2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class in Bethesda

Mercedes-Benz says that, with the R-class, it is launching a new class of vehicle and a new way for six adults to travel, neatly ignoring the fact that Chrysler-yes, their colleagues in Auburn Hills, Michigan-made similar claims for the Pacifica when it hit the market in 2003. Just like Chrysler, M-B calls its new vehicle a sports tourer, one that combines the versatility of a wagon, the go-anywhere-ness of an SUV, and the luxury and performance of a large sedan.

The R-class certainly looks the part. The long-wheelbase R350 and R500 are humongous, longer even than a Cadillac Escalade. (A shorter-wheelbase version will be sold only in Europe.) At first glance, it doesn't appear to be that long, mainly because it's well proportioned and lower than a conventional SUV. With the seventeen-inch wheels that are standard on the R350, it looks a bit slab sided, but things improve with the eighteens on the R500. The AMG Sport package will have even brawnier nineteen-inch wheels and tires.

The exterior design is a bit fussy, but no one can argue with the interior, which is gorgeous-and, in truth, it's the major selling point for this vehicle. All R-class models get three rows of two seats each. The center pair slide fore and aft to give a maximum of 40.4 inches of legroom. Even the third-row seats, which have four-position backrests, allow passengers to lounge in style. All four rear seats fold completely flat for an 85-cubic-foot cargo area. Plenty of the interior components are shared with the new M-class SUV, such as the hooded gauges, the column-mounted gear selector, the voguish start/stop button, and the center stack.... Read full article