The M-Class features an electronic gear selector that's making its way into all Mercedes models. It's an easy-to-reach short stalk on the right side of the steering column, with simple up-down movement for reverse and drive. Alternate shift buttons, which allow selection of a specific gear, are located on the back of the steering wheel hub, right where fingers wrap around the spokes. It's a good system, and eliminates the conventional gear selector from the center console, making more room available for elegant design and function.
The power seat controls have been relocated from the door to the outboard side of the seat bottom. We can fathom no reason for this change except the cost trimmed by eliminating the remote switches. It's certainly a less convenient arrangement. Still, the front seats themselves (even the base seats in the ML350) are all-day comfortable. The rear seat isn't as supportive as the fronts, but it's much roomier than before. Most of the newly created space in this second-generation M-Class translates into more knee and legroom for rear seat passengers.
The rear seat folds fairly easily, and is split 60/40, to expand storage space from 29.1 to 72.4 cubic feet maximum. The load height in back is SUV high, but M-Class offers nearly as much cargo-hauling room as the typical, full-size truck-based SUV.
The new 2007 ML63 AMG has heavily bolstered sport seats upholstered with Nappa leather and an Alcantara insert across the shoulder bolsters. Its entire dashboard is wrapped with leather. The ML63 also features a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, unique instruments with AMG graphics and stainless-steel pedals with rubber studs. Next Page