Used buyer's guide: Mercedes R-Class

How much?

The cheapest R-Class we found was a 136,000-mile R320L CDI Sport for only £8,995, but most are more than £12,000. That will secure an R280 CDI, R320 CDI or a petrol-engined R350. In theory, an R500 is also within reach, but these cover fewer miles, so prices tend to be higher – typically starting at around £14,000. The cheapest R350 CDIs are about £24,000 and you’ll do well to find an R300 CDI at all – expect to pay at least £20,000.

Running costs

All R-Classes need to visit the garage every 12 months. In the case of diesel models, there’s a 15,500-mile limit between services, but petrol versions cut this to only 12,500 miles. Even the cheapest service is £265, so maintenance isn’t cheap – an intermediate service costs £395. It’s the fourth one you have to watch out for: there are lots of fluids and filters to renew and it will set you back £750-£900 depending on the engine. At least there are no cambelts to replace, but the brake fluid does need to be renewed every two years (at £60), while the coolant has to be replaced every 15 years, at £120.