The new Mercedes R500 enters into the SUV/crossover market as the latest near-unclassifiable SUV/crossover/station wagon. This crossover has an advantage over many of the other players: it's a Mercedes.
The R500 has an edge over its less expensive and similarly less powerful sibling, the R350. The 5.0-liter V8 in the R500 packs quite a punch: 302 horsepower and 339 lb/ft of torque. Not bad for a crossover. (Station wagon?)
Safety is excellent in the R500, as it is in most of Mercedes' cars. Airbags are ample, coming at you for the driver, passenger, and everybody's sides.
The R500 goes from 0-60 in 6.67 seconds, much to the delight of its drivers. Drivers of this car love the peppy feel of it, yet also love the safety factor just as much. It is popular among the family set, with moms lauding the comfortable seats for them and the child-seat-ready back seats for the kids. Some have complained about the poor mileage (13 city/18 highway).
