Changing Lanes
Mercedes, Subaru, and Audi expand their lineups
It's been a long time since I drew as much attention as I did in the Mercedes R350 . "What is it?" people asked, as if I were piloting a lunar vehicle. "A van? An SUV?" It's that curiosity that signals a hot new car: In a saturated market, buzz builds around products people can't quite define. It helps that the R350 has the aerodynamic contours of a jet, with an interior that evokes first-class seating.
For the sake of taxonomy, the R350, starting at about $49,000, is basically a wagon with minivan features. There are three rows of seats. But to dodge the stodgy minivan image, the esteemed German carmaker has devised more of a family chariot than a soccermobile. The R350 seats just six, not seven or eight like minivans do. And unlike most heavy haulers, the R350 is a dream to drive. Where other vehicles this size lumber, the R350 pirouettes. Press the gas, and it strides like a sprinter, with even more power available in the top-line R500. If this is a grocery-getter, I volunteer to get the groceries.
The Subaru B9 Tribeca , a funky SUV the company hopes will displace the minivan among upscale shoppers with kids, aims for similar territory. An optional third-row bench seat provides room for seven, and there are a bunch of innovative features, like a second-row seat that slides forward and back about 8 inches to help cram in various combinations of people and stuff. But Subaruskis who love the brand for rugged all-wheelers like the Outback may scorn a tarty, $30,000-plus SUV with a name meant to convey status. It's like a family of huskies adopting a French poodle.
While some automakers are stretching upmarket, others are reaching down. With its new five-door hatchback, the Audi A3 (about $26,000), the German luxury brand hopes to draw younger buyers. It should. The A3 has the same graceful cockpit features and spicy engine as the more expensive A4. The hatchback design and fold-down seats help accommodate everything from a surfboard to a stroller. And the A3 is a fun, racy ride no matter what the cargo is. The car companies should try new things more often.
More on cars at www.usnews.com/auto
This story appears in the October 3, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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