Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Since its inception, the M-Class has redefined what an SUV can be, with a legacy of groundbreaking safety and earth-embracing performance. For 2012, it once again shows that even on a familiar road, you can still blaze an exciting new trail.
Design
Standard 19-inch wheels team up with a 4-wheel independent multilink suspension with AGILITY CONTROL, an innovation that instantly recalibrates the shock absorbers with every change in the road surface. An optional Dynamic Handlng Package combines AIRMATIC air suspension with a new ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for an uncanny balance of silky comfort and confident cornering.
Standard 4MATIC™ all-wheel drive integrates our 4-wheel Electronic Traction System. 4-ETS continually redistributes the engine´s torque to the wheels with the best grip, even if that's only one wheel. And with a permanent 50:50 front/rear torque split, 4MATIC offers sporty handling on dry roads, too
With a generous 7,200-lb towing capacity when outfitted with optional hitch, the M-Class pulls a trailer with confidence. Whenever you're towing, standard Trailer Stability Assist acts decisively to rein in trailer sway, helping you keep your worries behind you.
Interior
From the broad swaths of sustainably forested wood trim to the impeccable stitching of the hand-fitted upholstery, every surface of the M-Class cabin reflects a deep tradition of caring craftsmanship and attention to your senses - of touch, of good taste and of well-being.
Standard appointments in the M-Class include the rich glow of Eucalyptus wood trim and the enduring comfort of supple MB-Tex upholstery. For an elevated sense of indulgence, soft full-grain leather seating and the warm grain of Burl Walnut wood are optional. Either way, the hand-fitted upholstery and hand-finished wood reflect a deep tradition of finely tailored luxury.
With heated 8-way power front seats and reclining rear seats, the M-Class accommodates five passengers in a haven of comfort. The rear seats flip and fold flat in a 60/40 split, to accommodate up to 71 cubic feet of cargo in a versatile variety of configurations.
A large, high-resolution color screen sits high in the dash. An elegant central controller falls naturally to your hand. Together they offer intuitive access to a suite of advanced technology, from standard Bluetooth to available navigation and countless audio options, that is both easy to master and eager to help you feel at peace with your world.
With standard USB and AUX jacks and Bluetooth audio streaming, along with optional iPod integration, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, HD Radio™ stations and a 10GB in-dash Music Register, you're more likely to run out of roads than music in the M-Class. An available 14-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7 system brings it all to you with 830 watts of digital surround sound.
Thoughtful illumination enhances your sense of belonging in the M-Class cabin. From the front footwells to the various storage compartments to overhead, a thoughtful array of courtesy and ambient lighting is standard. As a further enhancement, the Premium 2 Package includes multicolor perimeter lighting, and illuminated front door sills.
Performance
With your choice of a new-generation 302-hp gasoline V-6 or a torque-rich yet fuel-stingy 240-hp clean-diesel BlueTEC V-6, the rewards of performance are yours on demand. Channeled through a paddle-shifted 7-speed automatic transmission, the torrential output of either engine is delivered with instant response and enduring efficiency.
Safety
Optional DISTRONIC PLUS active cruise control automatically slows down or stops the vehicle in response to car traffic ahead. Its PRE-SAFE® Brake feature can sense an impending collision and apply full braking. Optional Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist can help alert you to unseen vehicles in the next lane, help warn you of drifting out of lane, and with available active technology, help steer the vehicle back if you disregard the alerts.
The rigid uni-body structure encircles the passenger cabin in a highly protective network of ultra-high and high-strength steel, magnesium reinforcements and triple-layer construction of all eight roof pillars. Advanced crumple zones and subframe-mounting of the axles help to divert impact forces away from the passenger compartment.
Another exclusive Mercedes-Benz innovation, ATTENTION ASSIST can help alert the driver it detects signs of drowsiness on longer trips. The system continuously monitors over 70 different parameters of driving behavior in the first minutes of a drive to establish a pattern, and can automatically alert the driver with both visual and audible warnings.
The M-Class has long been a protective showcase of SUV safety breakthroughs. PRE-SAFE® is a Mercedes-Benz first that can detect conditions suggesting a collision or rollover is imminent, then adjust the front seat belts, and even close the windows and sunroof, all to better prepare the occupants in the moments before a collision.
Pioneering air bags is nothing new to the M-Class. It was the first SUV equipped with side curtain air bags, and for 2012 it offers the 11-way protection of nine standard air bags, including a new knee air bag for the driver. An advanced and expanded network of sensors helps detect frontal and side impacts, or even a rollover, more effectively.