There’s a lot to be said for a comfortable ride, and even more to be said for safety. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz M Class is loaded with both. There are all kinds of options to help with safety, from features that pull you back in your own lane if you happen to veer over too far, to blind spot assistance, to special brake sensors that will stop the vehicle before you hit the car in front of you (yes, the car can stop itself!).
It offers technology to help you locate the car through google maps or help you remotely start it, too. It has the ability to park itself with mechanical steering and electronic parking assist, even measuring to see if a parking space is big enough. There are now nine air bags, including one to protect the driver’s knees. The nav screen is located higher so that you don’t have to look down to see it and there are even cup holders that can heat or chill whatever you’re drinking. And get this. There’s an iPad holder, too, to keep the kids amused in the back, and you can Bluetooth stream the audio into the speakers.
On top of all that, it's tons of fun. While testing out the car on a recent press trip, we were encouraged to put it to the test off-road. I sat in the back while Katja Presnal did the driving (apparantly, she did a lot of this kind of thing growing up in Finland) and gadget guru Laticia Barr rode shotgun. Watch the video to see how we did. Buckle up and forgive the abrupt ending. There was a cow in the road! No joke. I do have to add that her coffee didn't spill a drop over all these bumps!
(Note to readers: Mercedes Benz paid for my flight and accommodations on this trip, but did not compensate me for this review. My opinions are my own.)
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