Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: £38,905 to £75,823
Sport trim's aggressive new look, new kit, great engine range.
Rivals are sportier and all-round better to drive.
Not quite a sporting SUV, but a decent alternative nonetheless.
Mercedes-Benz has come a long way in recent years to address criticism of its reliability and quality. According to the customer satisfaction surveys, it's paying off.
It came sixth in the recent JP Power investigation into how happy owners are with their car, making it the highest-ranking German carmaker.
Inside, the M-Class impresses with mostly good plastics, although one of our cars creaked over larger bumps and during off-road adventures.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Mercedes M-class
wrote on 27 05 2006