2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS Road Test and Review

2017 Mercedes Benz GLS class 450 exterior profile by Carrie Kim ・ Photo by Carrie Kim

If you’re puzzled by the way Mercedes-Benz names its vehicles, perhaps you'll understand this: The 2017 GLS-class is the S-class of SUVs. And because the S-class is the crown jewel of the three-pointed star’s passenger cars, the GLS-class is also expected to be the top of the line, most luxurious, and best performing of all the SUVs in the M-B lineup. Sounds pretty magnanimous, right? This 7-seat, three-row SUV is “all-new,” but it’s really more of a refresh and upgrade from what used to be known as the GL-class. It’s one fine ride; read on to see if the GLS-class has the chops to survive in your family’s fleet.

Pick Your Power. And Price.

The GLS-class is available in three different flavors: 450, 550 and AMG 63. All three models come standard with 4WD and a towing capacity of 7500 lb., but as you can guess, the main determining factor among the three is what’s found under the hood. All come with a turbocharged engine; our GLS450 was equipped with a 3.0-liter V6, but the 550 model steps up to a 4.7-liter V8, and the sporty AMG 63 is standard with a 5.5-liter V8 engine.   The extra punch will definitely cost you; you can get into a GLS450 starting at $68,700, though it seems silly to skimp on options if you’re shopping at this price point. (You’ll also need to pay an extra $720 if you want it in any other color besides black or white!) A well-equipped GLS450 with all the options has a price tag of $79,820. If you jump up to a base GLS550, you’re looking at $93,850—and that’s just for the beefier V8, no options. A top-tier GLS550 easily soars into six figures, and the AMG63 starts at $124,100.

Photo by Carrie Kim

King of the Road

Here’s the thing; most who scoff at the price of a Mercedes-Benz likely haven’t driven one. Without overstating it, that fine German engineering lives up to the hype. During our test week, we continually marveled at how agile the GLS450 was on the road, and how refined it felt, despite its hulky exterior. Part of the luxury is being able to choose your drive mode. The GLS comes standard with Mercedes-Benz’s DYNAMIC SELECT, offering four different options: Comfort, Sport, Slippery, and Off-road. We preferred the firmness of Sport mode most of the time, but the Comfort mode was proof that a smooth ride doesn’t have to be boring. The versatility of the GLS-class is impressive—it can make the switch from the luxury liner of all SUVs to a capable, sure-footed off-roader, just with the turn of a knob.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Interior Comforts

The inside of the GLS450 looks exactly as you’d expect—your choice of leather or MB-Tex (AKA “fake leather”) upholstery, a large 8-in. color display mounted in the dash, and a shiny, silver three-point star in the center of that leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Although comfortable, and certainly upscale, the GLS surprised us with its dated interior vibes. As the SUV equivalent to the flagship S-class sedan, the GLS came with some high expectations. The materials are there, but the GLS lacks the wow factor of the S-class’ interior, and even some of the finer details found in the lesser E-class (we are obsessed with that pinstripe hand-etching across the dashboard!). If you’re willing to pay for the pleasure, certain features are worth the splurge. The Premium 1 package ($3830) is worth it, even for just the Apple CarPlay (we prefer it to M-B’s COMAND interface). Other ultra-luxe favorites include the massaging front seats ($1100), Bang & Olufsen sound system ($5800), panorama roof ($1090), and ventilated front seats ($570). Those are the luxuries that transform a GLS-class from a classy SUV to an all-out Land Yacht.

Photo by Carrie Kim

That third row, though.

So here comes the big question: How do adults fare in the third row of this luxury Mercedes 7-seater? Pretty well. A Range Rover Sport’s third row is tiny by comparison, and the GLS-class is much larger than an Audi Q7. We were surprised that it offers 35-inches of legroom in the third row, which is a half-inch more than you'll find in the extended-wheelbase version of the Cadillac Escalade (ESV)! If you’re looking to use the third row on an as-needed basis, the GLS-class is exceptional, and if you need to use it everyday, it’s definitely doable for wee ones and teenagers alike.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Go ahead, pack it in.

Available cargo space in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class isn’t too shabby either. With the third row folded down, there is 49.4 cu. ft. of available space—three times the capacity of a C-class sedan. Sports gear, snack bar supplies or plenty of luggage can be handled with ease. If you’re wondering what will fit in the 16.0 cu.ft. of cargo space that's available when the third row is in use, it will easily swallow a pair of suitcases or an average grocery run. For a jaunt to Costco or a family vacation, the GLS450 is in its element.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

Family Friendliness

Whether slogging through the after-school pickup lane or headed out on the annual family road trip, you won’t hear many complaints inside the GLS’ cabin. We paired up with another family for a Sunday-Funday in Los Angeles, and the GLS450 accommodated our crew of 6 with ease. The kids were happy with the dual entertainment displays mounted on the back of the front seat headrests (and the adults were equally as pleased with the wireless headphones that accompanied them). The second row comes with its own climate controls, and in some models, the second row seats are even heated. Access to the third row is easy, provided you pony up for the optional Power-Easy feature that folds the second row seat down and out of the way with one touch of a button.

For those with small children, Mercedes-Benz has some of the simplest, easiest to access LATCH anchors for car-seat installation you’ll find. We love that the anchors aren’t tucked away, but rather are in an easy-access plastic door that flips up to reveal the hardware. Literally, it’s plug and play—noS digging or sweating required. We think it’s another luxury that goes underrated.

Pro tip: Skip the real leather and go with the MB-Tex upholstery. It cleans up easy and holds up well to the demands of a frequent car full of kiddos.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Safety and Advanced Technologies

The driver-assistance tech and offerings in the entire Mercedes-Benz lineup is staggering, if not overwhelming. Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, and a rear-view camera all come standard, along with advanced safety systems like PRE-SAFE, which protects passengers preemptively when the vehicle detects a collision by tightening seatbelts, closing windows and adjusting the front passenger seat automatically. We could write at least 10 pages on some of this technology alone, but we’ll spare you for now and focus on one of the most notable safety upgrades: active brake assist with cross-traffic function. At low-speeds, the 2017 GLS can use radar to detect when another car or pedestrian suddenly enters its path and brakes automatically. The vehicle uses the same radar to ease the strain of gridlock along the daily commute with adaptive cruise control. The Parking Pilot may also be a tantalizing offering if you’re intimidated by the GLS450’s size; this system can seek out a parking space on the driver’s behalf and get the car into the spot, stress-free.  

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

The GLS vs. the Competition

The closest competitors to the GLS-class would be the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, and the Lexus GX. The Escalade has the highest base price at $73,395, but the GLS-class comes in second with a base price that’s $4850 more than the Infiniti and a whopping $17,420 more than the Lexus. The GLS450 is the only one in the group that does not come standard with a V8 engine, though its 9-speed automatic transmission offers more finesse than is found in the others. To us, the GLS-class feels far superior to its competitors in handling, and it's the most premium vehicle of the bunch.

Final Thoughts

For those who have found themselves in need of a few more seating positions than their E-class sedan can provide, or others looking toward a vehicle that delivers utility without sacrificing performance, the GLS-class should be on your short list. With its meticulous engineering, sophisticated safety systems, and interior indulgences, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS ticks all the important boxes.

Photo by Carrie Kim