This is the first time I have purchased an M Class Mercedes. I have owned many other models, but never an SUV. This car is terrific. It looks very stylish without being ostentatious. The seats are really comfortable which makes it a pleasure to ride long distances. The added height, compared to a sedan, makes it easy to see and be seen on the highway. The gas mileage is better than average for this type of vehicle. It hasn't been in the shop, for repairs, since I bought it but I do the scheduled maintenance always. The costs are as expected for this type of vehicle. Another thing that surprised me was how easy it is to put the seats up and down. This car is a lot of fun to drive. It handles well in the rain and in the snow and I feel very safe driving it. The acceleration isn't quite as quick as my sedan but that is to be expected, I think. It's a bigger, heavier car than my sedan. I especially love the backup camera. It makes parallel parking a breeze. If I had to find fault with this car it would be the GPS system/map system. Mercedes has dropped the ball on this feature. There are so many much more intuitive options available but not on the Mercedes.

The ML 550 gets my votes for it's overall safety record and stability. The car is solid as a rock, because the frame is pure steel and their are safety bags all over the interior of the car. Overall, I'm satisfied with the sound quietness throughout the interior where you don't hear the road or other cars on the outside.