Mercedes M-Class SUV (2011-2015) - MPG, running costs & CO2

A large SUV like the M-Class is never going to be cheap to buy or run, but it doesn't stack up badly against its main rivals. The Porsche Cayenne costs more and while there are a few versions of the Audi Q7 with a lower price tag than the Mercedes, the former has a much larger range of engines and trims. Many of them are about on par with the M-Class, but a lot are pricier, too.

Mercedes M-Class MPG and CO2

The entry-level Mercedes ML 250 diesel is pretty economical when you consider the size and heft of the car. It's good for 46.3mpg and its CO2 emissions start from 159g/km, which means road tax costs of £180 a year. Those emissions also make this the sensible choice for company-car drivers, if a luxury model like the M-Class is on their list.

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For those who want more power but still-reasonable fuel economy, there's the Mercedes ML 350 diesel, which ducks just below the 40mpg mark and emits 189g/km of CO2 for £265-a-year road tax.

Finally, there's the sole and extremely powerful petrol version: the ML 63 AMG. This isn't aimed at the economy-conscious buyer – rather people who want extravagance and heaps of power, so you're looking at 23.5mpg and 276g/km of CO2, leaving it in the highest road tax band of £505 a year.

Mercedes M-Class insurance group

Insurance isn't cheap for the M-Class due to its high price, powerful engines and expensive components. ML 250 models start in group 40 or 41 and the ML 350 is in either group 44 or 45. As you might expect, the high-performance ML 63 AMG falls into insurance group 50 – the highest rating possible.

Mercedes M-Class warranty

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The M-Class comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which is the same deal offered by BMW, but a bit better than the standard-issue three-year/60,000-mile package you get from rivals Porsche, Volkswagen and Audi.

Mercedes M-Class servicing

Mercedes recommends servicing the M-Class every year or 15,500 miles, which is a reasonably long interval and more useful for budgeting than BMW's variable service intervals.

The cost of a service varies depending on what model you go for. Mercedes offers fixed-price servicing, but you have to speak to your dealer for an individual quote.