2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec: Diesel Priced Right

By Kurt Ernst

4,083 views Jul 19, 2011

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec

When addressing the absence of clean diesel automobile options in the U.S. market, one of the most frequent objections raised by automakers is the price difference between gasoline and diesel engines.

Americans, we’re led to believe, won’t invest in clean diesel if the cost of a diesel engine can’t be offset by the savings in fuel.

Indeed, diesels tend to be significantly more expensive than their gasoline counterparts: the 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI costs over $5,000 more than a base model Golf, and the 2011 Audi A3 TDI is nearly $3,000 more than a base Audi A3.

The cost differential may limit the appeal of diesel, but it certainly doesn’t eliminate it. Neither VW nor Audi has trouble selling TDI vehicles, despite their additional cost.

Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is taking a novel approach towards marketing clean diesel on its new ML350 crossover. The ML350 BlueTec clean diesel stickers for just $1,500 more than the gasoline version, which makes the BlueTec variant very attractive to budget minded buyers.

The Mercedes-Benz ML350 gets a combined city and highway rating of 19 mpg, while the ML350 BlueTec gets a combined rating of 22 mpg.

Based on the current average price of premium unleaded ($3.93) versus diesel ($3.92), and assuming 15,000 miles per year of mixed driving, the 2012 ML350 would consume $3,100 worth of premium unleaded annually.

The ML350 BlueTec would use $2,670 worth of diesel per year, a savings of $430 a year. The BlueTec option would pay for itself in just under three and a half years.

Audi and VW have proven than Americans will buy diesel vehicles despite the added cost. Now it’s up to Mercedes to show that we’ll embrace clean diesel and save fuel if the prices are comparable.

Let’s hope that more manufacturers follow Mercedes-Benz’s lead on the pricing of clean diesel vehicles.

[The Car Connection]

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