Stuttgart - Although many may think hybrid technology is the only answer to rising fuel costs, the German car magazine Auto Bild reports that the diesel engine might prove otherwise, as reported in a recent issue. The magazine conducted a comparative test drive from the East Coast to the West Coast of the USA with two new Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI (European specification) vehicles and a Lexus RX 400h with a gasoline hybrid system. The test result showed that the advanced diesel engine can be more efficient than the hybrid.

In Auto Bild's coast-to-coast marathon, the cars were driven about 3,200 miles, from New York to San Francisco. The results showed that while the ML 320 CDI (224 hp) consumed an average of 9.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (2.4 gallons per 62 miles), the hybrid SUV (211 hp) averaged 10.2 liters per 100 kilometers (2.7 gallons per 62 miles).

The difference of 1.1 liters per 100 kilometers (10.8 percent) underscores the benefits of state-of-the-art diesel engines. The endurance test also showed that hybrid technology is only marginally more fuel efficient in urban traffic, where it is most effective in reducing consumption. At 11.7 liters (3.1 gallons) per 100 kilometers, the ML320 CDI consumed only 0.2 liters more fuel in city driving than the hybrid vehicle. "The M-Class performed admirably under diverse conditions during the entire 5,200-kilometer trek," says editor Jörg Malzahn of Auto Bild. "I hadn't expected such a big advantage in fuel efficiency."

Underneath the hood of the ML320 CDI is an all-new six-cylinder engine with third-generation common-rail technology, which enables further improvements in fuel consumption, emissions and performance. At 510 Nm (376 lb.-ft.), the V6 has one of the highest peak torque ratings of any engine in its displacement class, and this performance is already reached at 1,600 rpm.

In several European countries, the ML320 CDI also comes with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard. Indeed, the Mercedes-Benz coast-to-coast test cars were also equipped with this emissions-reduction system.

















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