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Mercedes R ClassJanuary 2007

Not Recommended.

This curiously impractical 4x4 MPV will appeal to Mercedes badge-snobs, but almost nobody else.

4 variants from £39,950 to £44,675

Our rating:

2

User rating:

5
Mercedes R Class
 
 

Fifth Gear Mercedes R Class review

 
 
1. Comfortable to spend time in
2. Will impress the shallower neighbours
3. The fact it's likely to remain a rare sight

WE DON'T LIKE

1. Too big for Britain
2. Too expensive for anywhere
3. Lacklustre design
 
 

The R Class is one of those vehicles that must have seemed like a great idea on paper. Mercedes calls it a "grand tourer", but in essence it's a large MPV based on the same set of mechanical underpinnings as the ML and GL off-roaders.

Yet the reality is a sore disappointment, with the R Class looking expensive and impractical compared to proper people-carriers while offering far less of the rugged appeal of a conventional 4x4. External styling is particularly disappointing, with the R Class clearly designed around American tastes and doing nothing to hide its gargantuan proportions.

The cabin is well-finished and features lots of switchgear and components that are familiar from the rest of the Mercedes range, but the standard wheelbase version really lacks space in the back. Standard equipment levels are very stingy, despite which the R Class still wears very steep pricing.

At least it drives reasonably well, with wafty driving manners and good refinement from noise at motorway cruising speeds. The range has now been pared back to just the 300 CDI and 350 CDI, which is an improvement - the V8 petrols were amongst the most pointless cars ever launched.

Fifth Gear overall car ratings

STYLING

Big and slabby - it looks like a cross between a PT Cruiser and a Chrysler Voyager.

HANDLING

Painless dynamics make for a smooth, if uninvolving, driving experience. Good at high-speed motorway cruising.

COMFORT

Compliant ride quality takes the edge of rougher road surfaces and the driving position is good.

QUALITY & RELIABILITY

The R Class benefits from the same quality interior as the other mid-ranking models in the Mercedes range. Well finished and built from nice-feeling materials.

PERFORMANCE

Entry level engines come closest to making sense with decent performance and not-outrageous running costs. V8 petrol versions are needlessly fast.

ROOMINESS

Enormous dimensions make the R Class a nightmare to park in crowded city streets - despite which it still only has room for six occupants.

STEREO / SAT NAV

The standard audio system works reasonably well but upgrades are expensive. Satnav untested.

RUNNING COSTS

Steep depreciation, expensive servicing and big fuel bills mean the R Class requires very deep pockets to run.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Stingy standard equipment levels dent the R Class's already weak case even further - you can get a better-equipped and more practical seven seat MPV from a mainstream manufacturer for vastly less.

ENVIRONMENT

The R Class's SUV underpinnings give it terrible environmental performance. Even the BlueEFFICIENCY branded version (the green option in Mercedes-speak) still puts out a splutter-inducing 201 g/km of CO2. We didn't realise Mercedes did irony.

This review has been tagged with: Mercedes | Mercedes R Class

There are 4 variants of the R Class

R Class variants Price (£) Fuel type Engine
size (cc) 		CO2 emission
(g/km)
300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY £39,950 Diesel 2987
300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY £40,525 Diesel 2987
350 CDI L £44,175 Diesel 2987
350 CDI L £44,675 Diesel 2987
 

Average

5

User reviews (5)

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This review has been removed.

KYLE DALTON
5

KYLE DALTON19 August 2009

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A R500 4MATIC WITH SATNAV, AIRMATIC, SUNROOF, PRIVACY GLASS, IPOD INTERFACE AND REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, IT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE CAR I HAVE EVER HAD AND GOES LIKE HELL, IT IS NOT AS EXPENSIVE TO RUN AS 5TH GEAR USERS SAID IT WOULD BE AND IT SEATS 7 IN COMFORT!

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Mark Daoud
5

Mark Daoud02 April 2010

I recently purchased an R320CDI LWB, it as an excellent and comfortable car. It has SATNAV, air suspension, privacy glass, all the nice little toys that you would expect from Mercedes. It is the best car I have ever bought, the maintenance costs are not as high as everyone makes it out to be. I also have a Honda Accord and that is more expensive to run then the R Class.

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D R W
5

D R W02 March 2011

I purchased a 320 cdi sport 12months ago.I have to say it is the best car I have ever owned, it is roomy, comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Having toured France for 3 weeks last year and found it very versatile it also carries my four grandchildren in comfort and safety, they love it because they have a full size seat each.

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MrSmith
5

MrSmith25 January 2012

I've owned a R500 for a couple of years, and it's the perfect car for doing everything I need. We have 4 kids, and the space works perfectly for what we need. It is also very comfortable, fun to drive and has excellent levels of equipment. I thought the review above was nonsensical and poorly written, would I swap mine for a Vauxhall Zafira... No thanks.

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