Step on the gas and the ML430 roars--a loud, deep, unbridled roar, not necessarily characteristic of a Mercedes sedan, but right at home in this all-purpose vehicle. With the noise comes action. From a stop, 60 miles per hour comes in 8 seconds flat, making the ML430 one of the quickest SUVs you can buy.Even more impressive is the V8's flexibility. It's matched with a sophisticated five-speed automatic, and while you'll find similar transmissions in luxury sedans, you won't find one in another SUV. Slam the accelerator at any speed: In a heartbeat the transmission downshifts and the 2.25-ton ML430 gains even velocity, making quick, stress-free work of passing tractor trailers on two-lane roads. Longtime Mercedes drivers will feel a familiar dead spot in the steering when the wheel is centered. Turn the wheel left or right, however, and the tactile sensation (what enthusiast drivers call feedback) builds quickly and evenly. Sedan-style four-wheel independent suspension gives the ML430 an impressively smooth ride and handling that's quite good for a heavy SUV. A driver can feel the M-Class's weight if he or she yanks the steering wheel in sharp, rapid swoops -- the ML43O can lean heavily in emergency lane change maneuvers, for example. Yet it's prone to neither excessive pushing at the front end nor jittery slides in the rear. Hold your breath a second and it bites down and follows aggressive steering commands without much fuss. The wide, all-season tires are surprisingly grippy on dry asphalt, and stopping power is impressive. The brake pedal has a slightly spongy feel, but in full-panic stops the ML430 slows faster than almost any SUV in production. The M-Class lacks a hand brake or locking differentials -- tools experienced off-road drivers sometimes rely on. Yet with 8.4 inches of ground clearance, it's capable of traversing terrain that few SUV buyers are likely to challenge. The low four-wheel-drive range allows the ML430 to creep up and down seriously steep inclines, while electronic power distribution delivers grip on both soft, sloppy earth or hard, rocky, uneven ground. The electronics apply the brakes on wheels that are slipping, and then send most of the power to those that are gripping. The M-Class can creep forward even if only one wheel has a bit of traction. Think of it this way: There aren't many vehicles that can carry five passengers to a chic restaurant downtown, or up the hill to a hideaway in the woods, with the same degree of comfort, luxury and style. Granted, that potential is expensive. With a few options, the ML430 we tested cost nearly $47,000. Not long ago, paying that kind of money for a "truck" was almost unheard of.
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