Mercedes-Benz have created a whole new segment of luxurious MPVs in India.
We fi nd out if the R-Class lives up to the royal status it boasts of
Story: Adhish Alawani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
HE VARIETY AND range of luxury cars in the Indian market has grown to a great extent in recent times. Gone are the days when we used to call this market a developing one. You ask for a type of a car and there are so many options; the sheer number is enough to confuse you for quite some time before you finalise what you want to buy. However, the class of multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) is still quite small. Most of the offerings in this segment are to be found at the entry-level. Luxurious MPVs are not to beseen in India. However, this seems to be set for a change with the R-Class walking in with every bit of luxury, space, comfort and status symbol on offer.
‘R’, they say, stands for royal – a royal class of family cars. This car is all about taking you and your family to places far away from home. It’s about driving in luxury while not forgetting that your family deserves an equally luxurious environment as you travel those unending miles. It’s about taking along the luggage of your complete family too. And, of course, all this with Mercedes’ trademark safety and speed.
The R350 4MATIC makes its own style statement succinctly. The front is aggressive. With sharp headlights and chrome-lined grille that has the big, three-pointed star placed at its centre, the R-Class talks prominently of the ‘Fascination’ design adopted by Mercedes on their new-age cars. From the side profi le, you come to know of the massive size of this car. After all, it carries three rows of seats with ample legroom. The glass-line dips towards the rear giving a pseudo-sporty feel while the roof-line stays fl at. The tailgate is fl at too. However, what is worth mentioning about the rear end is the wide rear glass that helps in improving vision and the twin, parallelogram shaped exhaust tips that add glamour to the rather bland tail of the R.
The R350 welcomes you with beige leathers and classic wood inserts in the cabin. The front seats are separated by a broad wall that also has voluminous stowage places.
Mercedes call this car a 5+2 seater. We agree it has three rows and has a number of seats on offer, but calling the middle bench a three-seater would be an overstatement. The middle seat is not good for anyone but a kid. Also the floor, which isn’t flat and rises in the centre, is not friendly for an adult. The last row of seats isn’t meant for adults too considering the amount of legroom they offer. But it definitely is better than in the other three-row cars available in the country. We can probably call this one a 4+3 rather than 5+2. That apart, the legroom offered in the first and second rows is phenomenal. Besides, the middle row can be reclined for a comfortable nap on a long drive. The boot offers space for some light luggage with all seats upright. However, fold the rear two rows down and you can extend the luggage space to as much as 2,385 litres.
Surprisingly, the R350 is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It pumps out 272 PS of peak power and 350 Nm of peak torque. However, since the car runs on petrol, this engine produces its peak power as well as torque at slightly higher revs. With the maximum torque coming into play only after 2,400 rpm, the R-Class lacks the low-end punch that diesels offer. Nevertheless, there is an extreme linearity in the delivery of power. Another negative of this motor is its low fuel efficiency. With four kilometres to a litre, the R is an expensive vehicle to drive around in the neighbourhood. Add to that its huge size and a rather big turning radius, and the R-Class turns out to be a pain in urban areas. A highway is where it wants to be and a highway is where it feels most at home. The R350 delivers a comfortable ride with its optimally stiff suspension. Just for comparison, it feels better than the ML on the highways and the credit for that also goes to its slightly lower height. For a faster drive, you have the option of stiffening up the suspension as well. Among the driving modes, there is E (for economy) and S (for sporty), which can be toggled through with the push of a button on the centre console. The ‘S’ mode will shift up the gear change points and the car will rev more in each gear. A positive from the powertrain comes in the form of the 7G-TRONIC transmission that shifts through the cogs smoothly while contributing its bit towards improving the efficiency.
On the features front, the R-Class scores high with its 4MATIC system, which is a permanent all-wheel drive system that helps in obtaining maximum traction in treacherous conditions. Electronic Stability Program and Electronic Traction System are standard for maximum safety. The entertainment package includes a couple of LCDs for the rear passengers.
No doubt the R350 is a luxurious traveller. It can take a large family along with its equally large luggage. It offers comfort and safety too, not to forget an impressive road presence with its size and distinctive design. However, a petrol engine will not be the choice of most in the Indian market with its extremely low efficiency and the ever-rising petrol prices. At almost Rs 80 lakh (OTR, Pune), the R-Class doesn’t come with an alluring price-tag either. You ought to be a royal family to have this one standing in your garage.
The R-Class walks in with every bit of luxury, space, comfort and status symbol on offer
