Let’s face it. The number of rows in your vehicle says a helluvalot more about your virility than any sports car can, which should mean those in the know would pay serious respect to a strong father or mother at the wheel of a fully-loaded 12-passenger Sprinter van (preferably with 4WD), but a six- or seven-occupant GLS will do the job for most large families even better, while receiving honorable nods of approval for being one the best of its kind, and wearing the three-pointed star.
There’s no better way to show you’ve arrived than at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz, and while my weeklong GLS 450 tester wasn’t badged in $160k-plus worth of Maybach accoutrements, it was still a smart looking, very well put together luxury utility.
The Maybach GLS is just, wow! It does for Mercedes’ SUV line what the Maybach S-Class does for its cars, elevating them to Bentley and Rolls-Royce status.
Being more down to earth (everyday guy-speak for less affluent), the GLS 450 suits me just fine. Believe it or not, the $76,000 450 ($101,900 CAD in Canada) is base trim for Mercedes’ largest SUV, but I certainly never felt like I was driving anything basic. In other words, nobody will ever feel hard done by in a Mercedes-Benz.
Completely redesigned GLS infuses Mercedes’ more curvaceous new design language
From a styling perspective, this third-generation design arrived last year as a 2020 model and continues into 2021 mostly unchanged, except for the Maybach variant mentioned a moment ago, and new standard 20-inch alloys, four-zone automatic climate zone, ventilated front seats, and parking-damage detection that uses the Mercedes Me Connect app to alert its owner’s smartphone if their GLS senses it’s been in a collision while parked.
Last year’s completely renewed GLS styling follows Mercedes’ latest design language by rounding out key features that were angular over the past two generations, particularly the now ovoid grille, new LED headlight clusters, lower front fascia, side mirror housings, and rear valance details, while narrower LED taillights are more organic in shape and horizontally positioned for a more elegant look, rather than outgoing model’s chunky design. Most will agree it’s a good-looking luxury ute no matter the chosen trim.
New GLS interior makes it the S-Class of SUVs
Inside, the overall design, quality of materials and fit/finish of my GLS 450 tester was excellent thanks to the use of nicely textured soft composites, supple perforated leathers, lacquered hardwoods, impressively detailed brushed aluminum (the drilled speaker grilles were especially attractive), as well as knurled metal knobs, buttons, rocker switches and toggles.
Unless we’re talking about the surrounding area of its visually dominating electronic interfaces, Mercedes went light on piano black surfacing, a good thing as this material attracts dust and scratches too easily.
Those interfaces would be the brand’s new all-in-one digital gauge cluster and infotainment system dubbed MBUX, which completely takes over the dash ahead of the driver. Pressing the ignition button ignites a veritable light show of colorfully configurable graphics, as artful as they’re functional.
The 12.3-inch portion on the left is for the primary instruments and multi-information features, while the right is for infotainment purposes. Functions can be swapped back and forth, with navigation mapping and guidance, for instance, taking up most of the driver’s display if optimized to do so, thus allowing the center display for audio or climate system control via the driver or front passenger. You can configure any number of functions in any number of ways, plus in a few different graphical styles, so make sure to play around with all the tech, as few competitors offer anything anywhere near as advanced.
The center display is a touchscreen, controllable via the usual smartphone/tablet-like tap, swipe and pinch finger gestures, while just ahead of a comfortable palm rest on the lower console is a touch-capacitive pad within easier reach than the actual screen. The two interfaces work well, as do the surrounding buttons and knurled aluminum volume knob. Just ahead, a wireless charger and two USB-C ports are stowed under a black lacquered scroll-top lid, as are heatable/coolable dual cupholders.
Among the most comfortable and roomy in its three-row luxury class
As you might expect, the GLS 450’s power-adjustable driver’s seat was entirely comfortable for my five-foot-eight frame, and included therapeutic levels of warmth from its three-way heating elements. It can alternatively add three levels of backside cooling, while a third driver-side button allows adjustment of the passenger’s seat without the need to lean across or walk around, which I found helpful when picking up one of my larger friends who needed more legroom.
The button for turning on the heated steering wheel will be hard to find for those not familiar with Mercedes idiosyncrasies, but I’d recently driven an E-Class so was reminded to look on the end of the powered steering column stalk. Switched on it warmed the entire rim, although only sporadically. Sometimes it didn’t come on at all, so maybe there was a glitch in this particular SUV’s electric system, something I didn’t appreciate during my test week’s cold winter mornings.
No matter how tall a GLS driver is, there’s room in behind for adult passengers, something not all three-row SUVs can brag about. My test model was fitted with optional second-row captain’s chairs for even more comfort, albeit one less passenger, but those with fewer kids will appreciate how easy it is for anyone to access the third row by simply walking in between. If you need to flip a second-row seat forward to get into the very back, only the passenger’s side will do so, but it’s powered, rising up and out of the way for easy accessibility.
Both second-row seats were powered and heated, incidentally, plus the backside of the front centre console was filled with dual air vents, an interface for rear control of the GLS’ aforementioned standard four-zone auto HVAC system, and a pull-out storage bin housing a pair of USB-C charging ports and a 115-volt household-style socket.
Rear passenger spaciousness and cargo capacity is impressive
Likewise, the third row came well equipped with twin USB-C ports on each side (there’s actually nine that come standard in every GLS), overhead LED reading lamps, and great side visibility through large quarter windows, while the two rearmost seats are even comfortable for average sized adults. With the second row moved rearward, my feet easily fit underneath and knees just touched their backsides, but pushing either captain’s chair forward, even a smidge, made all the difference, resulting in a third row that will only be surprisingly accommodating to those who haven’t experienced a GLS (or previous GL).
While all of the above is important in this class, most GLS buyers probably move up to its longer wheelbase for cargo carrying reasons. Even with the third row in use it manages a generous 12.5 cubic feet (355 liters) of dedicated gear-toting space, while you can securely stow the retractable cargo cover below the load floor when lowering the 50/50-split rear seatbacks to further increase its load capacity. Both rear rows power down and up easily, while doing the former results in 84.7 cu ft (2,400 L) of max cargo volume.
The base GLS 450 combines strong performance with superb fuel economy
Forgive me for going on and on about such practical issues, but I figure if you’re studying up on a GLS you’re probably planning to haul kids, cargo or both, so its functional attributes matter more than performance. Still, if you just required function we’d be back talking about Sprinters, Mercedes’ Metris, or for that matter a minivan, so suffice to say the GLS 450 gets up and goes when called upon.
With Dynamic sport mode engaged even this base GLS is quick off the line. Its 3.0-liter inline six is a major update over the previous V6, thanks to now using a 48-volt mild hybrid drivetrain good for a collective 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor portion of the power unit makes just 21 horsepower (16 kW), but it can easily be felt when getting hard on the throttle due to the immediate twist of 184 lb-ft of electrified torque, while a highly efficient and mostly engaging nine-speed automatic shifts smoothly and quickly, whether left to its own devices or when using the steering wheel paddles. Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive comes standard, and it’s even capable of light- to medium-duty 4x4 use (with off-road mode engaged), despite not including a separate bull-low gearing ratio, like the G-Glass.
Of course, this big utility is best kept on pavement, where it carves up winding backroads with more poise than you might expect. Just-noted Dynamic mode improves its moves without intruding much on comfort, resulting in a large SUV that can dance better than many smaller two-row rivals. No one should expect it to run circles around Mercedes’ smaller crossovers, mind you, or for that matter anything sporting the automaker’s AMG branding, such as the GLS 63 that puts out an awe-inspiring 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, the 483-horse V8-powered GLS 580, good for 516 lb-of twist, will sprint away from the more fuel-conscious GLS 450 easily, but my tester still moved away from stoplights fast enough.
It's claimed fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city, 24 highway and 21 combined (or 12.4, 10.2 and 11.4 L/100km respectively in Canada) is exemplary for the class, however, even if you’ll need to use Eco mode, a light right foot, and premium at the pump to achieve it.
Excellent tow rating makes the GLS 450 ideal for camping and boating
Fuel efficiency is especially appreciated on long trips, and even more so when towing, if only to go longer between fill-ups. You’ll be able to trailer medium-sized campers, such as an Airstream Classic, or average-size power craft and sailboats thanks to a 7,700-lb (3,500-kg) tow rating, which is good for the unibody SUV class.
Come to think of it, getting away from the city with a boat or camper in tow sounds just about perfect after the insane year we’ve just endured, and doing so in the driver’s seat of a new GLS 450 would make that trip sublime. I can’t promise you total family harmony along the way, but you can be assured of blissful comfort for all occupants, superb infotainment and connectivity front to back, ample gear stowage in behind, ultra-advanced electronic driving aids to ease fatigue, clear visibility all around, strong performance when called upon, and wallet-friendly efficiency throughout the entire vacation. Is it the best family SUV available? It’s certainly near the top.