I have been looking at the ML63, but the mpg ratings of 11 and 14 are ridiculous. What have some you guys that own one seen?

 

Around town that's about right. What performance SUV out there can do better?

 

The Cayenne Turbo gets 12/19 I believe. Seeing that I spend most of the time on the highway that number is more important.

 

+1 in agreement with low mpg. Then again, it is a bad *** ML63.
Even thought different scenario, when I purchased my ML55 was thinking that the mpg would be almost as good as my E55 (same engine = NA) which gets great mpg (15-20mpg) no joke. What I found was that the loss of AWD is what sucks the fuel. My ML55 gets 13-18mpg but is used as a 4th vehicle for bad weather and trips to the mountain. For what it is can't beat it but, a ML63 would be a nice upgrade.

 

You mean gaining AWD is what sucks the fuel, right? That, plus aerodynamics and vehicle weight will bring the MPG down.

As to performance SUV's that do better MPG wise, it's pretty tough. How does the X5 4.8 do? I know it's not as fast, but it does have a solid engine, and I think its highway rating is in the 20's.

 

I got 13/18 with mine. It consumed tires and brakes at a prodigious rate. Turbo lag was annoying in slow city traffic. Drove an ML 63 but opted for the CLK 63 black.

 

Correct, drive line loss for most SUV's are high. And yes, the ML's are not too aerodynamic either.

Can't speak for the BMW 4.8 but, the AMG's do utilize a stroker crank and have a fair amount of torque.

 

gas mileage sucks...but who cares? its an amazing SUV

 

I am pretty sure there is a hole in the ozone layer that follows closely above the 4 giant pipes at the rear of my ML 63... If you take it really easy (which, for me is impossible, not to mention a waste of $100k), you might get 15mpg. I recycle and try and promote other "green" efforts (mostly out of guilt), but when it comes to my car, there is nothing better than seeing the look on the face of an unsuspecting passenger who has just been flung from 0-60 in about 4 and a half seconds, and to do that in the 5000+ lb monster, requires, we'll, lots of gas... My current "record" is just short of $85 for a tank of gas, which buys you about 300 miles of pure joy and excitement (not to mention one of the meanest V8 exhaust growls on the road).

 

12/19 mpg on CTT? not me, i average 10 mpg on my CTT --- and that's mostly with highway driving

 

Worrying about an extra $10-15 per fill-up when buying a beast that is a small SUV that starts at $90k seems a bit odd.

You're going to sacrifice fuel economy for power. A 503 HP SUV with a 6.2L V8 is going to guzzle gas quite logically.

If you want fuel economy in an SUV, may I suggest a Saturn Vue GreenLine?

 

I second this comment...... Same here. Cow belching does much worse for the environment than my ML. Become a vegetarian = Carbon offsets!

 

If your looking at MPG....an AMG is not for you.

 

I've had/have about every top end SUV there is, the ML63 is by far the lightest on the petrol side. The Touareg V10 TDi is the lightest if you're talking about in general.

 

my vehicle gets about that range and its slow as hell. if the cayenne gets 12 and 19 that is no big difference. if you're worried about MPG, then the ML 350 is the right choice for you, no offence.