DriveTech

2006 R350 Grand Sport Tourer will make your heart skip
What can you do if you're a Mercedes Benz fan but need something more than a station wagon and you're not that fond of the ML320 sport utility? One look at the Grand Sport Tourer R350 and your heart will skip a beat.

Mercedes Benz originally brought out the ML320 class to get new people into the showrooms. But the ML320 didn't live up to Mercedes Benz standards (in my opinion). Yet the all-new R350 is just what the doctor ordered. You now can go just about anywhere you'd like, thanks to permanent four-wheel drive and four-wheel traction control. You won't even notice anything different in the drive train while driving - it feels like a Mercedes Benz and I'm sure that is what the company wanted.

The R-Class has two models - the R350 and the R500. The R350 comes with a V6 engine producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound foot of torque, all transferring into a seven-speed, electronically controlled automatic transmission that shifts via a stalk mounted on the steering column. A whisper of a touch moves the transmission from "Park" to "Reverse" or "Drive." The R500 is the super car of the R class. It sports a 302 horsepowered V8, permanent four-wheel drive, burl wood throughout plus luxury seating for six.

I didn't drive the R500 but it must be pretty outstanding because the R350 is spectacular. The seating in all six seats is very comfortable, including the back row seating. But don't raise the headrest that's nestled into the seat back as it's a total pain in the back. The driver's seat has eight-way adjustments to get you in the right position. The steering wheel adjusts as well.

Visibility is good but the outside rearview mirrors are a little small for my liking. The nice dash layout is easy to operate and typical Mercedes Benz. You can opt for a navigation system plus Sirius radio is available at a monthly fee. My test vehicle came with an outstanding sound system - a Harmon/Kardon Logic7 system with a six-disc CD system in the glove box and controls on the leather wrapped steering wheel. Audio controls for the second row passengers are in the rear.

The large rear doors allow passengers to easily enter the second and third row seating. If you need to load up your R350, the second and third row seats fold down for added space, plus the rear hatch raises up high enough to load your gear with ease. Privacy glass is a nice touch, not only to keep the interior cool on hot days but to also keep prying eyes out of your business.

The sunroof in the R350 and R500 is unique in that there are two. Most sunroofs open either right above your head or a little forward, which keeps your hair dancing in the wind. But Mercedes found that if the sunroof opening is moved behind the driver's head by just an inch or two, there's no blowing of hair or buffeting the top of your head while trying to enjoy the San Diego weather. If you look at the photo, you'll see a second sunroof for the rear passengers, which is pretty cool. And when you don't want any more sun, both roofs have a see-through cover that works in unison when closing or opening.

I always like to mention the safety features in all test vehicles. But when it comes to Mercedes Benz, I could just pass on it because of its heavy influence on safety features. The R class is no different, with front air bags, side air bags that reach the length of the passenger's compartment, crumple zones surrounding the occupants, child safety latches, front knee bolsters in the event of a head-on collision and a whole lot more, all hidden under the skin of this R350.

Did I like this car? Boy, did I! With a base price of $48,000, it's a real bargain for what you get. Plus, the fuel mileage on the V6 is a tolerable 16 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the freeway. That's not bad for a vehicle of this size. But what really stands out are the lines - this car looks as if it's screaming down the freeway even while sitting still.