May be old-fashioned,but I'm a bit of a purist I believe that products should have a clear purpose. Thus a 4x4 must be a true off-roader; a vehicle that can go to places where regular cars cannot. The original Jeep was one such vehicle, as was the Land Rover. But the ultimate has always been the Merc G-Wagen. Designed to be a durable, reliable, and rugged off-roader, the G-Wagen's capabilities are legendary. And I've always been a fan of the G, admiring not only its capabilities, but appreciating its sheer honesty of purpose and design.

So, when Mercedes launched the M-Class, in 1998, I wasn't impressed. Here was a sheep in wolfs clothing, and early press reviews bore out my misgiv¬ings. The second gen M, launched in 2006, is much better. And now it's due for a facelift: new head lamps, redesigned bumpers, new exterior mirrors, deeper front grille and restyled interior. And it will be available in India in two versions: 320CDI and 350 petrol. Reason enough for me to have a go at the 320CDI, which will be what most Indians will opt for. In fact, refinement is so good as is the economy (about 8-10kpl) of the diesel, that I wonder why anyone would opt for a petrol model at all.

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Though a lofty 4x4, it drives surprisingly well, nicely blending sharp dynamics with the sort of cosseting ride and comfort that you'd expect from a Mere. Mind you, the M-Class is not as sharp as the XS, and there are other 4x4s that will better it off-road, but then you are not really buying it to go mud-plugging, nor will you be racing around Sriperambudur. There's an off-road pack if you're planning on ever taking it into the wild, but even in conventional guise it's reasonably competent. Inside, the materials feel classy and there's plenty of space as well as a comprehensive list of standard equipment.