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Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Mercedes-Benz
Multitaskers of America, your chariot has arrived. Mercedes' all-new R-Class is designed to perform just about any automotive task and it's even got the class to look good while doing it. Oh, sure, they call it a crossover for a lack of a better designation. Mercedes R500 is part minivan, SUV, station wagon, and luxury sedan.
It's like Chrysler's Pacifica, but they can't be lumped into a category together because the Pacifica is a heck of a lot smaller. That's okay, though, we came up with our own designation almost as soon as we got behind the wheel of the R500, and we're going to call it a zeppelin.
Like the stately airships of the 1930s, the R500 is spacious and luxurious. The appointments are similar to those found in Mercedes CLS-Class and E-Class sedans.
Photos don't do the R500 justice. It's big, with a capital B. In the metal, it looks longer and lower than any minivan. How long? It's almost a foot longer than a Cadillac SRX, and bigger than Mercedes' own S-Class. The short, radically sloped nose ensures that no one mistakes the R-Class for a station wagon. Tapered character lines down the sides bear a vague resemblance to the ribbed sides of a zeppelin. The R500 looks good in silver, too. The body is also the first component of the R-Class' multi-tasking ability. It's wrapped around enough space to seat six adults in comfort, but careful side sculpting and a beautifully tapered D-pillar ensure that it doesn't look like a featureless box on wheels. A choice of big 17", 18" or 19" wheels gives the R-Class an athletic look. A large 5'7" panoramic sunroof is available.
The voluminous outside is wrapped around an interior that's spacious and cozy at the same time. There are six seats, set in three rows of two, and Mercedes' signature leather and burl walnut interior coddles every passenger. The long body means that legroom is generous; the high (when compared to a sedan) roof means that there's plenty of shoulder room too. The instrument panel borrows somewhat from the gorgeous CLS-Class, with dual deep-set primary gauges reminiscent of classic Mercedes products. Sound system and navigation controls ride front and center; available three-zone climate control ensures that no one complains of being hot or cold 'cept those folks who are never happy with anything. SUV-style rollover sensors for the airbags offer an additional measure of safety. A dual-screen DVD player is available for road-trip distraction. Want to plug your iPod in? The R-Class can be equipped to handle that too. Both second- and third-row seats can be folded, to open up an 85 cubic-foot cargo area.
With almost five thousand pounds to motivate, the R500 doesn't ever feel particularly quick on its feet, however. Even with a 5.0 liter 302-horsepower V8 under the hood, there's an awful lot of vehicle to get moving, and the best the R500 can manage is to feel stately. Mercedes' three-valve construction and familiar twin-spark setup improve efficiency, such as it is, and the R500 is undeniably smooth on the freeway. Mercedes' new seven-speed automatic transmission puts the power to the road, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard as well. Real speed may be on the way; the upcoming R63 gets the AMG treatment that can turn any vehicle with the three-pointed star into an autobahn burner.
It doesn't fly, of course, but the independent suspension provides a smooth enough ride that you might as well be traveling by air. Control arms with coils are used front and rear. Excellent noise reduction in the large cabin provides a level of isolation that many air travelers would envy. The suspension is carlike, with double wishbones up front and a four-link rear. Mercedes will also equip the R-Class with its adaptive electronic air suspension. The air suspension can also be raised to clear small obstacles at low speeds.
To back up the AWD's ability, traction control is standard. When it's time to stop, even Mercedes' restrained press materials say that the R-Class has "serious brakes." The four-wheel disc brakes rotors measure 13" all the way around (with 13.8 inchers on the front brakes of the R500). Yes, the R-Class' brakes are as big as some cars' wheels. Twin-piston calipers offer solid clamping power.
It's a solid addition to Mercedes' lineup. Heck, it could almost be a company's lineup all by itself. What does all that versatility cost you? MSRP on the R350 is $48,775, and the R500 starts at $55,500. Our tester was loaded up with a navigation system, a power tailgate, the panoramic glass roof and special 18" wheels and stickered for $62,815.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Mercedes R500.
Length: 203.0 in.
Width: 77.5 in
Height: 65.2 in.
Wheelbase: 126.6 in.
Curb weight: 4845 lb.
Cargo space: 85.0 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Base price: $55,500
Price as tested: $62,815
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Drivetrain: seven-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 302 @ 5600
Torque: 339 @ 2700
Fuel capacity: 25.1 gal.
Est. mileage: 13/18
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