Midpack performance, low-key...
Midpack performance, low-key styling make the ML a solid but forgettable drive. Comand needs an overhaul.
Halfway through our journey back home, Williams calls over the radio, "Guys, the Lexus is showing 36 miles to empty." Our plan has been to stop nearly 200 miles farther down the road, but we have to pull over, even though all the diesels show half-filled tanks and remaining ranges approaching 300 miles. As the pumps click off gallons and dollars, our head-scratching begins.
To no one's surprise, the hybrid Lexus bests all in real-world fuel economy. At 23.0 mpg, the RX 450h beats its next closest rival, the surprisingly efficient X5, by 1 mpg. Bringing up the rear is the Touareg, which is 2.5 mpg down on the Lexus. Easy call, then? No, because mpg is only one way of looking at this equation.
Dollars is another, and the difference in fuel costs between the Lexus and the Volkswagen over our 600-mile journey came out to only $10.17. Sound like a lot? Factor in what you get for that extra 10 bucks: 407 pound-feet of torque and the ability to haul over 7700 pounds-more than twice that of the Lexus. Was this a capability we exploited on this trip? No, but it's certainly food for thought for anyone who expects an SUV to tow a boat or boatloads of gear.
Then there's the range factor. With only 19.2 gallons onboard, the RX 450h's fuel sipping strategy is effectively negated when matched up against the diesels' large tanks. Using the EPA highway numbers, the Touareg could theoretically cover 660 miles on its 26.2-gallon tank. Our real-world mileage ended up significantly lower, but our calculations still suggested the VW could go approximately 100 miles farther on a fill-up than the Lexus (442 versus 542 miles-the longest range of the group).
The caveat is fluctuating fuel prices. At our first stop, diesel cost 20 cents more than premium unleaded. At our second stop, the prices were the same. As of this writing, this 20 cent spread is substantiated by the Department of Energy's list of state fuel cost averages (www.eia.doe.gov). Unfortunately for diesel lovers, California's narrow range isn't reflected across the country. In some regions, gas stations charge between 40 cents to 80 cents less for unleaded, which could definitely be a diesel deal breaker.
At decision time, both the Mercedes-Benz and BMW seem to slip by the wayside. Though the X5 xDrive 35d delivers the best diesel fuel economy and an exhilarating drive, it also shows glaring incongruities. Those sticky Michelins that felt so grippy on the street prove useless off-road, as does BMW's clearly street-tuned all-wheel-drive system. We managed to get our X5 stuck three times, which is three more times than either the Lexus or VW became mired. We expect more utility from a luxury SUV-especially one that costs $65,000. "Bags of fun to drive in the dry, and I really dig the motor, but the cockpit leaves me cold, the lack of off-road prowess gives me pause, and the pricetag induces heart palpitations," says St. Antoine.