Vehicle Tests > Towing Comparison: LandCruiser v Prado v Patrol v Jackaroo v ML270

At $62,500 the ML270 isn't the cheapest of 4WDs but for that money you get a well appointed vehicle with the quality and refinement you expect of vehicles bearing the three-pointed star. Standard features include dual front and side SRS airbags, ABS brakes with brake assist, electronic stability program (ESP), electronic traction system (4-ETS), 16-inch alloy wheels, airconditioning, cruise control, power windows and remote control central locking. Our test vehicle was fitted with the $6000 luxury pack which adds electric leather seats, leather trim on the steering wheel and shift lever, burr-walnut trim on the dash and centre console and a trip computer. The other options fitted included the dealer-fitted tow bar at $500 (approx), sunroof ($2737) and metallic paint ($1672) taking the price as tested to $73,409.

The ML270's engine is a 2.7-litre, five-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-diesel engine that uses a host of high-tech features to produce its 120kW of power and 400Nm of torque. As well as intercooling, the engine uses high-pressure common-rail fuel injection and a variable nozzle turbocharger to deliver optimum boost and fuelling for all conditions.

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The engine is mated to a slick shifting five-speed automatic transmission with a 'Tippshift' manual sequential mode. The transfer unit gives permanent 4WD with open differentials throughout and there is a low range operated via a button on the dashboard. All M-Class Mercedes wagons uses a body-on-separate chassis design with fully independent coil-sprung suspension.

The M-Class' relatively small size (2820mm wheelbase and 1535mm track) led us to believe that it wouldn't be suited to hauling such a large caravan but we were pleasantly surprised. Even with its soft suspension it displayed very little pitching or swaying once underway and the engine gave snappy acceleration. There is a slight hesitation or lag on initial take-off but from there the ML pulls strongly up to cruising speeds. In fact, the ML270 was the second best accelerating vehicle on this comparison. At highway speeds the ML struggled to hold 100kmh in top gear requiring use of the Tippshift transmission to keep it on the boil. Even when working hard the engine was barely heard inside the cabin and combined with its spritely acceleration you could be excused for forgetting it was a diesel engine.

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