Mercedes’s latest off-roader

In India, the three-pointed star commands a lot of respect. Everybody recognises it, and driving a car with one on its bonnet tells the world that you have arrived. This holds even more true if you're driving an SUV. Mercedes was the first luxury carmaker in India, and among the first to have a SUV in its line-up. The M-class started its innings in India with the first generation and the company has now launched the third iteration.

The design is an evolution of its predecessor's and the new one can't be mistaken for anything else except an M-class. The headlamps are more rounded than before, but the characteristic reversed C-pillars return to keep continuity in the M-class design. The window line too remains very much like the outgoing car. There are, however, new design touches to bring the M-class in line with the rest of the Mercedes lineup. For example, the three-slat grille with the big three-pointed star in the middle is now more upright. The car we drove is the 'Edition 1' version, with an AMG body kit and bigger wheels, of which the company is selling only 100 units. The body kit gives the M-class a serious look, thanks to the aggressively styled air intakes in the bumper.

There are traditional SUV design traits too, like roof rails, side sills to ease ingress, a faux sump guard and a rear diffuser. The flourishes of chrome all around don't look out of place either, adding a bit of liveliness to the looks. At the rear, the tail-lamps too see a change, with the older, smaller ones giving way to longer wraparound units, and from the rear, the ML sort of looks like an estate car, save for the high stance. The new car has grown in size as well—it is now a bit wider and longer, but lower than before.

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