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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Picture settings
Overview You can select these settings in video DVD and AUX mode. Instructions for AUX mode are detailed later. Adjusting the brightness, contrast and color Switch on video DVD mode. To sh ...

Resetting to factory settings
For safety reasons, the Day Lights function in the Lights submenu is only reset when the vehicle is stationary. •► Press the button on the steering wheel to select the Settings menu. ...

Adjusting the climate mode settings (AIR FLOW)
This function is only available with 3-zone automatic climate control. The climate mode settings are especially effective at high temperatures. You can select the following climate mode settin ...