R350 Bluetec in the Market

One look at Mercedes' 2010 sales numbers is all you need to understand the R-Class' niche status. In a year when the automaker's midsize M-Class and full-size GL-Class SUVs sold around 30,000 and 20,000 copies, respectively, approximately 3,000 R-Class models left the lot. It's a stark example of the SUV's staying power in the U.S. market.

That said, if you're considering a luxury SUV but might be willing to step outside the SUV box, you'll probably find more to like in the R-Class than you think. It's an eminently sensible SUV alternative — especially if you never venture off-road.

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    Approach/departure angle
    1 Approach/departure angle, front 2 Approach/departure angle, rear • Comply with the rules for off-road driving. • Do not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or gradients, but instead fol ...

    Ride & Handling
    The GL has a unibody frame — rare among full-size SUVs — and its four-wheel-independent air suspension swaps traditional coil springs for inflatable air bladders. Ride height can be varied to enha ...

    General information
    The ECO start/stop function is only available for the E 63 AMG. The ECO start/stop function is only available in drive program C. The ECO start/stop function switches the engine off automatica ...