Mercedes R-Class: the road Airbus

Retrospection – here's what Bulgaria wrote 20 years ag magazin de piese auto online.

Mercedes R-Class: the road Airbus

In Europe, the R-Class will be offered in a short-wheelbase version with revised suspension settings. But it remains just as impressive…

And short things can sometimes be quite long… The short version of the R-Class, designed with Europe in mind, is 4.92 m long – in this case the term “short” sounds rather inappropriate, but it should be borne in mind that only the XL variant with a length of 5.16 m is offered on the American market. Both versions can be ordered on the Old Continent, with the suspension and steering settings changed according to European criteria. Even with a shortened wheelbase, however, the R-Class remains a rather impressive car – the not particularly small VW Routan is exactly 1 m shorter, and the length of a sedan of the caliber of the E-Class is 10 cm less. Not to mention that the R-Class surpasses both models by about 20 cm in height…

Individual seats are the epitome of comfort.

As expected, the interior offers exceptional space, with six individual seats arranged in three rows. The super-comfortable second-row seats are incredibly suitable for a full rest, and the rear row can easily accommodate passengers up to 1.80 m tall.

The seats cannot be removed (Mercedes obviously did not want to subject its customers to such torture, especially in this class), but when folded they form a cargo area with a flat floor. The luggage compartment holds a maximum of 1950 liters – the number sounds extremely impressive, but the volume is no larger than that of the T-model of the current E-class.

Despite the new suspension setup, the R-Class continues to focus on smooth, enjoyable driving. The luxury cruiser is quite smooth and quiet for a 2.2-ton colossus, and the 224-hp V6 diesel engine under the hood of the R 320 CDI offers plenty of power and serious reserves. The seven-speed automatic transmission responds quickly and promptly.

The dual-clutch transmission is standard equipment. The test car was also equipped with the optional Airmatic air suspension system, which really does offer excellent comfort.

The model is already on sale in the United States, and its European market debut is scheduled for February 2006. In Germany, the price of the R 320 CDI starts at 52,000 euros, the R 350 ci V6 with 272 hp starts at 51,504 euros, and the R 500 with a V8 engine and 306 hp has a base price of 64,960 euros. The long version will cost 1,740 euros more.

In fact, these prices could be called quite affordable - the fact is that they are significantly higher than those of the E-class, but compared to the levels of the S-class, they sound completely bearable...

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

In Europe, the R-Class will be offered in a short-wheelbase version with revised suspension settings

And short things can sometimes be quite long… The short version of the R-Class, designed with Europe in mind, is 4