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Mercedes-Benz bills the GLS as the ‘S-Class of SUVs’ and one look at its specifications, space, luxury, and indeed price is enough to confirm that the GLS hits that mark. Essentially, it gives customers who might otherwise have bought an S-Class another luxury option from the Mercedes brand.
An S-Class doesn’t give you seven seats either, which the GLS does, though how many GLS buyers make use of all seven is another matter. The GLS though is enormous and imposing, which certainly appeals to some buyers, and AMG and Maybach variants only widen the model’s appeal.
It isn’t alone in the large, luxury SUV space however. Closest to it in concept is the BMW X7, while cars like the Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne offer a different take on the luxury formula, albeit without seven seats. The Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 meanwhile have a seven-seat layout in a more affordable package.
You’ll probably already know whether you want a Mercedes-Benz GLS or not. If seven seats are essential, you might already have considered cars like the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, and dismissed them for not quite having the image you’re after - and as far as image goes, there still aren’t many brands that can top that Mercedes three-pointed star on the bonnet.
The GLS is enormous and has a presence to match. Arguably more so than the S-Class luxury saloon, thanks to its extra height, but its 5.2-metre length also plays a part. Mercedes has made the most of that space by fitting in seven seats, and if you don’t need to house that many people, the rear rows can fold down for something approximating the world’s poshest van.
It’s not just about size though, as one look at the specification list tells you the GLS is on par with an S-Class there, too. Even the least expensive models include kit like a Burmester sound system and air suspension that you’d pay extra for on some smaller Mercedes, while Maybach models get well into the realms of Rolls-Royce standards of luxury.
It’s actually the driving experience that slightly less the GLS down, with a ride quality that never quite settles (something that can’t be said of an S-Class), while the sheer size and weight hamper its cornering abilities. It’s at its best on motorways as a result, where it’s very refined, aided by the smooth engines.
The BMW X7 is perhaps the GLS’s closest rival, and costs similar money both new and used. It gets very close to the GLS in many aspects and beats it in a few, including the driving experience, so it’s well worth considering unless you’re a Mercedes diehard. For image, quality, and performance, if not seven-seat ability, the Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga should also be on your list.
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If you’re not looking at either the AMG or Maybach variants, then you get just a single engine choice in the Mercedes-Benz GLS, a 2.9-litre twin-turbo inline six diesel. That’s no hardship: it’s got plenty of power and torque and is more than capable of moving the heavy GLS around, and it’s both quiet and vibration-free too. Economy isn’t bad for a car this big, but may feel quite thirsty if you’ve only driven smaller vehicles (including smaller, but still large SUVs from the Mercedes range) before now.
Trim levels have changed a little over the years, and you can read more on these further down. But even the entry-level models (AMG Line Premium, Night Edition) feature the kind of equipment you’d expect from the Mercedes S-Class luxury saloon, so anything more really is down to personal preference.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS range can be broadly split between the regular GLS models, the AMG high-performance variants, and the ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Among the standard cars though there are several trim levels, which have also changed over the years, so we’ve tried to simplify things as much as possible below. Broadly though, you’re looking at S-Class levels of standard equipment in all GLS models.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS’s dimensions are:
The Mercedes-Benz GLS’s boot size is:
It should come as no great surprise that the Mercedes-Benz GLS finds itself subject to the government’s VED or ‘road tax’ surcharge, given it costs well over £40,000 to buy brand new. That means a bill of £570 per year for all models, at least until the seventh year of registration, when it drops down to the standard rate, currently set at £180.
As with VED, insurance for the Mercedes-Benz GLS is unlikely to be cheap. The AMG and Maybach models automatically find themselves in the maximum group 50, while the GLS 400d models are groups 48-49, depending on trim level. This is actually a touch below the BMW X7 though, since all variants of that car can be found in the maximum group.
Read our full Mercedes-Benz GLS review
What is the most popular colour for Mercedes-Benz GLS ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Mercedes-Benz GLS ?
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What is the most popular engine for Mercedes-Benz GLS ?
What is the average mileage for Mercedes-Benz GLS ?
29833
How many Mercedes-Benz GLS cars are available for sale?
18