2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

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• Prices
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• Exterior
• Interior
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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

On the inside, the 2010 M-Class is luxurious, high quality and accommodating. However, some reviewers aren't so fond of the rear seats. 

• "Very accommodating with exceptional space for the front seats, a bit less so in the rear. Fitted with leather and wood trim, the cabin felt solid and luxurious." -- Arizona Republic
• "Most importantly, Mercedes says it has changed the old version's abysmal infotainment unit to a new array of three different choices. We're hoping the new systems are more akin to the ones in the new C-Class." -- Cars.com
• "Inside the ML receives a sportier seat design, four-stage power lumbar support for the driver, a four-spoke steering wheel with gearshift paddles and new door trim." -- MSN
• "The cabin's standard wood trim and other high-quality materials create an upscale ambiance. However, many interior panels are not soft to the touch, and only the ML63 has standard leather upholstery." - Consumer Guide
• "As with the RX 450h and other hybrids, the ML450 Hybrid features a unique display that can show such functions as energy flow, fuel consumption, energy recuperation, battery charge status and total powertrain output." -- Edmunds

Seating

Reviewers find the M-Class' front seats comfortable and spacious, though the rear seats are a bit cramped. The SUV is no longer offered with a third-row seat -- an option that was priced around $1,000 on earlier M-Classes

• "The quiet, upscale interior has good room for four tall adults." -- MSN
• "The seats, which were enough to make you loathe the previous version, are inviting and accommodating... It's easy to find a proper driving position, one that doesn't leave your arms too close and your legs too far, or vice versa." -- USA Today
• "The seats are supportive and comfortable, except for a hard seat back in the center rear position." -- Cars.com
• "Front passengers enjoy roomy, generally supportive seats. Good side bolstering requires the multi-contour power seats, which have a tacked-on control pod that looks incongruous and intrudes on some testers' leg space. Entry and exit are a bit steep when compared to other premium midsize crossover SUVs." -- Consumer Guide

Interior Features

While reviewers widely praise the Benz's the interior controls, some still find them overly complicated. The 2010 model boasts a long list of standard interior features, including a line-in jack in the glove box and four 12-volt power outlets, an AM/FM/weather band radio, a single-disc CD player, eight speakers, power windows, dual-zone climate controls, and eight-way power seats in cloth or leather.

• "There's some complexity overload. To use the steering-wheel controls to change radio stations, for instance, you have to first page through six or seven choices to get to the right setting." -- U.S. News
• "Operation of the audio system seemed too complex, especially the process of loading and unloading CDs. Too many buttons to push for a simple function." -- Arizona Republic
• "The Comand interface -- which controls the navigation system, stereo and other functions -- has been upgraded with better menus and additional features. MP3 players can be attached to the surround-sound stereo. A backseat video system with wireless headphones is also optional." -- Cars.com
• "A new multimedia head unit includes a more colorful display, in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD changer and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity." -- MSN
• "The integrated DVD player comes with two sets of wireless headphones and two remote controls, thus freeing you from the burden of talking to your rear seat passengers. Door linings are now trimmed in man-made leather and the redesigned four-spoke steering wheel has shift paddles and multifunction controls that are supposedly easier to use." -- Truck Trend

Cargo

The M-Class boasts 29.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in use. The rear seat flips forward and folds flat to enlarge the cargo area to 72.4 cubic feet -- more than a BMW X3 or X5, Cadillac SRX or Volkswagen Touareg2.

• "The cargo space benefits from the '06's larger size, seeming generous, though it isn't class-leading." -- USA Today
• "Huge space behind the rear seat is easy to load with luggage, and overall construction feels solid." -- Cars.com
• "The tall, broad cargo bay affords plenty of space with the rear seats in use. The seatbacks fold easily without removing the headrests to create a long, flat load floor, but not until the seat cushions have been tipped forward." -- Consumer Guide