For customers wanting an S-Class but needing the versatility to carry seven passengers, Mercedes-Benz offers the GL-Class. This large SUV shares many traits with its sedan sibling, such as a serenely quiet cabin, butter-smooth suspension and plenty of power.
When Mercedes introduced the GL in 2006, it got a lot of people’s attention because of its “massive beauty” – but it wasn’t perfect. The engine power was not bad but lagged behind a few of its rivals; its fuel economy was not great, and some of the interior features needed improving.
The GL-Class was redesigned for 2013 and addressed all of these issues and more. Notable changes included a fresh exterior and interior design and new safety features. The available engines were also improved to increase power and fuel economy.
The 2014 model sees the addition of new options, notably the splitview COMAND display and a new transmission mode. Also, the GL 63 AMG arrives in showrooms this year.
Design
While the current GL-Class doesn’t look significantly different from the original, it actually has about 1,000 new parts and is now slightly larger. Mercedes listened to its customers and made a lot of improvements inside, and now the GL boasts an even more luxurious cabin than before.
Mercedes-Benz has always been a leader in safety and technology. To allow as many customers to benefit from their innovations as possible, every GL comes with standard features such as Collision Prevention Assist, Attention Assist and PRE-SAFE. As with any Mercedes SUV, you get 4MATIC standard and a lot of nice luxuries like the electronic power tailgate. One area the GL falls a little short in comparison to some of its rivals is that it only seats seven, whereas others can seat eight – but this is a non-issue since the owners of these high-end SUVs probably only carry a few passengers at a time.
Performance
The biggest improvements have occurred under the hood. The GL-Class is available with either an all new diesel V6 or one of two new gasoline V8’s.
The V6 engine is a direct-injected, 3.0-litre, clean-diesel turbo, and is a wonderful engine and comes highly recommended. It is rated at 240-hp and a brawny 455 ft-lbs of torque.
The most popular engine will likely be the 4.6-litre, gas-powered V8. It has a twin-turbo and is also direct injected.
The GL 450 produces 362-hp and 406 ft-lbs of torque. If that’s not enough for you, the GL 550 bumps those numbers up to 429 and 516, respectively. And if you want more still, the GL 63 AMG tops out at 550-hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque with its 5.5-litre Bi-Turbo V8.
The bottom line on all of the engines is that while they’re very powerful, they also provide better fuel economy than the previous generation. This is where the GL 350 BlueTEC stands out with its 8.6L/100km highway rating.
The GL-Class is not a performance crossover SUV by any means, so 0-100km times are not relevant. But rest assured that these vehicles will get you where you want to go in plenty of time and do so quietly and smoothly. The V-8s are particularly impressive in terms of performance, as with most Mercedes V-8 models.
The seven-speed transmission has been enhanced with the new temporary manual ‘M’ mode. This mode allows the driver to make manual gear changes, but the system will automatically revert back to auto mode after a defined time if there has been no input from the driver.
Environment
Obviously in a vehicle of this size, cabin space is not an issue. There is plenty of leg and headroom in all three rows, and it still offers 295 litres of cargo space.
The available electronic easy entry system makes access to the rear two rows a breeze.
Fit and finish is equal to Mercedes-Benz’s impeccable standards, and the occupants are surrounded by soft-touch surfaces and wood or metal accents.
The standard sunroof is nice, but upgrading to the full panoramic sunroof truly enhances the open, airy feeling.
Mercedes-Benz designers have made a lot of improvements to the dash and centre console.
The gear shifter used to be located in the centre and took up a lot of space. It has been moved to the steering column to clean up the area.
The Mercedes COMAND system continues to be one of the best in the industry.
The GL boasts a new HD screen which is very easy to read. The innovative Splitview is an option which enables the driver and front passenger to view different content at the same time.
Features
The GL 350 BlueTEC starts at $74,900. The GL 450 and the GL 550 begin at $77,100 and $99,100 respectively. The top-of-the-line GL 63 AMG is priced at $126,400.
Standard equipment includes two-zone climate control, integrated garage door opener, heated steering wheel, power folding third row seats, PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist, and a parking package with 360-degree camera.
Additional features, available as options or on higher trims, include second row power EASY-ENTRY system, heated rear seats, blind spot monitor, lane keeping assist, DISTRONIC PLUS cruise control system, Night View Assist, and a rear seat entertainment system.
The Bottom Line
The 2014 GL-Class combines seven-passenger seating and off-road capability with all the luxury, comfort and safety of an S-Class.
