Lexus RX350 vs. Mercedes-Benz ML350

All right, I am so sick and tired of hearing people saying that the Lexus RX kicks the Benz ML's rear, so I'm posting a review/comparison right now.

Note: the 0-60 times are as tested in Colorado, not according to the manufacturer's website.

LEXUS RX350

Engine: DOHC 24-valve 3.5 L V-6, aluminum block and heads, Toyota engine-control system with port fuel injection
HP: 270 hp
Torque: 252 lb-ft
0-60mph/0-100 kmh: 7.4 seconds
Drivetrain: AWD and FWD, on a 5-speed transmission
Top speed: Electronically limited to 112 mph.

Dimensions:
Turning radius: 37.4 ft
Length: 186.2 in
Height: 66.1 in
Width: 72.6 in
Wheelbase: 106.9 in
Steering wheel turning circles (lock-to-lock): 3
Curb weight: 4090 lb
Cargo Volume: 38.3 cubic feet

EPA Fuel Ratings: 18 City, 24 Highway AWD; 20 City, 26 Highway FWD
Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.2 gal

Safety features:
AWD (optional), 4-wheel-sensor ABS, limited slip center differential, Vehicle Stability Control, Electronic Brake Distribution

Off-roading capabilty: None--has been plunged into deep mud, but is not recommended, some customers report their car got stuck in a pothole.

User Comments: Not a bad car, but seems to be underpowered. Not as "reliable", in terms of smoothness and off-roading, as Lexus cars are meant to be. Car And Driver Magazine gave it a 2/10 Expert Rating.
There is a small fault with the AWD system. It displeases many customers. It has been revealed that the AWD system is just an RWD system, and if the front wheels start to slip, then the car reroutes power to the front wheels as well. Still, even that small time interval between the wheels slipping and AWD engaging is enough to cause an accident.

Optional Features: Xenon HID Headlights, Laser Guided Cruise Control, LexusLink Satellite Safety System

Price: $37,500 starting

MERCEDES-BENZ ML350

Engine: 3.5 L V6 DOHC 24-valve, Electronically Sequential Fuel Injected
Power: 268 HP
Torque: 258 lb-ft
0-60mph/0-100 kmh: 7.05 seconds
Drivetrain: 4MATIC AWD, on 7-speed 7G-TRONIC Automatic only transmission
Top speed: Electronically limited to 132 mph.

Dimensions:
Turning radius: 37.9 ft
Length: 188.2 in
Height: 71.5 in
Width: 83.7 in
Wheelbase: 114.7 in
Steering wheel turning circles (lock-to-lock): 3.6
Curb weight: 4705 lb
Cargo Volume: 72.4 cubic ft

EPA Fuel Ratings: 15 City, 20 Highway
Fuel Tank Capacity: 25.1 gallons

Standard/Safety features: 4MATIC All Wheel Drive, Electronic Brake Assist, TeleAid Satellite Assisted Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Info, Concierge Services, SOS, Downhill Speed Regulator, Off-road Driving Program, Hill-start assist, constant 50/50 front/rear power split, Electronic Stability Program. According to MBUSA Website:

ESP compares the driver's intended course, via steering and braking inputs, to the vehicle's response, via lateral acceleration, rotation (yaw), and individual wheel speeds. ESP then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces excess engine power as needed to help correct understeer (plowing) or oversteer (fishtailing). ESP also integrates all-speed traction control, which senses drive-wheel slip under acceleration and individually brakes the slipping wheel or wheels, and/or reduces excess engine power, until control is regained. No other Stability Program has this capability, except for BMW's xDrive, which still isn't as good, but can stop sliding to a certain extent. (Added by me.)

Standard 4MATIC/4-ETS monitors the speed of all four wheels to detect wheel slip, then applies individual brakes as needed (to provide the effect of locking the front, rear, and/or center differentials without the noise/uncomfortable vibrations) and/or reduces excess engine power. 4-ETS continually balances the torque split to help ensure power is permitted to flow to the wheel or wheels with traction.

Optional Features: Parktronic, Distronic Laser Cruise Control, Xenon HID Headlights, Power folding mirrors, Power Steering Column, Heated Rear Seats/Steering Column, Air suspension

Car And Driver Magazine rating: 7/10 Expert Rating
Off-roading capability: Is very capable, can plunge into mud/water/snow/ice deep as wheel hub (with Off road program engaged).
Customer comments: VERY smooth, potholes and rough roads unnoticable, V6 engine makes a car-enthusiast-pleasing noise at high RPMS.

Price: $47,975 starting, fully equipped ~$59,000

Flamewars ALLOWED! Did I miss anything? Sound off in the comments!

Xenon HID Headlights

Know what HID headlights are? They're those awesome mostly-white-purplish-bluish headlights on high-end luxury cars. Simply put, xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights deliver superior lighting over long distances than halogen/yellow headlights because their color spectrum index is closer to natural sunlight than halogen. They don't use a filament; they use an arc of electricity flowing through xenon gas between two electrodes. That's why they "flicker" on like a flourescent light, briefly turn red, then get whiter as they warm up. Therefore they last about 4-5 times longer than those halogens. And their light goes farther. If you have xenon headlights, you'll notice that a sign half a mile away or farther lights up brilliantly. This is because there's a small amount of flourescent light in xenon lights, which road signs are designed to reflect. The coolest part about these lights is that usually, cars with these HID lights have a feature that rotates the headlights to follow the curve of the road, or to level the lights. Aim a set of xenon headlights at a wall and you'll see that there's a uniform line of light where the bulb no longer projects any light, where as in halogen, light is all over the place.

Xenon headlights were first introduced in automobiles as an option on the 1991 BMW 7-Series. The American car market's first try at xenon headlights was on the Lincoln Mark VIII. It was the first car to use DC Current in it's HID lights, although the standard is AC.

Here are some pictures:

Xenon Headlight 1

Xenon Headlight 2

Xenon Headlight 3

Xenon Headlight 4-This was our temporary rental car

Xenon Headlight 5

Can anyone guess these cars? Looking at the URLs is cheating!

Fun Fact: All newer airplanes have xenon landing/taxi lights!