First Drives, Luxury Cars, Mercedes-Benz

First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class

July 5, 2010

2011 Mercedes-Benz R 350. Click image to enlarge

For those who like a bit more sport in their family hauler, a sport package adds adaptive damping system, Airmatic air suspension, blue tinted glass, AMG 20-inch five-spoke wheels with 265/45 all-season tires (19-inch wheels with 255/50 all-seasons are standard) and an exterior sport package that includes driving lights replacing the LED day time running lights and dark tinted LED tail lights.

Standard interior colours are black, Almond beige and Alpaca grey, but new for 2011 are two-tone on black interior options – beige on black and grey on black.

While Mercedes-Benz builds nine different configurations of the R-Class in both short and long wheelbase versions for various world markets, only the long wheelbase version with a choice of two engines is available for North America.

When it goes on sale later this summer, buyer’s will have a choice of a 3.5-litre V6 (R 350 4MATIC) gasoline engine or a 3.0-litre V6 diesel (R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC). Both use a seven-speed automatic transmission and have 4MATIC all-wheel drive as standard. The former produces 272 horsepower (up four hp over 2010) and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the latter generates 211 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption testing in Europe shows an improvement of 0.8 and 0.4 L/100 km respectively over 2010 versions of these engines.

2011 Mercedes-Benz R 350. Click image to enlarge

For drivability and ease of acceleration, my choice would be the diesel. Apparently buyers agree as Mercedes-Benz Canada report that three quarters of R-Class models sold are diesel. This engine has so much torque that you will never talk about horsepower again. It accelerates with ease, climbs hills without effort and only causes the transmission to downshift with a serious shot of throttle.

The gasoline engine, on the other hand seems overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the R-Class – 2,230 kg (4,916lbs) in gasoline trim (2,335/5,147 lbs for the diesel). Despite its smooth shifting, the seven-speed automatic gets quite busy when the terrain gets hilly.

As with its interior comforts, the R-Class emphasizes comfort in driving. Again weight plays into the equation, limiting the R-Class’ handling to normal duty, but providing a solid, comfortable and quiet ride. While we didn’t have time to compare the advantages offered by a model equipped with a sport package, buyers should realize the R-Class is a cruiser, happy meandering down country roads and ecstatic motoring along on a freeway.

2011 Mercedes-Benz R 350. Click image to enlarge

For families looking for a safe, secure vehicle to protect them and their loved ones, the R-Class comes to the top of the class. 2009 and 2010 models were rated “good” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in frontal offset and side impact crash tests. A full load of passive safety features – front, side and side curtain air bags – as well as standard traction and stability control help, but as we found out while driving down New York City’s West Side Highway, nothing can beat good brakes.

As we approached an intersection, a delivery van driver, waiting in the turning lane decided, without checking mirrors and just as we were on top of him, to pull out into the through lane. As my foot hit the brake as hard as I could, I fully expected to hit him, but the R-Class laid two small strips of black braking rubber on the road and came to a full, straight stop in an amazingly short distance. At that point my thoughts turned to what was behind us and I was grateful to see a large gap between us and the car approaching from behind.

The R-class is also equipped with PreSafe, a system that immediately cinches the seat belts tight and pre-loads the brakes for a faster stop when the driver hits the brake pedal reflexively. Believe me, it works well.

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The revised 2011 R-Class is expected to be in dealerships by August. Base pricing on the 2010 R-Class is $56,200 for the R350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and $54,700 for the R350 4MATIC. 2011 pricing will be announced closer to its on sale date.

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