Styling

Riding lower than a crossover but looking sleeker than a minivan, the R-Class might best be described as a large wagon. It's nearly as long as Mercedes' flagship S-Class full-size sedan, but wider and taller.

The front of the R-Class has been significantly updated for 2011. It features a new grille, new headlights and new bumper styling. Taken as a whole, the changes give the R-Class a stronger, more substantial look. It's a big improvement, and it works well with the rest of the exterior design, which carries over mostly unchanged.

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    Exterior
    A strictly utilitarian appearance is softened somewhat by body-colored bumpers, rub strips and rocker panels, as well as alloy wheels and a stainless-steel spare-tire cover. At 183.5 inches long o ...

    Important safety notes
    WARNING Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause unconsciousness and possible death. Do not run the eng ...

    Passenger cell: custom-designed floor panels and robust load-bearing sections
    The passenger cell of the new CLS has been shown to be a structure which is virtually immune to deformation and which keeps the occupant space intact, even at high impact speeds, regardless of whe ...