Remembering the first time I saw the Mercedez-Benz ML 350 isn’t difficult because there were three in a row outside a Premier League football stadium.
They looked an impressive site and left me reflecting that unless the Lottery numbers came popping out in the right order that was about as close as I would get –particularly considering an on-the-road basic price of £44,715 for the CDi Blue Efficiency model on test.
The 350 is probably an ideal vehicle for the ‘footballer’s wife’. It’s pretty cool, looks the business and is ideal for posing on shopping trips or picking the kids up from school – particularly if you want to attract attention, as they always do.
This is after all a Mercedez-Benz we are talking about so you expect to attract a little attention and this giant 4X4 has a real presence about it so you won’t be disappointed.
A piece of good advice to anyone wishing to either own or even test drive the ML350 is to get some instruction on how to get on the move because not many of us will have driven a 7G-Tronicc, 7-speed automatic with column change and steering wheel gear-change paddles.
But once you get used to the system it is simplicity itself and driving simply a joy to drive, big and comfy and at home on all road situartions.
The M-class comes with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol with 272bhp, a 5.0-litre V8 with 306bhp or one of a pair of diesels with either 190bhp or a more respectable 224bhp. The GL adds a 420 V8 diesel with 306bhp and a more powerful 5.0-litre V8 petrol with 388bhp.
The model on test was a 224bhp producing 0-62mph in less than nine seconds with a maximum speed topping 130mph. Combined fuel consumption figures were just under 32mpg of diesel and C02 levels are 246.
The ride is extremely comfortable, probably as good as it gets in such a big vehicle, but you do have to remember that this is a tall SUV.
The M-Class is composed on all but the bumpiest of roads and is a great motorway cruiser with wind and road noise barely noticeable.
There’s ample boot space when seating five, with some 633-litres on offer with the seats up and an enormous 2020-litres when you fold all the backs down.
The 20” alloy wheels give the 350 a striking appearance; there is an alarm system, immobiliser, all round airbags, Bluetooth and all the other trappings you would expect from such an executive vehicle.
But extras on the test car such as reversing camera, DAB digital radio, manually folding tow bar, a media centre, active headlight system, seating memory package, bodystyling, music surround system and air suspension pushed this little beast up to over £55,000.
Drivers can easily get comfortable, thanks to a good range of steering wheel and seat adjustment. The dashboard is sensibly laid out and everything is within easy reach.
Any footballer’s wife would be completely at home in the 350 but if it’s an investment you are looking for this Mercedes might not be your best bet.