Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It’s not every day that you get asked if you want a
Mercedes-Benz to drive around for a weekend but when my editor Stan called me
up on Thursday morning offering me the chance to test a sleek and voluptuous
V-Class my answer was an excited ‘Yaaas’!
It couldn’t have come at a better time as the hubby, Sam,
and I had promised to give three of our friends a lift to the airport which
would have been quite a feat to squeeze them, their three big bags and
carry-ons into our normal car. Forget that!
Instead they were going to be travelling in a luxurious Cavansite blue metallic 211 horse-powered V 250, with AMG 19-inch seven-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, an AVANTGARDE interior with leather Lugano upholstery in silk beige, a brushed aluminium-look trim and enough room to fit a family-of-six comfortably and our four dogs.
Sam dropped me off at the majestic German marque’s showroom in Tubli and Imran Ali, Al Haddad Motors’ marketing manager, showed off the inside of the spacious sedan which ‘combines comfort and luxury on a large scale’ and described its technological features before handing over the keys.
The V-Class is available in two different lengths with three seat layouts. One comes with seven as standard and there are eight seats in the extra-long version. Boot space can be increased using the sliding rear seats, and that means legroom can be improved as well. There is tons of luggage space as well as baskets galore.
A split tailgate with power close function helps practicality even further as do the electric sliding doors that open extremely wide giving excellent access to the rear of the cabin.
The V-Class and the V-Class AVANTGARDE come with the Audio 20 USB system and external devices can be connected to the large CENTRAL MEDIA DISPLAY via Bluetooth.
The DVD drive and the 80GB hard drive can be used for both entertainment and also real-time traffic information with a topographical 3D map display. In other words, the precise and ergonomic interface helps bring the passengers safely to their destination while providing great entertainment.
Let’s not forget the gorgeous sun roof as well!
Mercedes have come up trumps by creating an elegant and stylish family vehicle that provides solutions for everyone and every situation as it’s made for adventures with a powerful engine. Thanks to its roomy interior, adjustable seats, safety features, 360 degree parking package and cool tech it has stayed true to its vision.
Imran reminded me that this vehicle is longer and larger than your average vehicle. The V-Class is 5,140mm in length and 1,880mm in height. I once drove a Dodge Intrepid back in the day which was like maneuvering a boat so I was pretty confident I could handle this beast.
The LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control was also a delight with a lovely lady responding to my every whim from switching from the radio to the navigation system and telephone feature.
Gone are the days of touching screens (although you can if you’d like) and risking getting distracted whilst driving.
The safety sensors worked like a dream and made me feel safe at all times, alerting me on more than one occasion of pesky sneaky blind side menaces.
Also the Agility Select system is fitted with a handful of driving modes to choose from including Eco, Manual, Comfort and Sport. These change the throttle response and steering to suit your preference. I switched between Comfort and Sport and the steering was light and took well to turns.
When I reached my destination, Sam and the happy travelling trio Nimat Al-Awadhi, Janine Doporto and Jamie Marshall were even more eager to get on with their shuttle-style service after seeing the mean machine in all its glory.
Sam loaded up the boot with ease and without breaking a sweat.
Meanwhile, electric sliding doors ushered in the passengers giving them each their own cushy seating, room to stretch out their legs and their own cup holders too. Jamie enjoyed sitting backwards and felt like a VIP. If you don’t like it, the rear seats can be flexibly configured.
The Parking package with 360° camera that gives the driver a bird’s-eye view of the area around the car on the central display unit was also a real help for me personally in tricky parking and manoeuvring situations on a trip to a busy hypermarket. I will not say I’m a nervous driver but a nervous parker yes! This made reverse parking a breeze and I didn’t find myself driving in and out of a space several times as I normally would.
It was a comfy ride through traffic and a smooth operator around the beach in Seef. The perfect weekend treat which had me wishing for a longer engagement.
The starting price for the V-Class is BD25,995. For more details, call 17785454 or visit www.bahrain.mercedesbenzme.com
