Another batch of Mercedes reviews have managed to infiltrate the eMercedesBenz offices, with a grand total of three distinct model ranges analyzed by the testing powers that be.  The new Mercedes SL-Class lineup, the new Mercedes SLK-Class lineup and the new Mercedes BlueTEC SUV lineup (M-, R- and GL-Class) -- these are the chosen ones.  If you're in the market for any or just want to know how the new models perform, there should be plenty to keep you occupied.

As with all our Mercedes Review Roundups, you can find excerpts from each review as well as links back to the full articles immediately below.

Enjoy.


Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (via Drive)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"Driving a car like the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG is a special treat. Under the bonnet is a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 with 450kW of power and 1000Nm of torque. That's roughly double the output of an average V8.

Fuel consumption? Let's just say fuel consumption isn't what the SL65 AMG is about. It's all about effortless performance. But if you must know, the official combined figure is 15.2L/100km. Drive it with even a remote sense of enthusiasm, though, and you can expect to use much more fuel in the real world.

Driving in the northern NSW roads around Nimbin and in the Tweed Valley isn't the place to really appreciate the SL65 AMG's performance. There are road works, and the roads themselves are narrow and twisty, which makes hustling the big, two-tonne car – a weight that questions the car's "Sport Light" moniker – a challenge. It doesn't have the edgy response of the smaller, more nimble SLK roadster, but its huge 20-inch Michelin tyres grip the road brilliantly, allowing the car to point sharply into corners.

Really, though, what the SL65 AMG is all about is acceleration and cruising at high speed. It's a relaxed tourer that hides its monstrous performance under a neat coat of refinement and relaxation.

We also drove its sibling, the Mercedes-Benz SL500, which has a 5.4-litre V8 with 285kW and 530Nm mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox.  The new Mercedes-Benz SL500 has sharper steering than the V12, which could have something to do with there being less weight in the nose.

The initial feel of the steering is slightly sharper and more responsive. The SL range misses out on the optional direct steer system that appears in the SLK. It's going to make production in October, 2008, which means it should appear in Australia early in 2009.

Of the cars we sampled, the SL65 AMG is mindblowing. Its acceleration is monstrous, but in a sense it's wasted in Australia and on Australian roads, where the maximum limit is generally 110km/h - that's a little over four seconds from a standstill.  Which makes the SL500 the pick of the bunch. It's slightly more nimble, and if its acceleration and outright performance can't hold a candle to the AMG model, then so be it. It's a solid performer in its own right, the sort of car that you could drive from Sydney to Melbourne in and get out feeling relaxed at the other end."

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Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (via Drive)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"We were unable to sample the manual gearbox SLK, but the five-speed automatic entry level SLK200 exhibits impressive balance and agile steering, with the lesser weight of the smaller engine in the nose. In a move that runs counter to the sporting intentions of the car, however, Mercedes-Benz says that it has made the new SLK200 quieter than the outgoing model.

The Kompressor engine – the Kompressor is a supercharger that boosts power – exhibits none of the characteristic supercharger whine, while its four-cylinder exhaust note is uninspiring with the roof down. And it's with the roof down that the SLK really comes into its own. It's a relaxed touring car – with the optional five-speed automatic transmission that is easily able to keep up with itself, and with other traffic on the road despite its relatively small capacity 2.0-litre engine.

The acoustics are another matter altogether with the SLK350, which has been tuned to give what Mercedes-Benz calls a "sporty, emotive" exhaust and engine note. The revised 3.5-litre engine has an additional 24kW, taking peak power output to 224kW at 6500 rpm. Torque is also up 10Nm, and now peaks at 360Nm at 4900 rpm.

Mercedes-Benz has made a remarkable improvement in fuel consumption for the new SLK 350, with a combined consumption figure of 9.5L/100km, down 2.3L/100km on the old engine. And that's with the six-speed manual gearbox. With the optional seven-speed automatic transmission, fuel consumption is even lower at 9.2L/100km. The fuel saving isn't as dramatic as the manual, however, being down 1.9L/100km.

The SLK350 is the sweet spot in the range, being fast yet balanced (and with that exhaust note giving a lovely crackle when you lift off the throttle thanks to a reprogrammed gearbox). The SLK350 range starts at $112,380.

Top of the range is the largely unchanged SLK55 AMG. It retains its familiar 5.4-litre engine, but gets the same raft of cosmetic changes, as well as specific AMG styling tweaks and new wheels."

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Mercedes-Benz SLK350 (via Automobile)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"Potential image issues aside, I put 200 miles on the SLK350 in a few days, and wound up not tiring of it. Which is more than I can say about some other cute little convertibles I've driven in the last few weeks (Mazda's MX-5 and Mini's Cooper S convertible, to name just two). And the best parts of the SLK were things that I never expected: the engine and the steering.

First of all, Mercedes has installed its Direct-Steer System on the SLK. The idea behind this system is that the steering ratio should be relatively slow on-center to reduce dartiness, but should quicken as you turn the wheel further. Rather than going the BMW Active Steering route, which uses a computer to control the constantly varying steering ratio, Mercedes chose the right route: the Porsche way. In place of complex actuators, pumps, and computers, the Mercedes system requires no additional parts - the rack is designed to change to a quicker ratio after a certain amount of lock.

Unlike in the BMW models with Active Steering, where you're always second-guessing what the result of your steering input will be, you don't even notice the Mercedes system. You just notice that the SLK has fantastic on-center steering feel, tracks dead straight ahead even at triple-digit speeds, and then turns in progressively and quickly when the road twists. The system gives the SLK a feel of sportiness that it's been missing since day one.

That second big fix is the engine. Turn the key, and the SLK350's 3.5-liter V-6 will surprise you with its throaty exhaust note. Stomp on the gas, and you'll be positively shocked. This is one of the best-sounding V-6 engines on sale today, if not the best. The new engine revs to 7200 rpm, and the seven-speed automatic bangs off quick shifts through closely spaced gears. I kept slowing down so I could floor it and hear the music again and again.

The rest of the driving experience in the SLK is just as pleasant as its exhaust note: the suspension is taut but gives a surprisingly smooth ride at highway speeds. Handling is fairly neutral, and grip is prodigious. Brake feel is excellent, and cross-drilled rotors stay quiet all the time. The chassis is remarkably solid and free of scuttle shake. The transmission is only occasionally slow to react to sudden throttle inputs, and I was disappointed that the non-AMG SLK models lack a full manual mode."

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Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC SUV Range (via Popular Mechanics)
Reviewer's rating:  Unspecified

"In the ML-Class, updated for the 2009 model year, the diesel responds well, and there’s hardly a hint of traditional diesel rattle. Only when cold or when revved harder than usual does the driver become aware that this isn’t a gasoline V6. It’s all torque with diesels, so the less-than-scintillating 210 hp at 3400 rpm is more than made up for with a hefty 398 lb.-ft. of twist from the basement-low 1600 rpm.

The ML is the fastest of the three in the sprint to 60 mph, clocking in at 8.5 seconds. And it certainly feels sprightly. It’s the most enjoyable to drive, and at 4,974 pounds, it’s the lightest of the trio. Over a test run of 188 miles, through light traffic and a mix of small towns and rolling hills, we hit at an average speed of 44 mph and the ML returned 27.5 mpg.

The GL is, in essence, a bit of a 'yank tank.' It’s a big SUV, best enjoyed with the cruise control activated and eating up the miles on a family road trip. Over 101 miles, averaging 38 mph, the GL achieved 25.8 mpg. But in this application, the V6 starts to feel a touch overwhelmed by the GL’s extra mass.

It’s a similar story with the R-Class, although consumption doesn’t seem to suffer by much. Covering 58 miles at an average of 39 mph resulted in 27.4 mpg. This vehicle falls somewhere between the categories of minivan and SUV—it’s really a long, tall wagon, smooth and sedate. But if we’re honest, the interior seems a little too nice to let a young family loose on it."

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And before I go, a special thanks to our friend Shiv for the tips.  As always, we sincerely appreciate them.