R-Class R-Class Facelift

[Merc1]

Why? Mercedes-Benz gives R-Class a facelift | GlobalMotors.net - spy photos, concepts, videos, shows...


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[tennmb]

A real facelift would include proper side mirrors. Please Mercedes, no more hippo ears. A vehicle this long needs larger mirrors that sit way from the body.

The mirrors off the original CLS would look great. photo shop challenge, anyone???

R still sells for us. One of the best buys on the pre-owned market. You can get a 2006 with low miles in the upper $20k range.

 

[PHYBENZ]

 

[PanterroR]

C class like headlights will do a miracle to this cra...if it happens...

 

[PanterroR]

 

[Sayyaaf]

surprisingly this car is selling well ... especially families

 

[cawimmer430]

surprisingly this car is selling well ... especially families

Not surprising at all, actually.

A car like the R-Class appeals to families for a number of reasons, be it safety, badge and image, interior space, comfort etc. I've said it numerous times that if I were to pick a car that would take me across Europe in comfort and safety, I would put the S-Class in second place and take the R-Class. I've driven the R-Class and it is actually not a bad car at all. It's spacious, very comfortable and somewhat sporty (for an MPV) and it feels solid and therefore safe.

The styling might not be appreciated by most people here on this board, but then again most of us are within the 20-30 age region and we like performance cars with sporty designs.

But a family man who loves his family, values safety, comfort and other ideals sees the appeal and edge the R-Class has over other Mercedes' products.

 

[GTA45E]

Good that they are refreshing the front end, which is the car's weak point. Other than that I've never had any problems with the R-class. It's a good MPV.

I totally agree.. I never liked the headlights of the R-Class, that was about it. The body is nice and looks really good with the sport package.

I can`t wait to see these updates.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

surprisingly this car is selling well ... especially families

In what part of the world?

 

[coolraoul]

Not surprising at all, actually.

A car like the R-Class appeals to families for a number of reasons, be it safety, badge and image, interior space, comfort etc. I've said it numerous times that if I were to pick a car that would take me across Europe in comfort and safety, I would put the S-Class in second place and take the R-Class. I've driven the R-Class and it is actually not a bad car at all. It's spacious, very comfortable and somewhat sporty (for an MPV) and it feels solid and therefore safe.

The styling might not be appreciated by most people here on this board, but then again most of us are within the 20-30 age region and we like performance cars with sporty designs.

But a family man who loves his family, values safety, comfort and other ideals sees the appeal and edge the R-Class has over other Mercedes' products.

My Dad had an R-Class, 320cdi Long with Airmatic, 19" wheels and panoramic roof. Pre-FL model.

It's a good car, but... in 320cdi it's quite slow (much more than the ML320cdi he owns now), the finish is good (except the cheap lever to change the position of the seat in the second row) but the 6-seats system is a joke. Rubbish. 5th passenger is in the boot, stupid; to access it you have to move the second-row seat...who happens NOT to have a memory, you have to change the position again everytime (with a plasticky low-end lever)... Rubbish. Also, you need 5 hours to correctly make all the seats disappear (5seconds in a ML), and the stupid second-row armrest has to go in the garage... Rubbish.

The motor is more noisy than in the ML (surely because it's closer to the passenger's cell), and the car feels somehow heavier than a ML.

Honestly, between ML and R, I cannot understand why you would take the R. That said, the comfort in the second-row is extremely impressive, lots of space. But that's about it. All the rest is clearly inferior compared to the ML. Also, the panoramic roof is nice, but it makes a lot of cracking noises on bad roads...

This car feels like it has not been properly engineered. Hurried-up seat engineering, and sub-par rigidity with the pano roof.

Maybe the FL changed something to the seat concept. All I know is that it adds a 5th seat in the second row. This seat is half has wide as the seat of my bike. Completely ridiculous. When I saw that...

Honestly, i'm not at all convinced by this car. Need 5 seats, take an ML. Need 7, take a GL.

And honestly, Chris, preferring an R to an S? It's a joke, right?

 

[cawimmer430]

My Dad had an R-Class, 320cdi Long with Airmatic, 19" wheels and panoramic roof. Pre-FL model.

It's a good car, but... in 320cdi it's quite slow (much more than the ML320cdi he owns now), the finish is good (except the cheap lever to change the position of the seat in the second row) but the 6-seats system is a joke. Rubbish. 5th passenger is in the boot, stupid; to access it you have to move the second-row seat...who happens NOT to have a memory, you have to change the position again everytime (with a plasticky low-end lever)... Rubbish. Also, you need 5 hours to correctly make all the seats disappear (5seconds in a ML), and the stupid second-row armrest has to go in the garage... Rubbish.

The motor is more noisy than in the ML (surely because it's closer to the passenger's cell), and the car feels somehow heavier than a ML.

Honestly, between ML and R, I cannot understand why you would take the R. That said, the comfort in the second-row is extremely impressive, lots of space. But that's about it. All the rest is clearly inferior compared to the ML. Also, the panoramic roof is nice, but it makes a lot of cracking noises on bad roads...

This car feels like it has not been properly engineered. Hurried-up seat engineering, and sub-par rigidity with the pano roof.

Maybe the FL changed something to the seat concept. All I know is that it adds a 5th seat in the second row. This seat is half has wide as the seat of my bike. Completely ridiculous. When I saw that...

Honestly, i'm not at all convinced by this car. Need 5 seats, take an ML. Need 7, take a GL.

And honestly, Chris, preferring an R to an S? It's a joke, right?

The R320 CDI 4Matic I drove didn't feel anything like what you're describing. I cannot comment on adjusting the third row seats etc. because I didn't try those things in the R-Class I drove.

I've driven the ML320 CDI 4Matic as well. Yes, the ML diesel is a bit quieter but I found the R320 CDI to be very responsive and agile too. For my tastes I even found the R-Class to handle better than the ML in curvy roads, probably because of the lower center of gravity. The R-Class felt solid and well-engineered to me, perhaps because it was a brand new car. Maybe your fathers R-Class was a bad example?

Naturally I prefer the ML over the R-Class, but when it comes to taking a long roadtrip the R-Class is just more appealing to me, especially with AWD. It's not like I'll be going offroad or something, so I wouldn't need the ML. Plus, I found the ML to be a bit cramped in the second row with average to tall adults infront, especially when it comes to leg space. This is because I went home with the ML320 CDI and let my mom and my dad drive it. My father is 6'1" and my mother is average - and in both instances I was sitting behind them in the back and felt a little squished.

I love the S-Class, but when I am going to embark on a journey across Europe I honestly feel I will be better served with an R-Class. It's a matter of personal opinion I guess but the extra space in the back can come in quite handy - especially if you're going to go shopping for cheap goods in Eastern Europe.

All I am saying is that people tend to bad-mouth the R-Class based on appearance - without thinking about the positive traits it has.

 

[PHYBENZ]

 

[M.Toni]

The R is really in need of a desperate FL or even better a new model. I know that the new front is going to be good looking but the rest is just terrible. I mean the rear view mirrors are the biggest mistake if they don't change them (like the FL ML) because these are just fail. On the back - those exhaust pipes do look fresh and they are fresh but on the R just boring.

 

[tennmb]

I think next go around they should just combine the GL and R. Combine the interior room and flexibility of the R with the bold styling of the GL. The GL is too small, and the R is too minivan.

I love the R, but the styling is too wierd for many. IF you flatten out the hood, raise the suspention an inch, and put some decent mirrors on then you've got a winner. The interior on the R is better than the GL and ML.

the car feels somehow heavier than a ML.

It is heavier. It is significantly longer and wider and thus heavier.

pano roof doesn't affect rigidity. It is a panelized system that fits within the frame system of the roof.

5th passenger is in the boot, stupid; to access it you have to move the second-row seat...who happens NOT to have a memory,

Neither does the GL. In fact it is much easier to access the 3rd seat in the R because the middle seat slides foward. The GL 3rd seat is power, but the 3rd seat in the R is very easy to raise and lower. The 3rd seat in the GL is "in the boot" as you say. The middle row is a little tricky to fold, but I can manage pretty quickly. And it is worth it becuase of the captains chair comfort and positioning options.

When you look at some of the details in the R like the chrome rings that secure the interior door handles, the wood on the center console. The big storage console in the armrest, etc. it looks more luxurious than the GL, which is just exactly the same as the ML.

 

[far2000]

the quicker merc Drop this Dudd of a vehicle the better it is for them,

merc were hoping for aroun 1.5k to 2.5k sales per month, but they just gettting aroun 3 or 4 hundred....a total flop in every sales sense.i dont think even a F/L will help the damage already done 2 this car......

 

[cawimmer430]

merc were hoping for aroun 1.5k to 2.5k sales per month, but they just gettting aroun 3 or 4 hundred....a total flop in every sales sense.i dont think even a F/L will help the damage already done 2 this car......

They can start by lowering sales expectations and marketing it as a niche vehicle. Tell the consumer that this is an excellent family car designed to bring your family from A to Z in comfort and safety. Such things will work well on family-oriented folks, especially if they want something prestigeous.

Most of the R-Class advertisements I've seen have the word "Sportstourer" in them. What the...? It's like the B-Class all over again. There is nothing sporty about the B-Class and R-Class. They're comfortable and safe and those traits should be expanded on, not their "sporty traits" (none to very little).

 

[Merc1]

There's something to be said for persistence, especially in the face of rejection, but in the case of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, persistence may not be enough. The slow-selling crossover has hit its zenith, but is still short of the hopes Mercedes had for it when it debuted in 2005.

Built in the U.S. at the company's Vance, Alabama plant, the R-Class has continually come up short of its goals. But Mercedes doesn't seem bothered with the poor performance, reports Automotive News.

"We have reached the level we can sell it. We plan to stay at this volume," said Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

Selling about 2,500 vehicles per month at its height in 2006, the R-Class has steadily declined in sales since, totaling just 7,733 units in 2008. And despite the lack of enthusiasm for the car in the marketplace, the vehicle isn't headed for the graveyard yet, with another facelift scheduled for 2010.

That facelift, previewed in spy shots captured by our photographers, comes after a milder rejuvenation in 2007. This time around, the updates are expected to be more extensive, including a revised front, rear and interior, with the exterior touches bringing the vehicle's appearance in line with Mercedes latest cars, featuring more angular styling and a prominent grille.

Mercedes-Benz R-Class soldiers on - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots

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[cawimmer430]

The R-Class is doing ok here in Europe. It's not a sales success but there is an existing market for upscale premium family movers that don't look like a minivan. Hence I can understand why MB is facelifting it.

 

[Family Guy]

A real facelift would include proper side mirrors. Please Mercedes, no more hippo ears. A vehicle this long needs larger mirrors that sit way from the body.

i dont think the hippo ears are going...

 

[far2000]

The R-Class is doing ok here in Europe. It's not a sales success but there is an existing market for upscale premium family movers that don't look like a minivan. Hence I can understand why MB is facelifting it.

Hey Christian, Any sales numbers on the r in europe? maybe some monthly figures or yearly...