There was a time, not so long ago, when it seemed the days of the four wheel drive vehicle were numbered. Hammered by the green brigade as being the epitome of evil, they were thirsty and high emissions meant they were perceived to pollute the planet faster than most vehicles.

But people kept buying them and manufacturers reacted accordingly and these days there are a plethora of options ranging from the pipsqueak Fiat Panda to the mighty Range Rover and its little sister the Evoque, which have been snapped up in huge numbers.

Why do people like them? They are spacious, comfortable and, above all, safe in all conditions. For example, many drivers were caught on the hop with the flooded roads in Oxfordshire recently. Driven with care, a four wheel drive makes light of a few inches of water. And the same is true of snow.

These days, such vehicles also have car-like handling, good retention values and fuel economy and emissions have improved vastly, muting the raucous concerns of the environmental lobby.

Flick through the brochure of the new Mercedes-Benz ML and the wording is all about efficiency and being cleaner as well as the usual phrases referring to “on and off-road enjoyment.”

The ML has always found a niche market not just among Merc lovers but also those who want something more than a Suzuki but less than a top Range Rover.

The latest model starts at a shade under £45,000 for the ML 250, a hefty chunk cheaper than the entry level Range Rover.

So what do you get for that money? The 250 is fully loaded with a wide range of driver and passenger cossetting features.

Take your pick from automatic lights and wipers, leather upholstery, three-stage heated front seats, integrated multi-media system complete with telephone and MP3 integration, as well as an interactive satellite navigation system which proved its worth on an over-crowded M1 on a Monday morning.

In other words, there is little left to the imagination when it comes to this car.

The first impression of the ML is that it is bigger than its predecessors. The front end with its sculpted lines is positively huge giving it a slightly ungainly appearance.

Mercedes says it is more aerodynamic, which is difficult to believe and when it comes to driving the ML, you definitely have to allow for its size, especially when manoeuvring around tight corners.

The driving experience is effortless, though, with the seven-speed automatic gearbox coping with anything that is throw at it with barely a murmur from the 2.1 litre diesel engine.

The trouble is that the car has so many aids that the actual experience of driving it is a little lifeless. It feels efficient and capable rather than sporting and dynamic with no quirks to make life interesting.

Selecting sport mode improves the situation but it is still unrewarding. As a result, those who like a more of a challenge should perhaps opt for the three litre 350 or even the 5.4 litre AMG version.

Other gripes include the head restraints which push the neck too far forward of an otherwise very comfortable seat, while some of the switchgear is fiddly and overly-complicated. For example, I only found the fog lights at the end of a long drive when I could really have used them on the motorway.

But the great virtues of the ML are its capability, security and safety.

This is a solidly-built car that treats driver and passengers well, highlighting the virtues of the modern four wheel drive vehicle. It’s a calm, reassuring place to be.

And money-wise the smaller diesel engine is cost-efficient when it comes to tax keeping it in the £170 a year bracket.

As for economy, official figures say it will be capable of 44.8mpg. I managed about 32mpg mainly on motorway driving which is not as good as I had anticipated. It seems you still pay a price for four wheel drive, but for many the advantages are clear. Mercedes-Benz 250 BlueTEC Sport 0-62mph: 9 seconds Top speed: 130mph Economy: 44.8 mpg (combined) CO2: 165g/km Price: £45,380 Car supplied by Mercedes-Benz of Oxford