The 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV is a far cry from the original model. Whereas the first M-Class featured body-on-frame construction, today’s ML employs a unit-body design. This creates a stiffer chassis, which helps eliminate rattles and vibration as well as quiets the interior. The design also allows for a more sophisticated suspension, yielding better handling and a more civilized ride. Although it can seat five, the ML is most comfortable with four passengers. It offers a modest cargo bay of 29.4 cubic feet, which is more space than an Infiniti FX35, but less than offered by the Acura MDX. Although rival BMW also offers a diesel option for its X5, The M-Class’ BlueTEC diesel engine option is fairly unique in this class and is capable of meeting all 50 state’s stringent emissions standards.
Used 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Pricing
Used 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class pricing starts at $6,696 for the M-Class ML 350 Sport Utility 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $46,575 when new. The range-topping 2010 M-Class ML 63 AMG Sport Utility 4D starts at $13,440 today, originally priced from $92,170.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
ML 350 Sport Utility 4D | $46,575 | $6,696 | ||
ML 350 4MATIC Sport Utility 4D | $49,320 | $7,089 | ||
ML 350 BLUETEC Sport Utility 4D | $51,560 | $7,304 | ||
ML 450 Hybrid Sport Utility 4D | $56,120 | $8,821 | ||
ML 550 Sport Utility 4D | $58,650 | $8,872 | ||
ML 63 AMG Sport Utility 4D | $92,170 | $13,440 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Driving the Used 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
By having unibody construction instead of a ladder-frame platform the 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class transcends any comparison with the first generation M-Class. The highway ride is as smooth as you’d expect from any of the automaker’s stately sedans, with the added benefit of being able to negotiate large rocks (or parking blocks) with exceptional composure. It’s this silkiness that makes the SUV’s confidence-inspiring cornering ability just that much more impressive. While in a price-is-no-object world we would prefer the V8-powered ML550, the torque-happy ML350 BlueTEC is equally satisfying.
Interior Comfort
Some of the first interior details you may notice are the large, circular air vents dominating the dash and the padded rails at the bottom of the center console that are more of an off-road touch than we expected from the more street-friendly 2010 M-Class. What you’ll be forced to notice before moving the car an inch, however, is the dainty transmission selector stalk on the steering column. It removes the shifter from the center console and its operation, though not conventional, is easy to get used to. The seats are as comfortable as you’d expect, with a four-way power adjustable lumbar support for the driver and a new leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles. The roomy M-Class cabin delivers plenty of room for five adults, but only average cargo space behind its second-row seat.
Exterior Styling
The sleek 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML is a sharp looking ride and is particularly menacing when clad in AMG trappings. Body additions from AMG impart a sporty look, and the big 20-inch wheel and tire package is downright aggressive. The ML touts a wide grille and large headlamps, along with stainless steel skid plates and large side mirrors. Though larger in every way than the original ML, the current model retains a comfortable size that is as easy to manage in traffic as in confined parking situations. Like all vehicles in the class, however, the tall roof height requires some stretching to reach items affixed at the roof rack’s center point.
Favorite Features
Safety First
A long list of safety equipment includes traction and stability control, multiple airbags, active headrests and Mercedes-Benz’s PRE-SAFE system that tightens seatbelts and closes windows when it senses an impending collision.
Air Suspension
An optional air suspension allows for an extra three inches of ground clearance, while an active damping system lets you choose between Auto, Comfort and Sport settings, to best suit the road ahead.
Standard Features
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 features a 3.5-liter V6, seven-speed automatic transmission, automatic climate control, multimedia head unit with in-dash six-disc changer, auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, cruise control, automatic headlamps, heated and auto-dimming exterior mirrors, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, outside temperature display, 19-inch wheels, power glass sunroof and a four-way adjustable steering column. Standard safety equipment includes the PRE-SAFE system as well as an array of passive and active safety technologies, including front, front-side and front and second-row side-curtain airbags.
Factory Options
In addition to its 5.5-liter V8 engine, the ML550 includes wood trim, the AMG trim package and other features. Additional options for all ML models are, for the most part, grouped into packages, but include an active-damping air suspension, DVD navigation, keyless entry and start, power liftgate, active bi-xenon headlights, Parktronic park assist, heated steering wheel and rear seats, rear-seat entertainment system and a harman/kardon premium audio system. For the lucky few, the ML63 AMG offers the ultimate in ML performance and luxury.
Engine & Transmission
With an impressive V6 good for 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, opting for the lower-priced, higher-mileage ML350 won’t leave you feeling short-changed in the power department. For those who want the towing capability of a V8 with the fuel mileage of a frugal four-cylinder, the ML350 BlueTEC diesel is an excellent choice. Die-hard speed freaks will no doubt drool over the ML63 AMG’s 503 horsepower, but the price tag near $90,000 may render this hot-rod SUV little more than a pipe dream. 3.5-liter V6 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel 5.5-liter V8 6.3-liter V8
268 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
258 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2400-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/21 (2WD), 15/20 (AWD)
210 horsepower @ 3800 rpm
400 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1600-2400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25
382 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
391 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2800-4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18
503 horsepower @ 6800 rpm
465 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/15
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Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
