Mercedes R-Class Is Not, Repeat, NOT a Minivan
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Daimler AG ::: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
THE R-Class is not a minivan.
So sayeth Mercedes-Benz marketing who on MBUSA.com are -seemingly with gritted teeth- laughing off any correlation between the 7-passenger, whale-shaped, family friendly bus conveyance known as the R-Class and something so low, ha ha, as a Dodge Caravan or Honda Odyssey. Oh, how silly.
In fact, they’d like you to call the R-Class “crossover.” Yes, that’s the same kind of half-step SUV that one might associate with BMW’s plumb X6 or Cadillac’s Lexus-fighting SRX.
“Thanks to the newly designed R-Class crossover, you don’t have to settle for a minivan,” the text on MBUSA.com claims.
Mercedes used to classify the R-Class as an “SUV”. But now its designation’s resolved. Cross that question right off the list. The Mercedes R-Class is a minivan crossover because Mercedes marketing calls it a minivan crossover.
That was easy.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
ath20 | Aug 21, 2010 | Reply
Actually, it’s not a mini van, nor a suv. It’s a mistake.
Chris | Aug 23, 2010 | Reply
That’s one of the most accurate comments I’ve heard in a while.
Then again, Mercedes was afraid their customers would revolt in the 70s when they brought out their wagons. After all who wants to see a Mercedes hauling a load of yard waste to the dump? Now the wagons are legendary.
Nathaniel | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
It’s a purely american thing as Mercedes makes plenty of vans in Europe and not very premium ones either. Where do you think the Dodge Sprinter Came from?
I for one would love to own A Mercedes Minivan with premium trim and features. Why settle?