If you're like me, you didn't have strong feelings for the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. Or if you did have strong feelings, they were strong in questioning why Mercedes is making a luxury wagon without calling it a wagon? Unless it's because they don't want to intrude on the E-Class wagon's territory. Which makes sense, sort of... But then why make the R-Class at all? To build a crossover that's sort of like a minivan without sliding doors? Doesn't the ML and GL pretty much cover that area?
Okay, so basically the R-Class seemed both confusing and redundant to me, and maybe you too.
Well, I put over 400 miles on the heavily-updated 2011 model...and it still seems redundant. But it's also a nice ride.
The model I had was the R350 Bluetec, and with the exception of the non-intuitive shifter and the default "Economy" driving mode I had little to gripe about.
With a diesel, you might worry about sluggish low-end response, but modern diesels have largely solved that issue...unless you're driving this R350 Bluetech and leave it in the default "Economy" setting (indicated by an "E" on the digital display in the gauge cluster). In this mode throttle response is too weak, even for a diesel fan like me. So every time I started the car I had to switch to "Sport" mode (indicated by an "S" in the display). With that engaged I could readily dip into those 400 lbs-ft of torque, and acceleration was never an issue.
With the seven-speed automatic the R-Class basically never feels out of its sweet zone, even though a diesel's rev-range is limited compared to a gasoline engine. What about engine noise? The 210 horsepower, 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 sounded like just any other conventional engine, windows up or down. Mileage is rated at 18/24/20; not bad for such a heavy vehicle but still less than I'd hope for from a seven-speed diesel.
I'm just not a fan of the shifter in modern luxury cars, and the R-Class' small shifter stalk with push-to-engage-park design leaves me cold. I think it's the mechanical disconnect between modern shift levers and the transmission, but it never feels like I'm actually changing gears. More like I'm suggesting a direction of travel and hoping the car goes along with my plan. Even after four days I wasn't comfortable with this one.
That's pretty much it for complaints. The R-Class' seats are highly adjustable and extremely comfortable, even after hours in the saddle while crossing the L.A.-metromess. Rear visibility is a bit compromised by the headrests in the third-row, but the exterior mirrors are quite effective. Our test car included the blind spot warning system, which may be be the best balance of effective-without-being-annoying I've yet encountered in one of these systems.
Driving dynamics are what you'd expect: meaty steering with solid feedback; controlled body roll that combines comfort and confidence; whisper quiet freeway cruising, even at autobahn speeds. An impormptu cross-country trek would be easy in this car, and with the excellent rear entertainment system the kids won't mind riding along.
I also like the new look of the R-Class, as the previous model seemed to want to convey minivan while not ever being called a minivan. This updated version just looks like a chunky wagon. Sort of like a premium Dodge Magnum.
Of course, at a starting price of $50,000 you might want to seek out a slightly used Magnum SRT8 instead. It won't have a third-row seat or the R-Class' advanced drivetrain, but fuel mileage probably wouldn't be much worse and a clean used one would cost half as much.
By verdi942
on October 19, 2010
12:25 PM
Karl, shouldn't you compare this to the Buick Enclave? As in, 3-row crossover?
By ahightower
on October 19, 2010
07:47 PM
At $50k its still a lot more car for a lot less money compared to the E class wagon.
By firstwagon
on October 20, 2010
08:25 AM
Always made me think of the Pacifica.