What is it?

Anyone of a cynical persuasion could be forgiven for thinking that the Mercedes R-class has, until now, rivalled a broken pencil for its lack of an obvious point. Mercedes' belief that well-heeled punters would be forming queues for an XXL MPV that combines four-wheel drive with the kudos of the three-pointed star has proved woefully wide of the mark. On both sides of the Atlantic, buyers have been staying away in droves.

So now a rethink, and the arrival of a new entry-level R-class that gets five normal seats in place of the previous 2-2-2 three-row seating, and which also gets rear-wheel drive instead of the early R-class's default all-paw 4-Matic.

All this de-contenting has allowed Mercedes to cut the entry price of the range, with the R280 CDI wearing a screen sticker of £36,420. The R350 petrol and R63 AMG versions have been quietly dropped, while further up the range a new optional seven-seat configuration replaces the previous six pews.

What’s it like?

The new car certainly makes a better case for itself than its precedessor. The 280 CDI engine is a slightly detuned version of the 320 CDI's 3.0-litre V6 diesel, but with 188bhp and 324lb ft of torque it's still capable of motoring the R's considerable bulk along at a respectable pace.

Mercedes seven-speed autobox comes as standard and works well with the engine's meaty mid-range. And, snow aside, you're singularly unlikely to notice the absence of four-wheel drive.

Rear seats can still slide to maximise legroom, but three adults trying to share the rear bench will find themselves suffering from a distinct lack of shoulder room. Removal of the collapsable rearmost seats has improved the already impressive boot capacity, though.

Should I buy one?

These revisions to Mercedes leviathan MPV have broadened its appeal, and if you’re going to get one, there’s no doubt that this entry-level diesel model makes the most sense. £36k is, after all, only around £4k more than a mid-spec Land Rover Discovery and equally little more expensive than a Volvo XC90 D5. It enjoys a lower profile than both of those luxo-SUVs, yet is still more desirable and no less talented.

But even after these revisions, the R-class still feels like a car in search of a point. It must look less conspicuous in parts of the world where the highways are wider, and the parking spaces likewise.

Here in the UK though, there will probably be many who still fail to get it – who see it simply as an overpriced MPV, bigger on the outside than a Grand Voyager, significantly pricier, and yet not so big on the inside. And even with all the leather and three-pointed stars in the world, that perspective is hard to argue with.


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M

The diesel engines are definitely the best choice for this "thing". Now if it only didn't look so ugly that it makes me cry.

OT: Christian, when are you going to take care about those font size? Man, it's really annoying...; You asked me to post scrn shot of how it looks and i've already did it:

Yes, it is. Honestly...

The R Class never needed to get redesigned, they just really NEED to distinguish it from the Chrysler Pacifica.

I was soooo appalled when I saw how similar the two were, and the only difference was the 3 point star, and the price.

The only difference?

The Pacifica and R share 0% components. Nada, zip. They are both Crossovers, which lend themselves to share the Crossover look. They were independently designed and built.

When I test drove the R class, a Pacifica happened to stop at the light beside me. And I looked. And I was shocked. They looked very similar. So they are built at different plants and made of different components-when has that ever stopped people from copying each other? I remember there was a time when Chrysler and Daimler Benz were friends (don't know if they still are), and it looks like they made an expensive version, and the affordable version.

Unless it's a performance machine, a woman cares less for what's really under a stylish but practical vehicle's hood. She goes based upon what they look like, and they looked identical.