The 2006 M-Class is bigger, faster and has a more refined interior than its predecessor. It's restyled on the outside and uses unibody construction.
Third-row seating, an option that was priced around $1,000 on earlier M-Classes, is gone for 2006. For one thing, the smallish rearmost seats weren't a big draw for buyers. For another, Mercedes wants to differentiate the upcoming R-Class, which comes standard with three rows of seats, from the M-Class.
It's also the first SUV in the country to offer the Mercedes Pre-Safe system that helps prepare the vehicle and passengers if it senses an impending crash. And about a year after its spring 2005 launch, the new-generation M-Class will add a new "off-road pro" package that provides new off-road capability.
With state-of-the-art technology such as three powerful new engines , the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC fitted as standard, the now even more effective four-wheel drive system 4-ETS,
The unique seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC is fitted as standard in all variants of the new M-Class. Intelligent shift management allows the transmission to make optimum use of the engine's enviable reserves of power, while making a major contribution to fuel economy.
The new M-Class also boasts exceptional long-term quality , another Mercedes hallmark. The fully galvanised body is given extra protection from corrosion by means of an organic coating at specific points. Structural areas subjected to high stresses are cavity-sealed, and folds are seam-sealed. Large plastic underbody panels eliminate the necessity for conventional PVC undersealing.