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The world's third version of the Mercedes R-Class superwagon – though only the second for South Africa – has just been launched as a facelift model with a choice of two engines, short or long wheelbase, several seat configurations and some subtle styling changes.
It's still very much a niche vehicle that can't seem to make up its mind whether it's a bus or a station-wagon but there's no doubting its good looks and road presence. There is, however, doubt about passenger space in the second row of seats in the short-wheelbase model – but more of that just now.
Eckhart Mayer, divisional manager for Mercedes cars, said at the launch in the Eastern Cape: "The R-Class is a long-distance SUV tourer for people with specific needs regarding cabin space – it's really in new automotive territory, rather like LED's and the CLS four-door Coupe.
"It's a minivan with the space and the luxury of a large sedan and now our competitors have copied us with their own crossover concepts – but the R-Class is in a league of its own.
"The cars are built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama along with the M-Class and GL, and were launched in South Africa about two-and-a-half years ago," Mayer recalled, "and back then you asked us: 'Why?' That was at the start of the world financial downturn but we still sold 350 units and I believe this facelifted version will do even better as financial conditions continue to improve.
The "born in the USA" R-Class is sold in 87 countries in a vast range of configurations suited to operating conditions in each. South Africa will have three versions, each with an auto transmission – two rear-wheel drive executions of the R300 CDI and R300 and a big daddy model, the R500 long-wheelbase 5.5-litre V8 with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive.
Here are the base prices (which include the new South African exhaust emissions tax):
Mercedes-Benz R300 swb - R582 400
Mercedes-Benz R300 CDI BlueEfficiency - R577 400
Mercedes-Benz R500 lwb 4x4 - R823 400
The previous range was made up of the R-Class 320 CDI at R675 000 and the R-Class R500 at R795 000.
While Mayer admits the 2010 R-Class is just a facelift, "we have done our best to follow styles and to be different". "There's a new look to the front that includes new headlights, a new grille and daytime LED running lights. The crease line along each flank has been emphasised and the shape of the tail-light clusters revised. The cars also have air suspension with adaptive shock-absorbers.
Mayer adds: "It's a very memorable 'face' if you see it in your rear-view mirror!
Four seats are standard in the R-Class, but with a narrow, child-sized sort of jump seat between the rear two which folds forward into a much more useful table. Add the two folding seats that make up a third row and Mercedes claims a total of seven – at the cost of much space in the otherwise cathedral of a boot. Luggage space in the short-wheelbase units is 1950 litres, that of the long-wheelbase 2385 litres.
Whichever, all seats except the front two can be folded flat to create a loadbed more than two metres long. Standard on the V8 (options on the other two models) are the seven seats, sunblinds, folding tow hitch, bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime lights, heatable front seats and an auto-closing tail door.
Blind-spot warning coverage is an option on all models and there is a cabin finish choice of aluminium and chrome or wood veneer trim. The cabin, at least in the basic 3.0 diesel I drove, is Germanically austere and comes without satnav and its touchscreen that appears in the V8. The driver's seat as adjustment in all three directions but even right back doesn't give a tall male a lot of room to stretch his legs.
If (electronically) slid right back then the passenger behind will be seriously short of knee-room- a fault not apparent in the V8 with its longer body. In fact, by comparison, it's almost palatial.
Each of the three models weighs more than two tons so Mercedes has not compromised on engines: the three-litre petrol V6 is capable of 170kW and 300Nm, the three-litre CDI turbodiesel V6 140kW and 440Nm and the V8 petrol 285kW and 530Nm. Each drives through a 7G-Tronic auto gearbox and their CO2 emissions are, respectively, 265, 206 and 311g/km.
The three basic variants, even before adding options, provide an opportunity to tailor the R-Class according to personal vehicle preferences. Each of the three has a number of features as standard which help to make travelling long-distance and locally safer and more relaxed, such as the unique anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE, a complete restraint system with eight crash bags, crash-active NECK-PRO head restraints, a tyre pressure loss warning system and adaptive brake lights – the harder you brake, the more they flash.
Safety is also enhanced, Mercedes says, by the cars' high-performance telematics systems such as the Audio 20 or optional COMAND APS with an extremely user-friendly interface.
The aircon supplies independent cooling to the rear seats and there are AUX-IN connections for external audio or entertainment devices. Connection options can also be extended further with an optional media interface.
To complement its already extensive standard equipment, the R-Class provides a variety of assistant systems which "push ride comfort and safety to the highest level and contribute to the vehicle's leading position in this market segment". These include air suspension with adaptive shock-absorbers, blind-spot assistance, a voice control system for a number of electronic functions, a reversing camera and infotainment units for rear passengers.
It's still very much a niche vehicle that can't seem to make up its mind whether it's a bus or a station-wagon but there's no doubting its good looks and road presence. There is, however, doubt about passenger space in the second row of seats in the short-wheelbase model – but more of that just now.
Eckhart Mayer, divisional manager for Mercedes cars, said at the launch in the Eastern Cape: "The R-Class is a long-distance SUV tourer for people with specific needs regarding cabin space – it's really in new automotive territory, rather like LED's and the CLS four-door Coupe.
"It's a minivan with the space and the luxury of a large sedan and now our competitors have copied us with their own crossover concepts – but the R-Class is in a league of its own.
"The cars are built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama along with the M-Class and GL, and were launched in South Africa about two-and-a-half years ago," Mayer recalled, "and back then you asked us: 'Why?' That was at the start of the world financial downturn but we still sold 350 units and I believe this facelifted version will do even better as financial conditions continue to improve.
IN THE FAMILY: The R-Class is a likely choice for wealthy large families.
Here are the base prices (which include the new South African exhaust emissions tax):
Mercedes-Benz R300 swb - R582 400
Mercedes-Benz R300 CDI BlueEfficiency - R577 400
Mercedes-Benz R500 lwb 4x4 - R823 400
The previous range was made up of the R-Class 320 CDI at R675 000 and the R-Class R500 at R795 000.
While Mayer admits the 2010 R-Class is just a facelift, "we have done our best to follow styles and to be different". "There's a new look to the front that includes new headlights, a new grille and daytime LED running lights. The crease line along each flank has been emphasised and the shape of the tail-light clusters revised. The cars also have air suspension with adaptive shock-absorbers.
Mayer adds: "It's a very memorable 'face' if you see it in your rear-view mirror!
CARRY THE LOAD: Mercedes' new R-Class has Herculean luggage capacity.
Whichever, all seats except the front two can be folded flat to create a loadbed more than two metres long. Standard on the V8 (options on the other two models) are the seven seats, sunblinds, folding tow hitch, bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime lights, heatable front seats and an auto-closing tail door.
Blind-spot warning coverage is an option on all models and there is a cabin finish choice of aluminium and chrome or wood veneer trim. The cabin, at least in the basic 3.0 diesel I drove, is Germanically austere and comes without satnav and its touchscreen that appears in the V8. The driver's seat as adjustment in all three directions but even right back doesn't give a tall male a lot of room to stretch his legs.
If (electronically) slid right back then the passenger behind will be seriously short of knee-room- a fault not apparent in the V8 with its longer body. In fact, by comparison, it's almost palatial.
FOLDING HONEY: Easy-folding seats turn the R-Class into a moving van.
The three basic variants, even before adding options, provide an opportunity to tailor the R-Class according to personal vehicle preferences. Each of the three has a number of features as standard which help to make travelling long-distance and locally safer and more relaxed, such as the unique anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE, a complete restraint system with eight crash bags, crash-active NECK-PRO head restraints, a tyre pressure loss warning system and adaptive brake lights – the harder you brake, the more they flash.
Safety is also enhanced, Mercedes says, by the cars' high-performance telematics systems such as the Audio 20 or optional COMAND APS with an extremely user-friendly interface.
The aircon supplies independent cooling to the rear seats and there are AUX-IN connections for external audio or entertainment devices. Connection options can also be extended further with an optional media interface.
To complement its already extensive standard equipment, the R-Class provides a variety of assistant systems which "push ride comfort and safety to the highest level and contribute to the vehicle's leading position in this market segment". These include air suspension with adaptive shock-absorbers, blind-spot assistance, a voice control system for a number of electronic functions, a reversing camera and infotainment units for rear passengers.
