Mediocrity. The Poor R-Class From Mercedes Benz

In spite of being parked in Mercedes showrooms in India for more than three months, the R-Class 350 could not make good numbers on road. What is the reason behind this fact even though Mercedes claims to have sold its entire first lot of this CBU?? Well, the reasons are multifarious. 

The R-Class is really a serious stuff and is quite something, but what that something is exactly isn’t very clear ironically! This massive vehicle, which is just a bit shorter than the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes GL-Class, positions itself in an unidentified place in the Indian market. It even finds itself in a bit of a lonely place even at the global market. It was first conceived as a MPV (Multi-purpose vehicle), sold as a sports cruiser first, and then toned down in the market speak to a family tourer. It is in true sense a cross between a station wagon, a minivan and in a very small sense an SUV. It is only in the US market it finds its sole competitor, the Buick Enclave. So there isn’t a direct alternative, making R-Class the sole proprietor of a class of its own.

The very first sight will tell you the massiveness of the car, thanks to its lower stance and chunky proportions. The doors are so huge two people could walk in together and its massive expanse of roof with an intimidating front face just like GL-Class adds up. Such large dimensions translate to a very large and enormous cabin that can pamper seven passengers comfortable unlike any other. This even outruns the MPV necessities positively. But as a tourer, you can never accommodate more than five if you intend to add luggages for weekend trips. So, you’re forced to put a roof rack which will in turn upset the car’s handling and mileage.

The R-Class comes with the only engine option – a 3.5 litre V6 petrol motor mated to a 7-speed G-Tronic gearbox which produces a substantial output of 275PS @ 6000rpm. But missing is a diesel offering for a car meant to be a tourer or a MPV to be driven enthusiastically. The overall fuel efficiency figure is just 8.5 kmpl, further adding to the fuss.

Yet another inherent problem is its poor ground clearance of 147mm (just 3 mm higher than my Siena sedan to whom moving on a rugged road is troublesome), which is ridiculously low for an MPV. It rides on a selective adaptive Airmatic suspension, which can be raised or lowered manually depending on the terrain. But the problem here is, even if you raise the suspension to elevate the car to ensure undercarriage safety while travelling across rough roads, the R-Class automatically lowers itself back to normal when the speed exceeds 30 kmph. And there isn’t any automatic detection system either. Its extremely long wheelbase compounds the situation. This applies to its on-road character, not perfect for an MPV or a tourer.

So at around 60 lakh rupees, the answer to why would anyone want to invest in the R350 are as bleak as this car’s purpose! Pay an extra 10 lakh rupees for its bigger sibling the GL-350, it will take you way deeper into the adventure than the R350 can ever hope to. You can enjoy the advantages of an SUV and the diesel to support your financial plans as well. But we are still devoid of enough choices at this price tag for a family tourer or a MPV, and for people who aspire for that, the R-Class is still a classy option.