2011 Mercedes R Class: You Can Facelift Ugly (Sort Of)
Published: March 29th, 2010
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Mercedes has released official images of its hinted-at R-Class facelift, which brings the unloved crossover’s looks closer to the brand’s better-selling SUVs. But will it improve the model’s moribund sales? Probably not. Status-seeking family-haulers in the US will keep buying GLs, and sniggering softly when they drive past folks in their Pacifica-like Rs. Sometimes it’s a good day to die, and sometimes it’s a good day to get a facelift. For the Mercedes R-Class, today is the former kind of day.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Love the R320. As does everyone I know that owns one, most have come out of SUVs and Minivans. Large rear doors can be a problem but rarely have for us and we are in SoCal. I get near 30 MPG and it is my daily driver. It has the coldest ACs I have ever had even in the far back at 110 outside. We have had no issues with it at all and the 7 speed auto with the manual shift paddles are great. Handles good, top notch ergonomics, great MPG and room to spare. I think the lack of the rattle prone thin sliders help with just how quite the interior of this car is, even with the diesel at full throttle. The looks from the outside have grown on me more and more each day. If you drive one you will understand. The handling, performance and ride of the R320 is so far superior to any minivan it is laughable to even compare them. The day any (other) minivan does everything as well as an R320 does with the same or better MPG I will buy it, but I have yet to find one that is even close.
Their entire lineup has gone ugly. I browsed their collection last month and was just put off by all of the models. Nice quality material inside but ugly as hell. Wife and children seconded and thirded my opinion and we got the hell outta there. You know its pretty bad when the salesperson is trying hard to distract you with interior features only. BMW appears to be headed in the same direction. For crying out loud, the 2010 AcuraTSX and 2012 Volkswagon CC are better examples of good design versus these once proud brands!