Test drive Mercedes Benz R-class w251 2005-2010 Minivan
Mix-class
Once Mercedes-Benz cars were associated with prestigious, expensive compartment, sedans, convertibles. Now in the garage of a German company there is a whole brood of vehicles made at the junction of genres, by and large mini-wenes, no matter how their German marketers designate.
This refers to company classes A, B and, now, R. We get acquainted with the largest class hybrid, which managed to combine the signs of machines indicated by the letters A, B, M and S. The appearance of the R350 is difficult to accept unconditionally. The profile is great. Even a long -drawn version (from nose to tail is more than five meters) on small high -profile wheels looks dynamically and absolutely not heavy on the side. The silhouette line with elegant motion combines the hood, front and rear racks. But looking at the car in the eye is not so pleasant. Perhaps North American buyers, for whom the car is primarily intended, will be highly appreciated by the gaze of round headlights indefinite in mood. Such stylistics is alien to me. Does not hurt. The feed of the car, in my opinion, is much more attractive.
There are almost no complaints about the interior space. True Mercedes-Benz! But if you were driving ML, then in the R-class you will probably have a flashback. The dashboard is almost the same, and the location of the Command control unit at the central console is very similar. Torpedo is distinguished by a less expressive design. The salon is collected from high -quality expensive materials. The only thing that caused subjective rejection, an abundance of black color. Bright tones to this interior are more to face. The car is declared as a six -seater. In the presented configuration at each of these places, an adult should theoretically fit. With the front ones, everything is clear on them anyone will feel great. Unless the driver can complain to the complex steering wheel switch on the left, to which the functions of managing light, janitors and washer are given. But the gearbox lever is compact and convenient on the other hand, driving. And between the chairs are large cup holders.
The second row is also very good. For individual indicators, it is even better than in front (for example, optional LCD monitors are mounted in the head restraints of the front seats). However, only two things can be located here in the armrest-box, separating the chair. But they have a longitudinal adjustment, the angle of inclination of the back also changes. All four doors are wide and access to the salon provides excellent this applies to the third landing row. Several simple manipulations, and two more chairs appear from the floor of the luggage compartment. You can get back by slightly shifting the seat of the second row. Long-bunken Mercedes-Benz R350 is a full-fledged six- and even seven-seater car (depending on the configuration). It is clear that it is better not to plant NBA stars back, but it will be convenient for passengers of medium complexion even in the trunk.
The taciturn owner of the R350 will surely prefer to replace the satellites with a load. Having worked a little with four chairs, he will receive the volume of useful space of 2.4 m3! Will the owner of the R-class engage in such things? It will be, if we are talking about outdoor activities! During the test, passengers, discussing how the R-class is traveling, put it on a par with the representative sedan of Mercedes-Benz and the ML SUV. In such estimates there is no error R350 really took a lot from them. The suspension is entirely borrowed from the SUV this applies to both the spring and pneumatic version. In addition, cars have the same motors and gearboxes (however, these nodes are found on many other models of the company). The test copy had a B6 with a volume of 3.5 liters and, of course, a 7G-Tronic 7-speed machine. You can also order an option with a 5-liter V8 for such a fraud will be in handy. R-class is an exceptionally all-wheel drive car. And, again, the transmission was taken from ML. By the way, both models are gathering at the same American factory, in Alabama. 
Well, and where is the S-class, you ask? And despite the fact that the feeling of a trip in the Mercedes-Benz car arises immediately as soon as the R350 touches. A pneumatic suspension and rubber with a large profile turn any road into a holiday of life. Moreover, the sports regime as a whole does not greatly affect the level of comfort, but only makes the car reactions more clear. It is amazing how the chassis of this Mercedes-Benz copes with the canvas of disgusting quality. Impossible, playfully! At the level of the S-class. By the way, referring to personal experience with ML with spring and pneumatic pendants, I venture to assume that in the case of R350, the first option will not be much inferior to an expensive alternative. In addition, R350 rides smoother ML, because it has more wheelbase. For the first time, sitting behind the wheel of the R-class, I was careful for a while, got used to the dimensions. In terms of size occupied on the highway, the crossover is compared with a small minibus. I also had to park with cautiously, but there was a parking sensors and the possibility of increasing the clearance (sometimes it is simply necessary to call on the curb so that the feed does not overlap the passage).
The equipped mass of the crossover is 2200 kg of a solid indicator. At the level of more than once the mentioned representative class. However, the R-class has significantly higher the center of gravity. Yes, and highly profile tires contribute to the fares in corners. Does the novelty save with dynamic driving? For the purity of the experiment, I turn off the dynamic stabilization system. I shake the gas pedal to the metal, and the machine takes tightly from the place to the accompaniment of the six, hidden behind the soundproofing layers. Accelerator pedal operates in two -stage mode. You can go half, then the machine will act imposingly, or you can pushing the step by putting a greater effort, and then the machine happily realizes its entire potential. I admit that before the start of the test, I thought that, probably, this giant would not be a 3.5-liter motor, let it give out almost 280 hp. The mistake came out.
As in the case of ML350, I will sing praises and engine, and a quick 7-speed machine with converged gear rates. This couple makes a heavy mini-wen quite a frisky car. Perhaps the first km/h are given R350 not so easy, but further the speed set goes intensively on the highway, the machine easily reaches 200 km/h and continues to accelerate to 230 km/h. At high speed, the R350 behaves reliably. There is a clear zero on the steering wheel, of course, there are trajectory displacements, but are easily controlled. I think that with wide low-profile wheels, the R-class would show itself even better. No doubt about the chassis capabilities, its potential is disclosed by the demonic R63 AMG. However, many will need civilian wheels to leave away from civilization and relax in nature. The R-class can provide decent cross-country ability. Genes!
It should be noted that in corners a long high car showed himself well done. True, the test specimen lacked the severity of the steering and the accuracy of reactions to minimal steering movements. But when driving at the limit of misunderstanding between the driver and the car is not observed. Naturally, provided that the first makes a discount on the class, dimensions and the purpose of the model. By the way, it can be safely recommended by security services. Practice has shown that the R-class from Mercedes-Benz has only one minus novelty. The consumer is not yet used to such a machine, she just began to fit into the system of automobile values. The symbiosis of the SUV, the mini-wen and the representative class sedan turned out to be successful. Some are already enjoying this mix, and many others urgently break stereotypes.
The car is provided by Diamlerchrysler
Prices and equipment
Dealers offer customers a machine with a 7-speed automatic transmission and V6 3.5 l or V8 5.0 liters. The standard package includes: front, side and window pillows, multifunction steering wheel with skin decoration, combined upholstery fabric/leather, on -board computer, partial electrical regulation of front seats, constant all -wheel drive, ABS, ASR, BAS, ESP, automatic automatic inclusion sensor of the neighbor Sveta, alloy wheels R17, tire pressure sensor, Speedtronic.
The list of additional equipment is very extensive. You can order the color of metallic, parking sensors, mirrors with darling, multimedia system, panoramic sliding roof with electric drive, air suspension, multisone climatic installation, bixenon swivel headlights, the Keyless-Go and more system. You can also choose a sports package or styling package. The basic equipment of the R350 is estimated at 63,500, R500 in 81 400. A long -drawn car is 2300 more expensive.
Text: Nikolai Ilyin
A source: Motor magazine [July 2006]
