W251 R-class

Fitting essentially between the E-class wagon and M-class four-wheel drive, the six-seater R-class was aimed at people who want the versatility of a wagon but not quite the off-road ability of an SUV.

Three models were available at launch – the 200kW/250Nm 3.5-litre R350, 165kW/510Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel R320 CDi and 225kW/460Nm 5.0-litre V8 R500 all mated to the superb seven-speed 7G-tronic automatic.

Standard equipment amounted to traction control, air suspension on the rear axle, ESP, ASR, brake assist, pre-safe, tyre-pressure monitoring, eight-speaker, six-stacker CD changer, cruise control, executive seats in the rear, 17-inch alloys, multi-function steering wheel, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, dual front, side and curtain airbags, climate control and Parktronic.

In November 2010, Mercedes replaced the unpopular and odd front end styling with a more masculine SUV-like nose.

It also reduced the line-up to a single 3.0-litre diesel-powered model which sat on 20-inch alloy wheels and came standard with Artico “man-made leather” seats, burr walnut woodgrain trim sections, chrome exterior features, electric folding mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, metallic paint, 6-disc CD changer, 4Gb music hard drive, voice recognition control, eight airbags and a full suite of electronic safety aids.