How much is auto insurance for a Mercedes Benz M Class?

Motor Trend says that Mercedes Benz has restyled its M Class SUV for the 2012 model year, and it reports that potential buyers can look forward to a “more-muscular” exterior design, greater horsepower, and improved fuel economy.

Motor Trend also notes that the 2012 M Class features an attractively redesigned interior. The 2011 model is currently in dealerships, and it offers a solid platform that could use a few adjustments, auto critics say.

It’s third-place ranking among the midsize luxury SUVs reviewed by U.S. News and World Report means that it’s no slouch, but its fuel economy and reliability ratings leave something to be desired.

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The 2011 Mercedes M Class’ strong suits include safety, luxury, and a smooth ride. Both Autoblog and Car and Driver describe the M Class as “refined” on the road. Consumer Guide’s reviewer applauds the M Class’ confidence-inspiring brake action and “accurate” steering, but complains that the vehicle leans a bit and requires steering effort in turns.

Starting at $46,490, reviewers say that the base model 2011 M Class boasts a luxurious cabin, but there are some notable omissions.

For example, the base model comes standard with a leather steering wheel, but not leather seats. It also features a standard 6-disc CD player, but iPod connectivity is only available as an optional upgrade on the M Class’ base trim, the ML350.

To learn how much you can expect to pay to insure a Mercedes M Class, keep reading.

How much is auto insurance for the Mercedes Benz M Class?

The cost of auto insurance to insure the 2011 Mercedes Benz M Class will vary depending on the trim level that you select in addition the usual factors such as your driving record, credit score and so on.

According to Edmunds, auto insurance rates for the base model ML350, the diesel-powered ML350 BlueTEC, and the ML450 Hybrid are all just over $1,600 per month.

If you upgrade to the ML550 4MATIC trim, which comes with a standard 5.5 liter V8 engine, you’ll pay a bit more for auto insurance. Edmunds anticipates that average auto insurance premiums for this M Class model are nearly $2,000 per year.

This is not a surprise, though, when you consider that the ML550’s base price is nearly $10,000 higher than the ML350’s.

By the same token, the Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG costs far more to insure than the ML350, because its sticker price is much higher. This Mercedes M Class model, which features a 6.3 liter V8 engine, starts at $92,590, and Edmunds estimates that it will cost the average owner nearly $3,500 annually to insure.

Compared other midsize luxury SUVs, estimated auto insurance rates for the Mercedes ML350 are low. Owners of the Acura MDX, the BMW X5, and the RX 350 from Lexus will all pay about $100 more per year to insure their vehicles.

Annual auto insurance rates for the base model Porsche Cayenne are about $50 less than those for the 2011 M Class, though.

M Class Repair and Maintenance Costs

Edmunds’ estimates indicate that repairing and maintaining your Mercedes Benz M Class will cost between $9,000 and $11,000 over the first five years that you own it, no matter which trim level you select.

The base ML350 model is expected to cost $2,611 to repair and $6,827 to maintain, for a total 5-year repair and maintenance bill of just over $9,400.

The total bill for the ML550 4MATIC will be just above $9,700 for five years, and ML63 AMG owners can expect to pay a bit less than $10,200 over five years.

The Mercedes M Class’ estimated repair costs are not as low as the $1,000 5-year repair bill estimates for competitors like Acura’s MDX, the Volkswagen Touareg, and Lexus’ RX 350. However, they are more affordable than the BMW X5’s estimated 5-year bill of $3,200 for repairs, or the $3,506 that Porsche Cayenne owners can expect to pay.

When it comes to routine maintenance costs, the Mercedes M Class costs owners more than many of its competitors do. For example, the base model 2011 M Class costs nearly $2,000 more to maintain over five years than the Porsche Cayenne or the Lexus RX 350.

Fuel Expenses for the M Class

As with auto insurance rates, the fuel economy ratings for the M Class vary depending on which model you buy. The base model ML350 gets 15 city mpg and 20 mpg on the highway, which is mediocre, even for a luxury SUV.

The ML350 BlueTEC’s diesel engine gets a much more impressive 18 city mpg/25 highway mpg. The ML450 Hybrid is one mile per gallon less efficient than the diesel-powered M Class on the highway, but it gets 20 mpg in city driving.

Reviewers note that the M Class hybrid is noticeably more powerful than its diesel cousin, though.

Mercedes M Class Safety

No matter which Mercedes M Class model that you choose, you can rest assured that it has passed crash tests with flying colors. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the M Class its highest rating in tests involving rear, front, and side collisions. It did not evaluate the M Class’ performance in rollovers, though.

The federal government has not tested the 2011 Mercedes M Class.

Standard safety features that protect all 2011 M Class drivers and passengers include Mercedes’ proprietary Pre-Safe and Post-Safe systems.

The Pre-Safe system tightens seat belts, adjusts seating positions, and closes the vehicle’s windows if it detects an impending crash.

If a crash occurs, the Mercedes Post-Safe system turns on the vehicle’s interior and hazard lights, extinguishes the fuel supply, and unlocks the doors. Other standard safety equipment on the M Class includes 10-way air bags and stability control.

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