The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class “Sports Tourer”

Content provided by New Car Test Drive

Fresh styling, more sports appeal.
By Jim McCraw

The refurbished and sportier 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class has been treated to a completely new look, with a new grille, hood, front fenders, bumpers, air inlets, and all front lamp units, using the Mercedes-Benz three-bar-and-star sports car grille in lieu of the former and smaller two-star-and-bar grille.

The hood is more steeply raked than the hood on the original. The
bodysides have not had to be completely recontoured to fit with the new
nose, so that it looks about the same from the sides, but the rear end
also has been redone more crisply, with a new diffuser, new bumpers,
exhaust tips, and LED fiber-optic taillamps.

The R-Class has had some difficulty finding buyers in the past because
there is nothing else quite like it on the road (since the Chrysler
Pacifica was cancelled). The R-Class has four hinged side doors, not
sliding doors, and a hatch in back, so it’s not a proper minivan. It has
all wheel-drive, but it’s not tall enough to be a called a real SUV,
even though its off-road prowess is far better than most. And it’s not
shaped or sized like a Mercedes-Benz station wagon, either.

From its introduction, the company has referred to the R-Class as a
sport-tourer, speced out for long-distance comfort, interior roominess,
and, with that giant sunroof, a feeling of open space inside.
Mercedes-Benz says that the R-Class is the roomiest vehicle in its
entire passenger-car lineup for its overall size.

The R-Class is aimed to compete with the Cadillac SRX, Lincoln MKT,
Buick Enclave and Audi Q7 in one of the U.S. market’s fastest-growing
market segments. The R-Class is sold in 90 markets around the world,
with a mix of small V6 gasoline engines, diesels, and 5.5-liter V8
engines (which were once offered here but were canceled due to lack of
interest and high gasoline prices).

The U.S. market demands larger engines and larger interiors than Europe
does, so we get the gasoline V6 and turbodiesel V6 engines. Both come
with the 7-speed overdrive automatic and 4MATIC all wheel-drive, using
the long-wheelbase chassis. Where some other R-Class markets get a
short-wheelbase model, a small 3.0-liter gasoline engine, and as few as
four seats, we get only the larger configuration, with a buyer’s choice
of six seats in a 2-2-2 layout or seven seats in a 2-3-2 layout. The
six-seat layout offers an optional second-row console.

The 5000-pound R-Class uses welded steel unibody construction with front
and rear subframes to mount the steering and suspension systems, with
almost half the body weight in high-strength low-alloy steel. This is
standard Mercedes-Benz practice on almost everything they make, because
it’s lighter, stronger, easier to build and to easier repair than
traditional body-on-frame vehicles.

The engineers have paid huge amounts of attention and money when it
comes to making the front and rear suspensions and the large tires work
together for a ride quality that is both taut and plush, absorbent and
resistive, so that the occupants are not bothered by road irregularities
and can just sit back and enjoy the view.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class comes in R350 ($50,240) and R350 BlueTEC
($51,740) versions. The R350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline
engine. The BlueTEC uses a turbocharged V6 diesel engine. Both come with
4MATIC all-wheel drive and a 7-speed automatic transmission. (All New
Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices, which
do not include destination charge and may change at any time without
notice.)

Standard features include cloth upholstery, dual-zone air conditioning,
real burl walnut wood trim, cruise control, a power sunroof, windows,
rear quarter windows, mirrors, seats, locks, paddle shifters, the Comand
system, multi-function steering wheel, AM/FM/CD/DVD sound system,
Bluetooth hands-free telephoning, rain-sensing wipers, rear
self-leveling air suspension, and automatic headlamps.

Options include the Premium 1 Package ($4000) with the hard-drive
navigation system, Comand vehicle control system, enhanced voice control
for audio telephone and navigation, Gracenote media database, HD
Digital Radio, iPod/MP3 media interface hidden in the glovebox, a memory
package for driver seat, power steering column and exterior mirrors,
power folding mirrors, power liftgate, power steering column, rearview
camera, auto-dimming mirrors, Sirius satellite radio with real-time
traffic and a Zagat Survey restaurant guide, one 115V AC power outlet,
and a 4GB hard-drive with Music Register for download of MP3 files.

Premium 2 ($6050) has everything above plus a Harman Kardon Logic7
surround sound system with Dolby digital 5.1, and Keyless Go. A lighting
package ($985) adds bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and
headlamp washers. The Sport Package ($1350), for gasoline models only,
adds dark-tinted taillamp lenses, heat-absorbing blue-tinted glass in
the first row, and AMG 20-inch sport wheels and tires.

Individual options for the R-Class will include the electronic adaptive
damping system, complete front and rear Airmatic air suspension,
Distronic adaptive cruise control, a power/memory front passenger seat,
rear side window sunshades, the multicontour seat for driver and
passenger, the second-row center console, infrared-reflecting glass,
poplar wood trim, and heated rear seats.

Safety features include ABS, Quick Brake Assist, Electronic Stability
Program, Automatic Slip Control, traction control, 4MATIC all-wheel
drive, Blind Spot Assist warning, eight front, side, and roof airbags,
Pre-Safe, Neck-Pro.