Test Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 Bluetec

That changes for 2011, with the R getting a much-needed facelift. The jumbo-wagon proportions are still there, so if you weren’t a fan of the original these changes might not be enough to win you over. But at least its more angular bodywork and headlights allow it to fit in with others in the Benz showroom and instantly make it look worth the money.

2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec. Click image to enlarge

The money, by the way, is less than it was when the R was first introduced. Starting at $55,200, the R-Class is about $10K cheaper than it was five years ago, and the Bluetec version starts the bidding at $56,700. Our tester was black with deeply tinted windows; it didn’t take long for the word ‘hearse’ to come to mind.

Standard R-Class equipment includes permanent all-wheel drive, heat-insulated glass, LED lighting, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, 19-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, electric folding mirrors, and bi-xenon headlights, just to scratch the surface.

The $4,900 premium package consists of blind spot assist, heated rear seats, media interface for iPod and USB audio, hard-drive-based navigation, a panoramic sunroof, keyless go, and a power liftgate. So the as-tested MSRP comes to $61,600 before destination and taxes; a number that I must admit is lower than I expected. About the only glaring omission is the lack of a rear-view camera, which is a stand-alone option worth $480.

The overall look inside is of old-school luxury with generous helpings of burled walnut trim breaking up the mostly black (with a bit of aluminum trim for good measure) interior. The rear passenger doors are limo-long, making getting in and out of the second row a cinch. The downside, though, is that those rear-seat occupants need to be aware of how close the adjacent vehicle is parked. Also a relative cinch is getting into the two-seat third row. The second-row captains chair jumps forward with the flip of a lever to make room; once seated back there the main complaint is the low seat cushion. Like any such third-row accommodations, these are not long-haul seats for adult passengers.

2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTec. Click image to enlarge

Otherwise, comfort is the name of the game, with supportive yet accommodating seats in the first two rows and a great driving position. The big Benz wagon wafts over highway undulations and possesses truly luxurious manners on the open road. My travels took me 600 km one day in total comfort, all the while consuming about 8.4 L/100 km with the cruise set at 110 km/h. City trips in the 10-11 L/100 km range were easy to accomplish without necessitating languid acceleration practices that encourage road rage in other motorists: such is the diesel advantage.

There are manual shift paddles on the steering wheel, but since torque is available right from a dead stop, they are totally superfluous. Dip into the throttle at any speed and the power will be there instantly.

True to traditional Benz form, throttle tip-in is rather relaxed so as not to allow a lurchy, unrefined launch. On the flipside, though, that makes the car feel a bit lazy and cumbersome around town. There’s no question the power is there, but it’s reserved rather than spirited. Then again, one would think that a shopper looking for something spirited would take one look at this Benz’s 2,335-kg curb weight and keep walking.

The R-Class is a niche product aimed at giving a big-sedan ride to those who need more room than a sedan can provide. And its Bluetec-enhanced diesel is one of the finest examples of its breed on the market today.