New M-Class on sale

The new generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €71,060, writes Brian Byrne.

The vehicle is much smoother in design than the predecessor, and is powered by a 2.1 diesel which delivers up to 28 percent better fuel consumption than the one it replaces.

There's also a V6 3.0 diesel option with a consumption improvement of 24 percent.

A more spacious and comfortable interior with more elbow room, and a new dashboard and upholstery feature on the interior improvements.

The M-Class is equipped with permanent four-wheel drive and a new 7-G Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

Safety features includes drowsiness-detection and tyre-pressure monitoring, adaptive brake lights, and electronic brake assist.