Saturday, August 2, 2014

Sporty side up - Mercedes ML 63 AMG

The Mercedes ML 63 AMG promises to be an SUV combined with luxury and performance. But can it take you by surprise? Let’s find out. 


















THE GOOD
An aggressive, striking front face which not only features a prominent chrome grille with a large three-pointed star logo, but also pulled back headlamps, day time running LED lights along with a sporty front, and a rear bumper with large air dams. However, the most distinct feature in this variant is the AMG badging on the rear with signature AMG quad-exhausts that give this SUV a tough look. 

When we talk about the insides of the car, the cabin feels spacious and luxurious. The front seats offer good support, with features like heating and memory function. For the middle row, passengers get two screens to keep themselves entertained while on the move. You also get performance steering for comfort. 

Under the hood is a V8, 5.5 liter, twin-turbo engine, which when unleashed, makes the SUV a thrill to drive. It comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which offers quick shifts. The exhausts note is outstanding and makes you feel like a racer. Plus, the AMG engine will make the car accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 4.8 seconds. It has a full time all-wheel drive system with active curve system and three suspension settings — comfort, sport and sport+. Considering the size and weight of the vehicle, the brakes are impressive. Overall, the AMG version packs in quite a few punches than its other sibling — the ML.

THE BAD
If we talk about the drive around corners, there is a bit of body role at high speeds, especially when the suspension setting is on the comfort mode. Also, if you compare it with brands such as the Range Rover Sport and the Porsche Cayenne, the Mercedes ML 63 AMG’s interior space is not really very exciting.

THE UGLY
The looks of both the versions (ML and AMG) end up being quite similar. That’s because besides the badging, one cannot really spot out a major difference between a regular ML model and the AMG derived variant. Let’s not forget that at the end of the day, a consumer is paying a lot extra for this performance-oriented machine. The only added advantage for a prospective buyer of the AMG variant is that he will get a much more powerful engine compared to the ML. But whether this will be a good enough reason for the Indian buyer to go for this SUV is what remains to be seen. 



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