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ONE of the few regrets the good lady wife Kathryn and I have about settling down to an expat lifestyle was not buying a seven-seater vehicle when we first arrived in Bahrain and had the opportunity.
When our family consisted of four children – at one stage in the UK we had a teenager at university, one in secondary school, a little one at primary school and a toddler in nursery – the mighty Chrysler Grand Voyager did the trick.
With just the two youngest children joining us in Bahrain we decided on two cars – a saloon and a four-wheel-drive – not appreciating the fact that when both kids wanted their friends to join us on trips around the island, we’d need to have both cars on the go.
Having a pile of cash in our hands after selling our cars back in the UK, I now regret that we didn’t check out the R-Class Mercedes Benz. It’s the most spacious car the marque has ever built and a model that clearly shows that size really does matter when it comes to enjoying family life in the kingdom.
The gleaming diamond white R350 demonstration vehicle I test drove from the Al Haddad Motors dealership could certainly deliver on all the tasks we are asked to perform.
The interior concept is exceptionally flexible. Each rear seat can be folded down individually and a flat load surface can be created should it ever be needed.
Mercedes describe the R-Class as a ‘private jet’ for the road; up to three rows of seats, plenty of legroom, arm rests, cup holders and two screens for the second seat row to keep the kids entertained.
I’m not a great fan of steering column gear sticks but this was a simple one to operate with a click up and down to drive, reverse, place in neutral or park.
The space where the gear knob would normally sit was covered over by an additional wood-trimmed tray making a trio of places to hide sunglasses, loose change and drinks.
Motoring critics have been fairly complimentary about the vehicle too with Bengt Halvorson, deputy editor of High Gear Media, for example, describing the inside as ‘luxurious, quiet, and as comfortable as you would expect from any of the larger Mercedes-Benz vehicles’.
Autoguide.com described it as ‘unique’ for featuring a tremendous amount of interior space, saying it was one of the few vehicles with a third row that allows the vehicle to accommodate up to seven adults in ‘posh comfort’.
The R350 was also described as a stylish people-mover with a roomy and elegant interior, again offering a comfortable ride and exceptional performance.
The new 6-cylinder engine with four-valve technology delivers a particularly wide engine speed range (3,500-5,250 rpm) which means that impressive reserves of power are available in every driving situation, ensuring relaxed motoring.
A few critics have sniped at the vehicle suggesting it resembles a van although one turned that jibe into praise describing it as ‘probably the coolest-looking minivan on the market, with sleek lines and modern Mercedes styling’.
You can’t win sometimes. But the R-class is an alternative to the bulky SUV and mumsy MPV and as suggested by one scribe is ‘a clever piece of niche-plugging from the Mercedes product planners’.
Without question a winner on the school run with a badge to impress. There was a tasty looking one in the showroom ready to roll priced BD23,800. Check it out by calling 17785454.
*The redesigned Mercedes M-Class was launched by Al Haddad Motors last week. GulfWeekly correspondent Charlie Holding, who attended the event, will be doing a test drive in the M-Class and will write about his experience in the next issue of the newspaper. Watch this space!
