It also has a front frame that won't override a car's body in a frontal collision. Other standard safety features include four wheel ABS, two front airbags and two side airbags in the front doors, adjustable head restraints and three point seatbelts for all five passengers, emergency seatbelt retractors for front passengers, and an automatic child seat detection system which deactivates the front passenger airbag. The ML430's rather tall, boxy design is not as macho as most other mid-sized SUV's, but it is more practical. Two small third row seats are available as an option for 1999, bring total seating capacity to seven. Another small quibble I had was the design of the dashboard top which reflects an annoying character line in the windshield under some lighting conditions.
Visibility is excellent, and controls are well-placed for easy reach.
A new option for 1999 is huge sunroof called the Power Skyview Top. It folds back like an accordion revealing a roof opening that stretches from front to back seat passengers. The ML430 and ML320 are built in Vance, Alabama. A panel of international automotive journalists seem to think so. Versatility and innovative engineering are certainly the ML430's strong points, and these certainly add value for the discriminating buyer.