2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTEC Wagon
MSRP:$51,740
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 Wagon is a large luxury crossover wagon that seats 6. It’s almost a crossover between a wagon and a van, with longer rear doors replacing sliding van doors. It is the higher of two trim levels. We recommend it over the other trim because the BlueTEC clean diesel engine produces more horsepower, a lot more torque, and better gas mileage at the same time.
It has a 3.0 liter turbodiesel V6 engine that produces 210 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. This is one of the largest torque/horsepower ratios in the business. It has 19-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, and a 7-speed automatic transmission. It is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty an 8.2 seconds.
The R350 is equipped with the COMAND electronics interface, an 8-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, MB-Tex premium vinyl upholstery, cruise control, foglights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, tinted rear glass, 2-zone automatic climate control, and a sunroof. The audio system has 8 speakers, AM/FM radio, a 6-CD/MP3 changer, and an audio jack. There are plenty of upgrades available, both as standalone items or in upgrade packages.
The R350 has a bit more than the standard array of safety devices. It has anti-lock brakes, side curtain airbags for all three rows, side front airbags, active front head restraints, stability control, traction control, and the Mercedes Mbrace emergency telematics system. It received perfect scores of “good” in all tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The interior is, for the most part, pure Mercedes-Benz luxury. The materials are top notch, and the seats are comfortable and supportive. The dash is slightly more modern and less understated because of the COMAND interface; its controls look more like a video game than a crossover SUV. There is plenty of space in the standard six-seat configuration. Headroom, legroom, and elbow room are plentiful. There is 85 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded.
The handling is also typical Mercedes-Benz. That means that the vehicle is heavy, but the steering is extremely responsive and the suspension can handle anything you throw its way with a minimum of body roll. Meanwhile, the ride is utterly detached from the environment. There is no noise, no “road feel,” and you don’t even notice most surface imperfections.
The diesel engine is very clean and has very good gas mileage for its segment. It is also powerful enough for smooth acceleration and smooth cruising at highway speeds. And the low-end torque is another reason we recommend this trim over the one with the conventional engine.
The only real negatives here are the long rear doors and the occasional difficulty parking it in tight spaces. We think the tradeoff is worth it.
The verdict: if you have a family and can afford this vehicle, you just might get hooked on Mercedes.
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