2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class Review

As family-haulers go, the Mercedes-Benz R350 Bluetec is a nice rig — perhaps too nice for the sippy-cup-and-Cheerios gang. Even though the R350 doesn't fit nicely into a defined category such as minivan, SUV or crossover, it's nonetheless a practical car for the high-earning, minivan-averse family.

The R350 caters to families with its roomy cabin, compliant ride and available convenience features, but it sacrifices some utility in the name of style.

I tested the diesel-powered R350 Bluetec, and a gas V-6 engine is also offered. The diesel version starts at $51,740, but options made the as-tested price balloon to around $67,000. The R-Class' price range overlaps two of Mercedes' SUVs: the five-seat M-Class and the seven-seat GL-Class. The R-Class is available with seating for six or seven. To see a side-by-side comparison of these three models, click here.

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Pedestrian recognition
WARNING Pedestrian recognition may be impaired or inoperative if: • pedestrians are partially or entirely obscured by objects, e.g. parked vehicles. • the silhouette of the pedestrian in ...

Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit
– Lift the trunk floor up. 1 Lug wrench 2 Jack 3 Tire sealant filler bottle 4 Alignment bolt 5 Tire inflation compressor 6 Folding wheel chock 7 Warning triangle 8 Ratchet wrench 9 Towing ...

Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight rating
The specifications shown on the Tire and Loading Information placard in the illustration are examples. The maximum permissible gross vehicle weight rating is vehicle-specific and may differ ...