Model Update

Splendid motoring in the latest Mercedes Benz R-Class makes this a very hard act to follow. Buy one of these, and you’ll be packed to the hilt with luxuries and refinement.

They’re nice to drive, and the lusty diesel engines having plenty of power to get the job done. 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, seven seat capacity – 2 in front row, 3 in second row and 2 in third row, a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, an eight speaker sound system, acceleration skid control (ASR), Airbags – Two-stage front airbags for driver and front passenger, side bags in front and rear plus some window bags,an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Bi-Xenon headlamps with a headlamp cleaning system, a Brake Assist System (BAS), COMAND APS including reversing camera, an Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) with Trailer Stability Assist, an Electronic Traction System incl. automatic brake control for downhill gradients (4ETS), a handy Hill start assist system, LED daytime driving lights, a Multi-function steering wheel in Nappa leather, NECK-PRO active head restraints for front seats, PARKTRONIC parking guidance sensors, THERMATIC automatic climate control, a UCI Media interface connection for IPod, and a 3.5mm AUX-IN and USB connectivity function.

Riding in the Mercedes Benz R-Class is so serene that I think there are few cars better suited to the family or people moving duties. Everybody will enjoy the experience because it’s all class, all luxury and all style. It’s a different sort of wagon that, perhaps, you wouldn’t expect to see it in a Merc line-up. However the smooth roofline and wide stance give it an impressive on-road presence. The R-Class Mercedes will turn heads. It’s not the world’s cheapest seven-seater; but it’s way ahead of its competitors when it comes to complete engineering, safety and performance. You can appreciate the R-Class for what it really is… simply the best.

There is a higher level of space in the Mercedes Benz R-Class. Sumptuous seating with ample leg and shoulder room is complemented by air suspension and an Adaptive Damping System that delivers the smoothest ride. The systems automatically govern the effect of the shock absorbers at each wheel and adapt them to the current road, load and driving conditions. What this does is reduce the level of roll and pitch movement. Having the quality air suspension system allows the driver to manually switch between comfortable and sporty ride settings. The Mercedes Benz R-Class has the capacity to raise and lower its ride height at the push of a button. On poor sections of the road, the vehicle height can be raised by 50 mm and, at higher speeds, it is automatically lowered by 20 mm. Even when the vehicle is fully loaded, the ground clearance remains constant thanks to the levelling control system.

Ever so practical, each new Mercedes Benz R-Class has seats that can be completely folded forward. This creates a massive load carrying space. Getting your items through the large tailgate is no problem, thanks to the low 714 mm boot sill. If you sit in the front seats, you’ll get to play with 4-way lumbar support. You can also choose heated and ventilated front seats. The sporty seats offer higher side bolsters on the backrests, and are electrically adjustable and upholstered in Nappa leather.

A quality car needs all the bells and whistles, and the Mercedes Benz R-Class has it all. Electric ‘thises and that’s’, a comprehensive safety list, climate air, multimedia systems, navigation systems, a LINGUATRONIC voice control system, DVD entertainment with rear monitors, Bluetooth, a reversing camera, iPod and USB connectivity, a premium Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround-sound system that features eleven high-performance loudspeakers, a subwoofer, 610 W total output and Logic 7® multi-channel stereo technology. The audio system is truly magnificent. With the optional rear-seat entertainment system the driver concentrates on driving while the second-row passengers can sit back and enjoy films and music via 20.3 cm screens in the front head restraints, two sets of wireless headphones and a remote control unit.

Currently, the R-Class has two superior diesel engines to power the big wagon. The Mercedes Benz R300 CDI boasts a turbo-diesel with some serious grunt. It is the least expensive R-Class model, but I reckon this would be my pick. The diesel power is so smooth and responsive – with 440 Nm of torque to do the business. An excellent combined fuel economy figure of around 9 litres/100 km is very good for what you are getting.

The R350 CDI has a tweaked version of the 3.0 turbo-diesel unit, adding an extra wallop of overall peak power and torque. With a governed top speed of 210 km/h and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 7.7 seconds, this is an MPV that can match it with the big boys. Being able to wallop a punch of 620 Nm between 1600 and 2400 rpm, you aren’t going to be sneered at!

Electro-hydraulic power steering and massive disc brakes with ABS technology ensures that each of the R-Class models has fabulous handling and serious grip.

For the best seven-seater, work with the friendly team at Private Fleet for a great deal on a premium Mercedes Benz R-Class.

The current model series includes the:

• R300 CDI
• R350 CDI

For any more information on the Mercedes Benz R-Class, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Mercedes Benz dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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