The purpose of Mercedes-Benz GLS within the range of the Stuttgart brand is easy to understand. Basically, it has to do among SUVs what the S-Class has done throughout its various generations in its segment: be the reference.
As opponents in the dispute for this "title", the GLS finds names like the Audi Q7, the BMW X7 or the "eternal" Range Rover, dodging "heavyweights" like the Bentley Bentayga or the Rolls-Royce Cullinan that “play” in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 championship that we have also tested.
But does the German model have arguments to justify the lofty ambitions? Or do you still have some things to “learn” with the S-Class when it comes to setting standards for quality and innovation? To find out, we put it to the test in its only version with a Diesel engine available in Portugal: the 400 d.
Imposing, as expected
If there's something you expect from a luxury SUV, it's that when it passes, it turns (many) heads. Well then, after a few days at the wheel of the GLS 400 d I can confirm with a high degree of certainty that the German model is very successful in this “mission”.
The carbon emissions from this test will be offset by BP
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It's true that the GLB inspiration in the biggest of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs ended up making the GLS look a little less exclusive. However, its enormous dimensions (5.20 m in length, 1.95 m in width and 1.82 m in height) quickly dispel any confusion that could be created in the mind of a less attentive observer.
Speaking of its dimensions, I have to point out that the German SUV is impressively easy to drive, even in tight spaces. With multiple cameras and sensors that allow us a 360º view, the Mercedes-Benz GLS proved to be easier to take out of my house's yard than considerably smaller models.
Quality proof of… everything
If in its ability to capture attention the Mercedes-Benz GLS is “approved”, the same can be said in terms of quality. As you would expect, we didn't find less noble materials on board the German SUV and the strength is such that we end up walking along cobblestone streets without realizing that they are.Find your next car:
With a cabin where the two 12.3” screens (one for the instrument panel and the other for the infotainment system) are “main actors”, I can't help but praise the fact that the German brand has not forgotten to leave some tactile commands and hotkeys, particularly for the HVAC system.
The interior of the GLS reflects two things: its enormous dimensions and the experience that the German brand has in producing cabins with a remarkable strength.
However, with 3.14 m of wheelbase, it is the habitability that deserves more attention. The space in the second row of seats is such that sometimes we end up regretting not having… a driver. Seriously. And even with the three rows in place, the luggage capacity amounts to 355 liters. If we fold down the last two seats, we now have a vast 890 liters.
The front seats are electric, cooled, heated and offer… massages.
An SUV for all occasions
At the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz GLS 400, the feeling that “assaults” us is one of invulnerability. The German SUV is so big, comfortable, and does such a good job of “isolating” us from the outside world that, whether it's arriving at roundabouts or when we bump into a “middle lane tile”, the truth is that many times we feel that we are given “priority of passage”.
Obviously, the dimensions that make the Mercedes-Benz GLS a “road colossus” make it less agile when it comes to bends. But don't think that the German model only knows how to “walk straight”. This one has a “secret weapon”: the Airmatic suspension, which not only allows you to adjust the damping hardness but also “play” with the height to the ground.
The massage system on the front seats is one of the best I've ever had the opportunity to test and helps make long journeys short.
In “Sport” mode, it does its best to “glue” the Mercedes-Benz GLS to the road and becomes as firm as possible, all to resist as much as possible the laws… of physics. The truth is that it even manages to do it very satisfactorily, helping us to give a curved pace much higher than what you would expect in a colossus with 2.5 tons.
It's true that it's not as immersive as the BMW X7, however when we exit the curves and enter the straights the level of comfort and isolation on board is such that we feel like traveling to “infinity and beyond”. Speaking of that “beyond”, if getting there involves going off-road, let's know that the “magic suspension” also has some tricks for these situations.
At the touch of a button the Mercedes-Benz GLS rises and becomes (even) louder. And thanks to the “Offroad” mode, the German SUV lives up to the scrolls of its “older brother”, the G-Class. It's true that the 23” wheels and the Pirelli P-Zero are far from being the ideal choice for the bad guys paths, but the 4MATIC system and the many cameras make it easy to cross paths that seem… impossible.
Speaking of impossibles, if you thought that reconciling a measured appetite with a 2.5-tonne SUV and 330 hp was not possible, think again. It is clear that when we exploit all the power and force (700 Nm of torque) the consumption goes up, reaching values like 17 l/100 km. However, in a more relaxed driving the GLS 400 d averaged between 8 to 8.5 l/100 km.
For that, he only “requests” that they lead him to do what he enjoys most: “devour” kilometers at a stabilized speed. After all, it is in this context that the qualities of the German SUV shine most, with special emphasis on comfort and stability.
Go up…
As for the engine, a six-cylinder in-line Diesel with 3.0 l, 330 hp and 700 Nm, what it does best is to give us reasons why one day we will come to miss the engines originally created by Mr Rudolf Diesel.
Seriously, no matter how nice the gasoline and ballistic engines are the electric ones, this Diesel fits the GLS like a glove, allowing us to print high rhythms without having to carry a cistern behind us. In fact, its efficiency associated with the 90 liter tank allows us to enjoy an autonomy that can exceed 1000 km!
Is it the right car for you?
The general quality is at the level of the best Mercedes-Benz does (and therefore, at a very high level within the industry), the habitability is a benchmark, the technological offer is impressive and the engine allows you to travel long distances without having to make stops frequent to refill while allowing you to print good rhythms.
With a base price of around €125,000, the Mercedes-Benz GLS 400 d is obviously not a model meant for the masses. But for those who can buy a model like the German SUV, the truth is, it doesn't get much better than this one.