2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

header-image
Rating8.3

Ranked #2 in 

Midsize SUV
Write Review
$48,990 - $57,590
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 3, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Comfy seats and superb interior quality

More expensive compared to rivals

Fully redesigned for 2012

Strong brakes

No third row, not even as an option

Two strong engines offered

Steering response isn't precise

Specs & Features

$50,490

price

240 hp @ 3600 rpm

horsepower

455 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

torque

7-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

3.0L 6cyl AWD 7A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

Competing in the midsize SUV segment, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV goes up against other notable names in the class, like the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the Porsche Cayenne, and the BMW X5. Spread across 2 trims, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class starts off at a base price of MSRP $48,990 and carries on to $57,590. Not all trims are built equal, however, as there are 2 powertrains on offer. Starting off is the 3.5L V6 engine mated to a 7-Speed automatic transmission. Making 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, this engine makes the Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV capable of accelerating from a standstill to 60 MPH in just 6.8 seconds and carries the capability to tow 6,600 pounds. One can also opt for a bigger 4.7L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that is paired to the same automatic transmission. With 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, this engine gets you a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.

Buying Advice

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV is a luxurious and comfortable SUV offered in two trims. Among them, we recommend getting the higher-end ML550 trim with the smoother V8 engine under the hood. This trim also gets standard 19-inch AMG wheels, rear-seat side airbags, and everything there is on the base ML350 trim.

Trims

    ML 350
    $48,990 onwards
    • 19-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • AM/FM/HD/Satellite-Prep
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Fog/Driving lights
    • Front passengers heated-cushion
    • Rear air conditioning with controls
    • Remote keyless entry
    • Sliding and tilting glass Sunroof
    ML 550
    $57,590 onwards
    • 19-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • Auxiliary audio jack
    • Bluetooth audio streaming
    • Hd radio

Compare to similar cars

Price

$48,990- $57,590

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.28

Horsepower

402 hp @ 5000 rpm

Torque

455 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$46,120- $56,670

Gasoline

8.36

300 hp @ 6300 rpm

270 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$43,030- $54,555

Gasoline

7.68

300 hp @ 6300 rpm

270 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

7

Read Review

$46,250- $59,950

Gasoline

7.9

280 hp @ 4920 rpm

295 lb.-ft. @ 2250 rpm

7

Read Review

$59,600- $70,200

Gasoline

8.29

300 hp @ 5800 rpm

300 lb.-ft. @ 1200 rpm

4

Read Review

$47,500- $64,200

Gasoline

8.17

300 hp @ 5800 rpm

300 lb.-ft. @ 1300 rpm

5

Read Review

$35,985- $49,585

Gasoline

7.99

308 hp @ 6800 rpm

265 lb.-ft. @ 2400 rpm

5

Read Review

$59,800

Gasoline

7.3

390 hp @ 6500 rpm

369 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$43,700- $52,000

Gasoline

8.01

303 hp @6800 rpm

262 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

5

Read Review

$27,195- $54,670

Gasoline

7.79

290 hp @ 6400 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

5

Read Review

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    7.5 sec15 sec141 mph
    5.3 sec13.7 sec-
    5.9 sec14.5 sec-
    6.2 sec14.9 sec132 mph
    6.46 sec14.6 sec92 mph
    6.5 sec15.1 sec-

    2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      17 mpg22 mpg19 mpg27.7 gal.418.2/541.2 mi.
      19 mpg26 mpg22 mpg18 gal.342/468 mi.
      19 mpg25 mpg21 mpg18.5 gal.351.5/462.5 mi.
      18 mpg25 mpg21 mpg19.2 gal.345.6/480 mi.
      2012 BMW X5

      Ranked #3

      16 mpg23 mpg19 mpg22.5 gal.360/517.5 mi.
      2012 BMW X6

      Ranked #3

      16 mpg23 mpg19 mpg22.5 gal.360/517.5 mi.

      2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        188.2 in.75.8 in.71.5 in.5.2 in.114.8 in.
        2012 Audi Q7

        Ranked #1

        200.3 in.78.1 in.68.4 in.8.1 in.118.2 in.
        192.4 in.78.5 in.62.8 in.7.9 in.108.3 in.
        2012 BMW X6

        Ranked #3

        192.1 in.78.1 in.66.5 in.8 in.115.5 in.
        191.6 in.78.5 in.68.2 in.8.2 in.108.3 in.
        191.3 in.75.9 in.66.1 in.7.08 in.113.6 in.

        2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          36.2 cu.ft.132.7 cu.ft.71 cu.ft.
          32.3 cu.ft.108.4 cu.ft.68.6 cu.ft.
          8.8 cu.ft.-93.2 cu.ft.
          11.6 cu.ft.141.4 cu.ft.91.9 cu.ft.
          40 cu.ft.100.9 cu.ft.80.3 cu.ft.
          45.2 cu.ft.124 cu.ft.79.5 cu.ft.

          2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            71 cu.ft.36.2 cu.ft.71 cu.ft.-
            43.6 cu.ft.15 cu.ft.83.5 cu.ft.-
            9.9 cu.ft.24.8 cu.ft.62 cu.ft.-
            10.8 cu.ft.33.8 cu.ft.71 cu.ft.-
            93.2 cu.ft.8.8 cu.ft.93.2 cu.ft.73 ft.
            80.3 cu.ft.40 cu.ft.80.3 cu.ft.-

            2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              7200 lbs.1532 lbs.4753 lbs.
              7716 lbs.1698 lbs.4398 lbs.
              7716 lbs.1219 lbs.5540 lbs.
              2012 Audi Q7

              Ranked #3

              6600 lbs.1279 lbs.5291 lbs.
              6500 lbs.1295 lbs.5128 lbs.
              2012 BMW X6

              Ranked #5

              6000 lbs.937 lbs.4894 lbs.

              Top Mercedes-Benz Cars

              2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG CL 65

              Horsepower : 621 hp @ 4600 rpm

              MPG Combined : 14 mpg

              0-60 : 3.78 sec

              #1

              2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG CL 63

              Horsepower : 536 hp @ 5500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 4.09 sec

              #2

              2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 63

              Horsepower : 518 hp @ 5250 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 4.39 sec

              #3

              2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63

              Horsepower : 451 hp @ 6800 rpm

              MPG Combined : 15 mpg

              0-60 : 4.4 sec

              #4

              2012 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class

              Horsepower : 429 hp @ 5250 rpm

              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 5.21 sec

              #5

              2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

              Horsepower : 429 hp @ 5250 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 5.4 sec

              #6

              2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

              Horsepower : 382 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 13 mpg

              0-60 : 6.46 sec

              #7

              2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

              Horsepower : 382 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 17 mpg

              0-60 : 4.5 sec

              #8

              2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

              Horsepower : 335 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 15 mpg

              0-60 : 6.87 sec

              #9

              2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

              Horsepower : 302 hp @ 6500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 19 mpg

              0-60 : 7.5 sec

              #10