Mercedes Benz South Africa are welcoming in the third generation of their premium all-wheel-drive SUV with a range of cars that boast efficiency uber alles. Seriously, they’re only concerned with you knowing that their new M-range consumes 23-28% less fuel than the outgoing range. In the battle for green, an almighty blow for the premium Germans.

A combination in the range, BlueTEC Diesel models and a BLueEfficiency petrol engines.

The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC produces 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque, and a combined fuel consumption of 6.5 l/100 km.

The ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC has a revamped 3.0- litre V6 which offers 190 kW and impressive torque levels of 620 Nm. Increased performance and efficiency, 24% increase from the last model to be exact.

The lovely sounding ML 350 4MATIC V6 petrol engine produces 225 kW of power and 370 Nm of torque, with a combined fuel consumption of 8,8 l/100 km.

And the ML 500 features the new V8 direct injection engine with 300 kW of power and 600 Nm of torque.  Massive power for an SUV.

Efficiency? Blue? What does it all mean in real life? In the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, it means driving 1500kms on the 93-litre fuel tank before needing to refuel.

The efficiency and performance bug has been caught by the new big boy too…the ML63 AMG.

Only 11.8-litres to 100kms is pretty decent for an AMG car and this is a proper 28% increase on the last model.

The AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine puts out 386 kW and a peak torque of 700 boostable to 410 kW if you opt for the AMG performance package (at an extra R70 000).

Boasting rights come standard. An SUV that does 0-100 in 4.7 seconds and reaches 250km/h is a sight to behold.

At R1 380 000 though, one has to imagine the family that needs to get anywhere that quickly? Perhaps a banking CEO with two kids who both captain the Rugby team and a wife who doesn’t see men, she sees minions.

ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC                                               R683 500

ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC                                               R778 000

ML 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY                              R752 000

ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY                              R935 900

ML 63 AMG                                                                        R1 380 000

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