Urban beauty

Getting behind the wheel of the Mercedes ML 250 BlueTec Special Edition is a little like slipping into a couture jacket. As the fabric slides across your body you feel an instant cocoon of luxury. It moulds to you, fits like a glove and you stand up a little straighter - or it gives the impression that you do.

Every seam, fold and tuck is considered, right down to the detail that is so discreet you almost miss it, yet that is the very thing that makes the jacket such a joy to wear. So much so that after a while it's like a second skin and you almost forget you have it on ... apart from the admiring glances and comments.

When I am offered the Mercedes ML250 to test drive for 10 days - before it even hits the market - I am curious. Normally, I whizz around town in a small car. Would this stylish wagon be a beauty or a beast in the city?

My first assignment is to head to the airport to pick up my partner who has flown in from the UK. "Mmm, this is better than business class," he says as he relaxes his crumpled body into the passenger seat, adjusts the lumbar support and every split angle possible in the chair - all with the push of a button - and stretches out.

Pretty much everything in this SUV is done with the push of the button - or less. There's no turning of a key to start the engine, no clunky gear stick, just a light-to-the touch column change, with a simple push of the button to park. And the handbrake is, you guessed it, a button. For such a big, solid car, it's all so wonderfully effortless.

The next day the all-new M's generous-sized boot comes in handy. It's packed to the gunnels with garment bags, shoe boxes, props and Viva photographer Babiche Martens' camera gear, including tripod and lights. She and I are heading down the Southern motorway to meet stylist Dan Ahwa and the rest of the fashion team on location for what will be a full day's shoot.

As we glide along the motorway we discuss the Mercedes heritage of creating cars with sleek, elegant lines. The Special Edition manages to balance this fine aesthetic with the size and weight of an SUV - no easy design task. It's plush and comfortable and wonderfully uplifting to drive.

Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity I can make use of the hands-free, voice-activated phone and media players, and keep up with what's happening in the office while I'm on the road. First up, there's a call to the organisers of the stylish Diner en Blanc alfresco dinner (which is being held at a secret outdoor location this Saturday night).

Viva is a sponsor, and we talk through our various requirements. Zoe Walker, Viva's fashion features and digital editor, calls through to say the finishing touches are being made on this week's Viva iPad app. Back in the office there are negotiations to be made regarding an exclusive interview with a top international model and a meeting with our designer to discuss layouts for next week's issue.

After work I nip through the rush hour traffic to Ponsonby Rd for a dinner meeting. I appreciate the extra visibility I get from sitting so high, and thanks to the Parktronic 360-degree camera, I am able to squeeze into a park barely bigger than the car itself. I am truly impressed, not just by my parking skills, but because for the size of the car it is so easy to manoeuvre.

The rest of the week continues in this vein - dashing around town to meetings, events and catch-ups with friends. There's a trip through pouring rain over the Harbour Bridge to Albany to check out a new juice bar. I am grateful for the vehicle's strong driving position and traction on the road. Among the many key safety features are the blind spot indicators on the side mirrors - so handy when changing lanes on a busy motorway.

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The weather clears later in the week, and we seize the opportunity to take the car ferry and show visiting friends Waiheke Island. The ML is the perfect touring vehicle with generous space for our passengers. The permanent all-wheel drive means we can explore dirt tracks with ease and the car handles beautifully on the dry metal roads as we head out the back of the island to Man-O'War Bay. We spend our days swimming and visiting vineyards and restaurants. It's heavenly.

Back in the city, there's no problem transporting the editorial team to a function with designer Karen Walker, photographer Derek Henderson and Simone Cipriani, the founder of the United Nations' Ethical Fashion Initiative. It is an inspirational conversation and encourages one to look at the big picture when it comes to our impact on our planet. Does the four-cylinder diesel Mercedes ML stack up?

Well, taking a bike is probably better - but by the end of 10 days of driving, I have still only used half a tank. This, says the manual, is because of details such as the fuel-saving tyres, Eco stop-start function and 7G-tronic plus automatic transmission. BlueTec techonology for the diesel engine reduces the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases by up to 90 per cent. It all sounds impressive.

For me, however, as I gently grasp the Nappa leather steering wheel and put back the sunroof with a push of a button, it is the luxurious details that now feel oh-so familiar. How will I ever give this beauty up?