ON THE ROAD: MERCEDES-BENZ ML 63 AMG

Aggressive big daddy this is.

I’d probably say this is the most aggressive-looking car in its segment, next to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. Just from the drooping front grille with a mashed black cover and the square-slit bottom bumper, one immediately realises this ain’t your ordinary mama's ML. The headlights are big and clear, being complemented by the round foglights below. The running board on the sides gives it authority, kinda like those cars that secret agents use when protecting VIPs.

It scares me.

It’s meant to scare the opposition away. It’s also meant to help its buyers feel special and exclusive, make them see they’ve bought a car that stands out from the rest. Boy does it stand out! Those massive 21-inch tyres with the smokey rims almost fill up the wheel arches which are already quite fat themselves. At the rear two pieces of kit are dead giveaways; the four shiny oval tailpipes and the rear diffuser that separates them. The side mirrors fold when the "lock" button is pushed on the key.

Ok, the looks are definitely there. What about the go?

Well if you glance at the quick stats you’ll realise that they read like figures attained by a sports car, which the ML 63 AMG quite is. I reckon though, that with a better gearing of the 7-speeder the car would go quicker. Take-off tests were done using the M-Sport mode which allows the driver to change gears using the shift paddles behind the steering wheel. Even in this way the changes are just not quick enough. In fact you are probably better off leaving the car in full automatic mode (Comfort or Sport) rather than endure the wait for the next gear long after you’ve selected it.

Other than that?

Other than that you have a full blown performance vehicle with an engine sound fit to be part of a bass vocal group led by Vin Diesel. The steering wheel is flat-bottomed and not exactly round. Grip is sticky on it and it turns very well. The alloy paddles behind it are easy to use – the right-hand one is to shift up, left-hand to shift down. On the dashboard are gadgets like the screen to operate wizardry such as satellite navigation, radio/CD player and the SD card slot. Foot pedals are made of an alloy with rubber buttons for grasping any type of shoe sole. Electronically adjustable seats made of leather and Alcantara are fitted and sport AMG logos.

I don’t see much interior difference from the normal ML.

I’ve just explained to you the differences!

But what else is different?

Our test car came with the rear DVD screens which are not installed on the headrests as expected but stick out like they are aftermarket gadgets. Nevertheless the DVD system is state-of-the-art and quite interesting in that the wireless headphones only work in the zone where the screen is on. For example if you switch on the left rear screen, put the headphones on and shift into the rear middle area the headphones stop working. Likewise if you stick your head out the window or peep into the front area.

What happens around the bends?

Could be fun if you are careful, could be a dip on the grass/gravel/pedestrian if you are not. Understand the ML 63 AMG is too high to corner like a smaller sports car, so it won’t. It does however, almost corner like a big sports sedan when the suspension has been lowered (through a button on the centre console). The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system also plays its part in keeping the car stuck on the road. Again, the letdown is the gearbox with its delayed manual changes.

Does it work?

For what it was intended yes - fast, powerful, brawny SUV. For excursions off the beaten track, no.

QUICK STATS

MERCEDES-BENZ ML 63 AMG

ENGINE: 6.2-litre V8 naturally aspirated

POWER: 375kW / 510hp at 6800rpm; 630Nm at 5200rpm

0 – 100KM/H: 6.5 seconds

GEARBOX: 7-speed G-Tronic

TOP SPEED: 250km/h

FUEL AVERAGE: 18.6 l/100km

CO2 e: 392 g/km

PRICE: R1 105 000

NATURAL RIVALS: BMW X5 M (in SA in 2010), Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

*PRICE RIVALS: PORSCHE 911 Targa 4 Coupe Tiptronic

BABE-MAGNETIC FACTOR: Very High

*A price rival falls within R20 000 or so of the subject’s price on either side of its price spectrum for cars over R350 000, R10 000 for cars of between R250 000 and R350 000 and R5 000 for cars below R250 000.