Category: Large MPV 
Price Range: £36,970 to £53,630
Refined engine, imposing, badge, spacious cabin, huge boot.
Looks, lack of air suspension, no seven-seat option, pricey.
A classy, if expensive way of transporting people. It's blunted by the absence of extra rear seats.
Ditching the 4x4 drivetrain, we hoped, would bring significant weight savings and transform the R-class's handling, but going two-wheel drive saves a measly 75kg - the weight of a single passenger.
Thread the R280 CDi down some B-roads and you will always be acutely aware of its considerable 2.8-tonne kerbweight. It's not a dynamic disaster and there's a surprising amount of grip coming from the standard 18-inch wheels, but steering feel is vague.
Ignore the R280 CDi moniker, it is in fact a detuned version of the R320 CDi's engine, which in turn is actually a 3.0-litre rather than a 3.2. So that's cleared that up.
Engine confusion aside, the 187bhp V6 diesel (down 13bhp) makes a decent stab at hauling the considerable mass around. It never feels quick, and indeed, takes a whole second longer to reach 62mph (9.7secs) than the R 320 CDi but feels just as refined.
Gearshifting duties are carried out by the standard 7G-TONIC automatic that boasts seven speeds. Where fitted to other Mercedes models including an R320 CDi, this gearbox has had a curious habit of selecting inappropriate gears and changing down clumsily, but with the R280 CDi it felt more resolved.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Mercedes R-Class
wrote on 01 05 2007