Used buyer's guide: Mercedes R-Class

Although the R-Class has a fairly low centre of gravity, it’s not as good to drive as the best SUVs.

All R-Classes have high emissions, so road tax is expensive. Only the latest cars cost less than £450 a year.

Until October 2008, the R-Class featured three rows of two seats. After this point, the middle row became a bench seat with space for three, while in the boot, the pop-up seats remained. Build quality is okay, but adults will find thir

Even with parking sensors, bumpers get scraped, as this is a big car. The standard-wheelbase model is as long as a Mercedes S-Class.

Claimed fuel economy figures for the diesels range from 30.4 to 37.2mpg, but few owners see much more than 25mpg.

The air-suspension system is generally reliable, but some cars have suffered issues.

Build quality isn’t always what it should be. Owners have complained of rattles and squeaks, while some interior trim marks easily.

Although the load area is huge – especially with all the seats folded – access is hampered by a relatively narrow tailgate.