ROAD TRIP!!!! Scream this out loud to some friends, and you will recall some of your best and worst memories. For me, and my friends, it was filling my Acura Legend Coupe with four guys and enough luggage for a week, and then driving from Atlanta to Philly. The car was so packed; we had to take my buddies skateboard apart just to fit it in the trunk.

Mercedes wanted to make sure this never happens. If I was to design a perfect vehicle for a road trip, my wildest dreams could not have come up with the R500. 300+ hp V8, seating for 6 adults (not 2 and 4 kids), a sunroof that could be comfortable sliding back off a stadium, navigation, Sirius satellite radio, adjustable suspension, individual climate controls for everyone… They didn’t miss anything. For almost $70k, they shouldn’t. Sticker on our test vehicle came in at $66,450 including options and accessories.

When you are spending more time than most in a vehicle, money is not the concern, comfort is. The R500 is top of the line. Acceleration from the V8 through the 7-speed is mind boggling for a truck / car / van that weights 6,000 lbs. Which brings up a good question: What the hell is it? SUV? No. Truck? No. Mini-Van? Absolutely not, Mercedes calls this a “Sport Tourer” a new segment meant to fill the gap between SUV and Van… Not knowing there was a gap there that needed to be filled, I now can’t see how we ever lived with out this.

The interior was fantastic, Angel fit perfect in the R500, and Jared did not feel like it was too big. I thought it was “Just right” we questioned some of the plastic being used throughout the interior, and came to the realization the with the amount of use a vehicle of this nature would endure throughout its lifetime, plastic was a better choice for durability and cleanup than the familiar Alacantra suede we are used to seeing in most Mercedes.

On the road, we managed to stay right on the EPA estimated 18 mpg, even with 4 full size guys and their luggage. Bumps were absorbed wonderfully with the car in COMFORT mode, and as with most Mercedes, change the suspension to SPORT, and you can feel a distinct difference.