In recent years, it seems the good people at Mercedes Benz have been able to do no wrong, but one blip on their graph has been the monstrosity of a space wagon known as the R-Class. Mercedes are often looking for holes in the market to try and fill and have, for most of the time, achieved success. However, what the R-Class is trying to do; be a 4×4 six-seat family “Sports Tourer” is not going to appeal to many.

It would be harsh to judge the R-Class on looks alone, after all, it is clear that the manufacturer has put a lot of hard work into getting the best they could out of their creation and the engines and interior easily live up to the Mercedes standard. There are two 3litre engines, with either 190 or 272bhp, a 3litre V6 and a 5litre V8. Speed-wise this awkward looking vehicle will actually surprise many, as the R320 CDI can hit 134mph, while the R500 is capable of an impressive 150mph.

The road handling also appears out of character, as the R-Class feels amazingly nimble for its size, when taking tight corners. Being a 4×4, it is similar to the M-Class SUV when gripping the road and this is definitely one department where this model redeems some points.

The R-Class can also tick the boxes for space and comfort and will leave plenty of room in the back for a party of four or more. Folding down the back seats opens up an incredible 2,385litres of storage space for whatever your heart may desire.

So the R-Class is not as bad as it looks, although how it looks is the big problem. If you have been holding out to own your first Mercedes, you will be sorry if this is your introduction. The R-Class can commonly be seen dropping the kids off at the school gates or taking up two spaces in the supermarket car park, so if you have been anticipating using it as a trendy “sports” vehicle, then think again.

The R-class is not too friendly on the pocket either and achieves poor fuel economy across the board; for example the 280 V6 CDI only makes 32mpg. It also falls heavily into the high tax bracket and insurance isn’t cheap either. For anyone who is considering this model, a price range of £35,283 to £73,300 should help make your mind up for you.