Mercedes-Benz ML-Class review

Overview

The W166 ML occupies a useful space between an ordinary family SUV and a luxury limousine: tall seating, considerable carrying capacity and a comfort-led attitude. We select the UK 2013 ML350 BlueTEC SE, with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and the seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic. It is not the earlier W164 or the facelift vehicle renamed GLE. RoadMatch's review is source-led analysis, not a claim of first-hand testing. The six-cylinder diesel suits the car's distance-covering purpose, but age and premium hardware now dominate the buying decision. A household needing five spacious seats and a big boot may find it appealing; anyone requiring seven seats must look elsewhere rather than assume size equals an extra row.

Exterior and interior

The ML's relatively upright body and recognisable rear quarter windows favour a conventional SUV shape over a coupé roof. SE is distinct from the more heavily styled AMG Sport, and used adverts should not blur their trim details. The cabin retains substantial physical controls and a column-mounted gear selector, so try the layout before purchase if you normally drive another brand. Inspect seat coverings, switches, load-floor trim and the powered tailgate for consistent operation. Exterior steps and brightwork can look attractive while concealing damage or corrosion around attachments. Wheels, tyres and door seals deserve close attention. A premium cabin should feel properly maintained, not merely cleaned enough to disguise missing functions.

Practicality

Mercedes quotes a maximum 690 litres behind the second row and 2,010 litres behind the first with the rear seats folded. These are generous manufacturer capacity claims, but their loading boundary should be kept in mind when comparing another vehicle's below-cover figure. Take your real luggage and check the height of the opening, rear-seat folding process and load-floor arrangement. The ML has five seats, not seven, leaving a substantial luggage area available without juggling a third row. Rear passengers should test legroom with the front seats set normally. Its width also matters in car parks and on narrow country lanes. A fitted towbar needs approval, installation and actual towing-limit checks, not inference from engine size.

Driving experience

Independent assessments portray the W166 as strongest when carrying occupants comfortably over distance rather than attacking bends. The chosen V6 diesel is different from the four-cylinder ML250, so noise criticisms of that engine should not be transferred wholesale. Standard steel suspension and optional AIRMATIC are separate ownership propositions; establish which is fitted before interpreting a review or evaluating repair exposure. Try the car on your normal route, paying attention to low-speed bumps, steering consistency and braking. A large all-wheel-drive SUV can provide useful traction without being effortless to place on a narrow road. Sensible tyres, healthy dampers and working brakes matter more to everyday confidence than an off-road button.

Performance

The UK 2013 technical table lists a 2,987cc V6 diesel producing 258 PS, approximately 254 bhp, and 620 Nm. Its manufacturer zero-to-62-mph time is 7.4 seconds with 7G-Tronic Plus. The ML350 designation should therefore not be read as evidence of a 3.5-litre diesel, even where an independent article uses that shorthand. This performance gives the heavy body a coherent long-distance role without making it a sporting car. Check smooth engagement, normal changes and consistent response both cold and warm. Investigate shudder, driveline vibration or a history of warning messages through a specialist. Modified software should be documented and assessed rather than treated as a harmless enhancement included in the sale.

Fuel economy

The period brochure gives the ML350 a 39.2 imperial mpg combined laboratory claim under the then-applicable NEDC framework. It is not a present-day owner average or a WLTP result. Our budget assumes 32 mpg instead, openly a planning input rather than a measured test. A large, heavy diesel can use substantial fuel when journeys are cold, short or congested. Longer trips better explain the choice, especially once the inspection and maintenance needs of emissions hardware are considered. The brochure describes EU6 compliance, but verify the registration's actual emissions classification and local charging-zone treatment through official services. Historic tax amounts and a BlueTEC badge should not replace a vehicle-specific check.

Reliability

An ageing ML should be inspected as a premium utility vehicle whose components still reflect its original engineering cost. Seek invoices for servicing and any gearbox, emissions or driveline work, and ask a qualified specialist to inspect stored faults, leaks, cooling condition and underbody damage. Check the AdBlue and particulate-filter systems rather than accepting a seller's explanation that occasional warnings are normal. Identify the suspension type: steel springs avoid air-system checks, but wear items still matter; optional air suspension requires additional scrutiny. Our limited-confidence reliability score is an editorial judgement, not a failure-rate statistic. Towbar wear, heavy loading and mismatched tyres can tell a useful story about prior use that the mileage alone misses.

Safety

The generation-specific authority document is the M-Class record carried from 2011 into the 2012 requirements, not the older ML or a later GLE result. Its own note explains the carry-over, which we retain as historical context without reproducing scores or artwork. Advanced assistance and camera packages in the UK brochure remain conditional on actual equipment. Do not assume a modern lane-intervention or adaptive-cruise specification from the vehicle's size and badge. Check belts, restraint lamps, tyres and repaired structural areas, and have fitted child seats demonstrated properly. Use the government recall procedure and request Mercedes-Benz VIN campaign-completion records. A model-level safety reference cannot establish the condition of this particular thirteen-year-old SUV.

Technology and features

The ML cabin offers useful conventional controls, Bluetooth and period navigation arrangements, but Becker Map Pilot and optional COMAND Online are not interchangeable descriptions. Establish the system fitted and test navigation, audio, phone pairing and every claimed upgrade. Factory Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not promised on the selected 2013 car; a retrofit needs its own installation and compatibility checks. Parking sensors are supported by the brochure's Parktronic provision, while cameras and advanced assistance need specification confirmation. Check the powered tailgate repeatedly and inspect its movement for hesitation or unusual noise. Some online functions may no longer match their original description, so focus on demonstrated present usefulness rather than historic marketing language.

Running costs

A £7,500–£12,000 purchase allowance is an editorial planning estimate dated 3 October 2026, not a live valuation. At 8,000 miles, assumed 32 mpg and hypothetical diesel at £1.55 per litre, fuel costs approximately £1,760. Add a rounded £350 tax provision and £1,500–£2,500 for routine servicing, MOT, tyres and wear items to give about £3,600–£4,600 annually. Actual tax and insurance require individual checks; insurance groups are not reproduced. Finance, depreciation and major repairs sit outside this allowance. Heavy tyres, brakes and premium labour can easily matter more than a modest saving on the purchase price. Obtain quotations for unresolved faults and keep a separate reserve before deciding that this is inexpensive family transport.

Advantages and disadvantages