Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG

A fast car isn’t usually fast in Indian conditions. Supercars that have to crawl over speed breakers gingerly, aren’t the best companions in traffic and cannot be taken for holidays out on the highway simply because of the attention they garner. An option, then, is the super-SUV, which has the pace of a supercar but can deal easily with India’s potholes, speed breakers and have enough boot space and tank range to take out on a holiday. The ML63 AMG is one of this class, and it seems to be the vehicle one should choose if one wants to fly under the radar and get his performance high. Does it live up to the expectations that naturally occur when you have ‘AMG’ on it, though?

If there’s a single word that describes the ML63 AMG, it is ‘sleeper’. Yes, there are clues like the deeper front bumper with the extra chrome, the five-spoke AMG wheels and the quad exhausts, but that’s all they are – clues. You’d have to be an enthusiast or an anorak to realise that those vents on the hood and the exhaust tips are a standard design feature of AMGs. At least there’s two dead giveaways, the ‘V8 Biturbo’ badge on the flanks, and the ‘ML 63 AMG’ badge on the bootlid. Otherwise the ML63 could pass off for a regular ML – and for India, that’s usually a bad thing. Yes, it still remains imposing and yes, everyone moves out of the way when they see those light guides in their mirrors, but visually at the price there are far more imposing SUVs, namely the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne.

However, the other side of the coin is that you can park the ML63 anywhere you like on a road trip. You’ll never get unwanted attention and the since the car looks so much like a regular variant, the chances of someone damaging the car or paint in their enthusiasm are proportionally less. That makes the ML my car of choice in the class if I were to go on a long drive.

The ML63’s interior follows the exterior theme of flying under the radar. This is a very comfortable interior, mind; there is a lot of legroom, there is power everything (including steering wheel reach and rake adjustment), there is a wood insert on the dashboard and everything that isn’t matt black is a contrasting brushed aluminium insert. The aluminium accents are plentiful but never feel like Mercedes has gone overboard with them. All the buttons are logically laid out and feel great to use, but then again, there isn’t a ‘wow’ factor over the regular ML or the competition. This is a place where one cannot argue the case of a sleeper; for the price, the cabin has to feel like one-of-a-kind or like the future making an appearance today, not merely special. That said, everything you could possibly want beyond the obvious is present: seat memory functions for both driver and passenger, three-zone climate control, twin DVD screens, remote controls and Bluetooth headphones for the rear seat occupants, a sunroof, hill descent control, electrically operated tailgate… the list is a mile long. I especially like the seat upholstery with the AMG badging, the beige door inserts that put leather where your hands will rest, and the steering wheel, which is one of the best-designed ones I’ve come across.

The audio system doesn’t look like much with the telephone-style button console, but it is a Harman/Kardon system and the quality of audio is top notch. Additionally a satellite navigation system that ties in to the display screen is offered, with maps of India on a DVD. The ML63 is one of the few remaining super premium cars to offer a space-saving spare wheel instead of runflat tyres. The boot is large enough to carry all the luggage one could possibly need for four people – this is one of its strengths because it is available only as a five-seater.

The NVH is so good in the ML63 that wind noise and tyre roar are never an issue at any speed, and engine noise is present only when it is revved hard. You only realise how quiet the cabin is when you stand outside and someone does a flyby at full chat – it is unbelievably vocal, and it explains all the rubbernecking that follows a quick overtake.

The ML63 AMG is the opposite of the ideal Indian car, which is a small, efficient diesel hatchback. This is a fire-breathing, petrol-guzzling SUV that will put most sportscars to shame in a straight line while teaching them a thing or two about what a sportscar should sound like. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine that generates 525bhp and 700Nm. All this power is laid down through a seven-speed 7G-Tronic gearbox to all four corners via a 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The result is explosive acceleration every time you bury the loud pedal in the carpet, and it remains relentless all the way to beyond 200kph. The gearbox doesn’t seem to be on the same page as the engine, though, with it shifting gears reluctantly. Things do liven up in Sport mode, with lovely rev-matching blips that make their presence felt when slowing down, but it seems to be just a wee bit slower than it should be. This doesn’t blunt the performance of the ML63 as much as you’d imagine, the engine has that much torque, but it leaves you with the impression that Mercedes could have done better.

One would imagine that that much power and torque means a stiff, harsh ride but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In ‘comfort’ setting, the Airmatic suspension smoothens out the roughest roads and biggest bumps. It is only when you put it into ‘sport’ mode that the damping stiffens up and you feel like it is a performance SUV. The steering also returns better feedback in Sport mode. Added to the lesser body roll, the ML63 gives you the confidence to push the pace around corners in this mode. However, it being what it is, a large SUV, it never feels as good as a sedan around a corner. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo remains the super-SUV to purchase if you are a driving enthusiast. The brakes of the ML63 we drove were effective at cutting speed quickly but lacked the immediacy required for peace of mind when such a powerful engine lurks under the hood.

However, looking at the state of most Indian roads and the fact that almost half of them are unpaved, the ML63 makes a very strong case for itself based on its ride/handling balance. The Cayenne rides too hard to be effective as a fast car on bad or unpaved roads. The Range Rover Sport might give the ML63 sleepless nights, though, with its off-road performance.

Even at this end of the market, people are looking for value. Here lies the problem with the Rs 1.5 crore ML63 AMG. Yes, it is a lovely car, and yes, that engine is worth its weight in gold. However, if it is a fast Mercedes SUV you want, the GL63 AMG is available for approximately Rs 17 lakhs more on the ex-showroom value. For those who want flash and a fast tarmac SUV, the Cayenne Turbo is available for a mere ten lakhs more, ex-showroom. The elephant in the room, however, is the Range Rover Sport – the V8 petrol offers similar performance and arguably better handling both on and off road at an identical price, and impeccable pedigree. The kind of vehicles these are, they need to draw attention in the Indian market, and it will be a rare soul that will choose to fly under the radar with an ML63 AMG. Until they put their foot down, that is.