution called AdBlue and a particulate filter that combine to eliminate over 80 percent of nitrous oxides (NOx). Filter maintenance is performed at the dealership following every oil change.
 |
| The turbocharged BlueTEC V6 also meets the most stringent emission standards in the world. |