A 2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML350 is the kind of used SUV that looks like a bargain.
Edmunds lists used examples from about $7,000 to nearly $22,000, with an average near $11,000.
With a used Mercedes, the purchase price is only the entry fee. The real cost shows up in the shop.
What owners and reviewers like
A serene ride. Edmunds calls it a smooth, quiet ride, especially with the optional Airmatic suspension.
A rich interior. Materials are top-tier, and the knob-based COMAND system is praised for being easy to use.
Space. A roomy back seat and 38.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats.
Solid power. The 3.5L V6 makes 302 horsepower, and Edmunds clocked the all-wheel-drive version at 6.8 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.
Safety. A five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, and mostly “Good” results from the IIHS.
Happy owners. Edmunds shows an average owner rating of 4.6 out of 5 across 53 reviews.
What owners and reviewers don’t like
Lazy handling. Edmunds says it’s soft and vague on twisty roads. This is a cruiser, not a sports SUV.
Thirsty. The ML350 returns about 19 to 20 mpg combined.
Expensive for the class. Edmunds flagged it as pricey compared with most rivals when new.
The base V6 can feel underpowered to some drivers, according to Edmunds.
Reliability is a mixed bag.
RepairPal gives the 2015 ML350 a 3.0 out of 5 reliability score, ranking 10th out of 14 luxury midsize SUVs, and describes ownership costs as "poor."
It says repairs happen more often than normal, though the severity is about average.
We often see the quality score impacted as much as the value of it when we see users run car inspection scores for a used Mercedes.
Either way, you have to do your homework and you need a good chunk of change for what seem to always be pricey maintenance trips to your authorized dealer for service.
Thanks for reaching, everybody!
-Paul