Mercedes R-Class - If you think about it, we, as motorists, are very fortunate to have such a huge array of vehicles to choose from to suit our personal needs. We may need the workforce of a car so choose an estate, or with the family, either an MPV or SUV. For those living in the sticks, a 4x4 is an essential commodity or for families who have grown up, perhaps the parents regress back to their youth and desire a sportier saloon. But what if you need or would desire a car with all these capabilities rolled into one? Unheard of in the past but now thanks to Mercedes, a manufacturer renowned for ‘firsts’, they have indeed come up with a vehicle that combines all these characteristics into one. Part sports, part estate, part luxury MPV with a hint of SUV, welcome to the world of the Mercedes R-Class.
Before you dismiss this on the proviso that Mercedes are not exactly cheap and cheerful cars to buy, my test car for the week was the new entry level 3.0 litre R280 CDI on the SE trim that stands in at just £36,420. That’s not bad for a Mercedes brand especially considering this car is effectively four cars rolled into one. OK this model does not have the extra longbase, but still plenty or room inside, nor does it have permanent four wheel drive seen on its siblings, but instead the totally competent two wheel drive, but it does have virtually everything else the other R-classes are equipped with hence a very desirable cost effective option.
The R-Class initially came out on a six-seat configuration, but this proved not too popular with customers so they have returned to the standard five or seven seat option, enhanced the equipment levels and added on the so utterly stylish AMG body styling. My teat car was the five-seat variant so I had extra 75 litres of storage beneath the load floor for those extra prezzie’ s in addition to Parktronic parking sensors, front fog lights, 18 inch alloy wheel and a chrome package, yet is actually £97 cheaper than the model it replaced. The car proved invaluable the week before Christmas as I trudged to and fro the shops always forgetting one thing, but with 1931 litres of luggage space and the ease at which the seats folded flush with the floor load, this year the Christmas tree and I always buy a huge real one, actually fitted into the car without having to be trimmed.
The R-Class is not a high as an average SUV, but still has a good ground clearance, giving the driver and passengers a higher seating position which boded well as I drove around with the children admiring all the brightly lit up houses over the festive season. The R-Class is as long as a luxury saloon but more spacious inside as two thirds of the overall length have been dedicated solely to the occupants.
So as we stretched out in comfort I realised there was so much room between the two children’s seats in the back, they could not kick each other with their feet. How refreshing is that! The luxury automatic climate control kept us all cool and as I settled into my electrically adjustable ‘executive chair’ I kind of wish I had the optional £430 drive dynamic multi contour air chambers that provides support when cornering as well as massaging my back at the same time. Oh well, I did have a height adjustable steering wheel with remote controls, electric windows, tinted glass and a very neat eight speaker radio CD player to which I blasted out the new Jackie album whilst remising on my past. An early Christmas present to myself. Aiding and abetting me were rain sensing wipers, a tyre pressure warning system, a fantastic speed sensitive power steering that, coupled with a seven speed 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox, made the R-Class a sheer delight to drive. It is only when you drive a Mercedes after a period of abstinence, you realise what a fabulous car it is with superb road handling, power when needed yet the comfort you deserve. Keeping me safe are dual stage driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags plus window airbags, while keeping the children in tack is Neck Pro head restraints and ISOFIX mountings. Gluing the car to the tarmac is ABS, Brake Assist, Acceleration Skid control, ESP while deterring would be thieves is an anti theft warning system and immobiliser, remote central locking with interior switch and crash sensors.
As I frantically drove around last minter Christmas shopping I wasted no time as this 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine took only 9.7 seconds to reach 62 mph has a top speed of 130 mph and fuel consumption was a pretty respectable 36.7 mpg on a combined cycle so I did not have to think twice about making yet another journey to the shops.
So all I wanted for Christmas was an R-Class to keep. Sadly that was not to be but what a great innovative car. Only Mercedes could come up with this one combining superb driving dynamics, with space, comfort, copious amounts of safety features oh, and an extremely competitive price tag.
FemaleFirst Jackie Violet