Of course, if outright acceleration is your objective, the R-Class vehicle to drive is the R 63 AMG. In sharp contrast, the R 320 CDI 4MATIC is all about frugality and flexibility. Fuel consumption for the 215-hp diesel is rated at 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.7 L/100 km on the highway. That's about 80% better than the ratings for the R 63 - and a pretty impressive figure for a 7-seater with 2407 litres of total usable cargo space.

With all the back seats folded, the R-Class offers 2407 litres of cargo space.

While the R 320 CDI 4MATIC may not have all the latest tricks of other minivans (fold-and-tumble seats, for example), it does offer a serene and comfortable interior environment. The materials and design of the dash and centre console are top-notch. The panoramic moonroof over the second-row seats dispels any feelings of claustrophobia. And a short jaunt taken in the third row proved that moderately-sized adults can, indeed, ride in the third row.

In the final analysis, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz R 320 CDI 4MATIC is a luxury touring vehicle that is clearly the result of a massive engineering effort. While it may not meet the needs of every Canadian family, it does offer loads of space, decent fuel economy, numerous safety features and a healthy dose of cachet. Prices for the R 320 CDI 4MATIC have yet to be announced; the R 320 CDI starts at $64,400.


For more details concerning this vehicle, please refer to the technical specifications and to the standard features list.

If you wish to test-drive or receive a price quotation for this vehicle, you only have to perform a retailer / dealer search in your region.


Photo Credit : Mark Hacking, Mathieu St-Pierre, Mercedes-Benz