The Mercedes-Benz ML-Class does 16.9 mpg combined (15.2 city, 19.5 highway), which works out to about $2,272 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.1L 4-cyl does 25 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 14 — a difference of $1,207 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz ML-Class engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class ranges from 25 down to 14 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,207 a year across 10 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1L 4-cyl | 22 / 29 | 2015–2015 | $1,536 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 20.5 / 24 | 2010–2011 | $1,745 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18.5 / 24 | 2007–2008 | $1,829 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 16.8 / 21.8 | 2006–2015 | $2,065 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 14.3 / 19.7 | 2012–2014 | $2,356 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 14.7 / 18.3 | 1998–2003 | $2,370 | |
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 14 / 17.7 | 1999–2001 | $2,510 | |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 14 / 17 | 2004–2005 | $2,560 | |
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 13 / 17.8 | 2008–2015 | $2,560 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 13 / 16.3 | 2002–2007 | $2,743 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz ML-Class burns a gallon every 16.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 710 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.189 |
| Fuel per year | $2,272 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,360 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$342 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,683 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz ML-Class gives up 4.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 19.5 out there against 15.2 in town, a 28% drop worth $557 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 15.2 mpg | $2,526 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 19.5 mpg | $1,969 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.3 mpg (28%) | Typical for its type |
How the ML-Class changed over the years
The ML-Class peaked in 2015 at 20 mpg (17.7 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 14.5 — 5.5 mpg apart, or $728 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2015 car does 20. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 17.7 / 23 | 3 | $1,920 | |
| 2014 | 16 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 16.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2011 | 16.3 / 21 | 3 | $2,133 | |
| 2010 | 16.7 / 21 | 3 | $2,098 | |
| 2009 | 14.5 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2008 | 15.5 / 21 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2006 | 13.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 2005 | 13.5 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 2004 | 13.5 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 2003 | 13.5 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 2002 | 13.5 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 2001 | 14.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2000 | 14.5 / 17.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 1999 | 14.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 1998 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 38 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class — 10 engines across 1998–2015. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $4,683. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class get?
16.9 mpg combined on average — 15.2 in the city and 19.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1998–2015.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class cost in fuel per year?
About $2,272 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,360 over five years, or 0.189 dollars a mile.
Which ML-Class engine is the most economical?
The 2.1L 4-cyl at 25 mpg, against 14 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,207 a year.
Is the ML-Class good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 5895 ratings.
Are these real-world ML-Class figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class is $4,683 against the $2,272 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.