Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
Segment: Premium SUV
Production years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
After almost two decades of selling an off-road vehicle as a luxury SUV, Mercedes-Benz has decided to build a proper SUV, and, in 1997, it launched the first generation of the ML-Class.
Mercedes-Benz made a bold move when it launched a vehicle into a segment where it didn't was before and with a tough competition mainly from the American car-manufacturers.
The vehicle styling was new for the SUV market. The ML didn't have quite the appearance of a tough off-road vehicle. Its curved lines were far from the boxy Jeep Grand Cherokee's design. But the Mercedes-Benz made a vehicle to attract the car's buyers into the SUVs market. The ladder chassis was the traditional way of building an SUV, but the rear independent suspension was something new.
Inside, there was more room in the front seats than in any other Mercedes-Benz car, including the S-Class. For the rear seats, there was enough room for three passengers. The trunk was large enough and, as expected, it had folding rear seats. For the base trim level, it had fake carbon fiber and cloth seats while on the top, Elegance trim level it featured real wood and leather seats.
The 1997 ML introduced the 3.2-liter V6 gasoline engine. It replaced the older inline-six due to its compactness. For the diesel version, it featured an inline-five of 2.7-liter. The transmission was permanent all-wheel-drive with electronic control that could brake the spinning wheels and send the torque to the wheel that had more traction.
ENGINE SPECS - 230 5MT AWD (150 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2295 cm3 |
Power: | 110 KW @ 5400 RPM 150 HP @ 5400 RPM 148 BHP @ 5400 RPM |
Torque: | 162 lb-ft @ 3800 RPM 220 Nm @ 3800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 21.9 gallons (82.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 112 mph (180 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.3 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/75/TR16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 180.6 in (4587 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 71.7 in (1821 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 60.4/60.4 in (1,534/1,534 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111 in (2819 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.4 in (213 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 22.4 cuFT (634 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.37 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4034.4 lbs (1830 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5842.2 lbs (2650 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 13.8 mpg US (17 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 18.5 mpg US (12.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 306 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 320 5AT AWD (218 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 3199 cm3 |
Power: | 160 KW @ 5600 RPM 218 HP @ 5600 RPM 215 BHP @ 5600 RPM |
Torque: | 232 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM 315 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 21.9 gallons (82.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 121 mph (195 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/60/R17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 180.6 in (4587 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 71.7 in (1821 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 60.4/60.4 in (1,534/1,534 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111 in (2819 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.4 in (213 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 22.4 cuFT (634 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.36 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4237 lbs (1922 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6327 lbs (2870 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 12.6 mpg US (18.7 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 22 mpg US (10.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 17.4 mpg US (13.5 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 330 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 430 V8 5AT AWD (272 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4266 cm3 |
Power: | 200 KW @ 5750 RPM 272 HP @ 5750 RPM 268 BHP @ 5750 RPM |
Torque: | 295 lb-ft @ 3000-4400 RPM 400 Nm @ 3000-4400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 21.9 gallons (82.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/60/R17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 180.6 in (4587 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 71.7 in (1821 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 60.4/60.4 in (1,534/1,534 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111 in (2819 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.4 in (213 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 22.4 cuFT (634 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.36 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4237 lbs (1922 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6327 lbs (2870 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 12.6 mpg US (18.7 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 22 mpg US (10.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 17.4 mpg US (13.5 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 334 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 270 CDI 6MT AWD (163 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L5 |
Displacement: | 2688 cm3 |
Power: | 120 KW @ 4200 RPM 163 HP @ 4200 RPM 161 BHP @ 4200 RPM |
Torque: | 295 lb-ft @ 1800 - 2600 RPM 400 Nm @ 1800 - 2600 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
Fuel capacity: | 21.9 gallons (82.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 235/65/R17V |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 180.6 in (4587 mm) |
Width: | 74 in (1880 mm) |
Height: | 71.7 in (1821 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 60.4/60.4 in (1,534/1,534 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111 in (2819 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.4 in (213 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 22.4 cuFT (634 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.36 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4641 lbs (2105 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6327 lbs (2870 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 18.9 mpg US (12.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 30.5 mpg US (7.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 25.3 mpg US (9.3 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 248 g/km |