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The recently face-lifted M-class has enough sparkle and presence, what with its redesigned front bumper, flashy new headlamps, and shiny nineteen-inch wheels, to satisfy all who yearn for the three-pointed star. This ML320 BlueTec replaces the previous ML320 CDI and is powered by Mercedes-Benz's all-new, so-called "clean" diesel, the first modern diesel engine from Mercedes that is approved for sale in all fifty states, including super-picky California, because it uses an AdBlue exhaust injection liquid that reduces NOx by some 80 percent. That is quite an achievement.
And it is quite a powertrain, with very quiet operation and virtually no indication to the user that it's a diesel. Turn the key, and there's just a slight hesitation before the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 ignites and quickly settles into its almost indecipherable rhythm. Torque? Yes, nearly 400 lb-ft of it, giving you smart acceleration from stoplights (Mercedes claims a 0-to-60-mph time of about 8.0 seconds) and, of course, great towing capability: Mercedes says you can drag 7200 pounds of trailer and cargo behind you. With a 24-mpg highway fuel economy rating and a 25-gallon fuel tank, the ML320 BlueTec also boasts a 600-mile driving range. That alone is reason enough for many people to choose the ML320 BlueTec over its gasoline-powered sibling, the ML350, which is rated by the EPA at 20 mpg on the freeway, giving it an effective range of 500 miles.
Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor
More Editor Reviews: Automobile Magazine - GREEN: 2009 Mercedes Benz ML320 BlueTEC
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