2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 Review, Horsepower, Engine & Road Tests

On your behalf, we ask the stupid questions so you don't have to.

Of course, we didn't think it was stupid when we asked Mercedes-Benz if there wasn't a passing product similarity between the Chrysler Pacifica and the new 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

After all, both represent a cross between a sport/utility vehicle, a minivan, and a station wagon, right? And both hold six people in three rows of two seats, right? And both are products of DaimlerChrysler, right?

Suffice it to say that Mercedes doesn't consider the Pacifica competition for the R-Class, and there certainly aren't any common ingredients between the two. We'd suggest it might be a segment-buster--but that's how Chrysler's marketing types labeled the Pacifica at its introduction.

Let's just agree that the R-Class is, for a somewhat traditional company like Mercedes, a departure. On sale in October, the production version is moderately faithful to the concept Vision GST, or Grand Sports Tourer, that first appeared at the North American International Auto Show in 2002 (minus the concept's 22-inch tires and wheels and 360-horsepower AMG-massaged V-8 engine, though a legitimate AMG model is due for 2007).

Until then, we get the R350, powered by the 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V-6 now appearing in the new SLK and M-Class and the R500, powered by the venerable three-valve, 5.0-liter, 302-horse V-8. Both engines get the innovative seven-speed automatic, which maximizes the power available from the R350's V-6 to the point where the V-8's chief asset is a pleasant exhaust note.

The V-8's torque advantage--339 pound-feet to the V-6's 258--goes largely unnoticed with this transmission. We didn't have an opportunity for instrumented testing, but Mercedes claims a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.8 seconds for the R350, 6.5 seconds for the R500, but the seat of our pants suggests the difference doesn't feel that significant. Top speed is limited to 130 mph.