No need to hold it to signal a lane change. Back seats that finally fold easily. The original design was so complicated that it confounded even the engineers demonstrating it at the vehicle's coming-out party. Now it's a simple lever motion. Thus, parent and child can sit next to each other safely back there, allowing Mom or Dad to play games with Junior to ease the tedium of a long trip.
Additional rubber seals around the doors for less wind noise.
Uphill, or with a load, it slumps a bit. But most of the time it feels like a sports sedan. The ML430 V-8 is brisker, of course. Handling of all models is lovely, contrasted with other SUVs. It's an easy machine to like in normal, suburban use.