Facelift (What's New)
Rebadged as the GLS-Class
Smartphone integration package including Apple CarPlay
Collision Prevention Assistant Plus
9G-TRONIC transmission
Dynamic Select
You may be caught out by the new name, but technically this isn't a new car. In fact, the newly named GLS-Class is a light facelift of the model previously badged the GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz's full-size Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) offering. The renamed GLS is in keeping with the brand's naming convention, and the carmaker touts it as the S-Class of SUVs.
The upgraded infotainment system now comes with the smartphone integration package including Apple CarPlay
Imposing figure
The GLS is very big, and quite boxy-looking. It's not necessarily good-looking, but it is certainly imposing. It has an almost tank-like quality about it, dominating just about every car on the road.
That size also translates to a spacious interior. There's lots of headroom and reasonable enough legroom even for the third row.
The cabin does feel premium, with high-quality materials, superior build quality and generous amounts of equipment. However, as it is a relatively old model already, the interior doesn't feel as slick and up to date as newer Mercedes models. There's too many buttons on the centre console, and the cabin lacks the futuristic feel that the newer models have.
The GLS now has Dynamic Select, allowing you to quickly toggle between different drive settings
Not messing around
For a massive car, it doesn't feel slow at all. Under the bonnet lies a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine producing a healthy 329bhp and 480Nm of torque, more than enough to haul this car that weighs almost 2.5 tonnes around.
On highway roads, the car drives just fine. It's comfortable, fairly pliant and has good amounts of power for overtaking. However, a bulk of our time in the GLS was spent driving on the windy mountain roads heading up and down Mount Kinabalu, and here the GLS feels slightly out of its element.
Imposing figure
The GLS is very big, and quite boxy-looking. It's not necessarily good-looking, but it is certainly imposing. It has an almost tank-like quality about it, dominating just about every car on the road.
That size also translates to a spacious interior. There's lots of headroom and reasonable enough legroom even for the third row.
The cabin does feel premium, with high-quality materials, superior build quality and generous amounts of equipment. However, as it is a relatively old model already, the interior doesn't feel as slick and up to date as newer Mercedes models. There's too many buttons on the centre console, and the cabin lacks the futuristic feel that the newer models have.
Not messing around
For a massive car, it doesn't feel slow at all. Under the bonnet lies a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine producing a healthy 329bhp and 480Nm of torque, more than enough to haul this car that weighs almost 2.5 tonnes around.
On highway roads, the car drives just fine. It's comfortable, fairly pliant and has good amounts of power for overtaking. However, a bulk of our time in the GLS was spent driving on the windy mountain roads heading up and down Mount Kinabalu, and here the GLS feels slightly out of its element.
There's a rather significant body roll as you would expect from a car this tall and heavy, and it tends to bounce up and down a tad too much. You do also have to take into account the car's heft when braking and ensure that you leave extra space between you and the car in front.
The 3.0-litre V6 engine pumps out a sizeable 329bhp and 480Nm of torqueDuring our drive, we encountered some perilously heavy rain, with massive puddles forming on the poorly-paved roads. In such instances, the GLS proves to be more than capable. You can feel the 4MATIC all-wheel drive kicking in when one of the wheels starts to aquaplane, and the sheer weight of the car means that you're fairly assured that it's not going to suddenly swerve and spin out. We can also safely report that the Collision Prevention Assistant Plus works well, as it kicked in when we had to jam brake after underestimating our braking distance.
Big daddy
Is it really the S-Class of SUVs? Well, as far as its positioning within the Mercedes lineup goes, sure. However, even with the light updates to the model, the GLS-Class still feels dated. Considering the competition right now, we can't help but feel that the GLS-Class is lagging behind.
The GLS is the big daddy of the Mercedes SUV family, combining commanding presence with daily practicalityThe Mercedes GLS is the big daddy of the brand's SUV family right now, and in some ways, it feels the part. There are cooler, more fashionable models like the GLC and the GLE, but the GLS is that steadfast figure at the head of the table. It's not the most refined, and is slightly old-fashioned in its ways, but it gets the job done simply by being able to hammer its fists on the table.
Big daddy
Is it really the S-Class of SUVs? Well, as far as its positioning within the Mercedes lineup goes, sure. However, even with the light updates to the model, the GLS-Class still feels dated. Considering the competition right now, we can't help but feel that the GLS-Class is lagging behind.
