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2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
Starting at $82.950
Highs Cabin’s contemporary tech and rich finishes, roomy interior, refined powertrains.
Lows Styled like a box of Cheerios, drinks rather than sips fuel, brand-appropriately, eye-wateringly expensive.
Verdict Comfortable and surprisingly satisfying to drive, the GLS-class SUV earns the S in its name by doing a good impression of Benz’s ritzy S-class sedan.
Overview
With three spacious rows of seats, the 2023 GLS-class is an SUV that can allow the whole family to experience Mercedes-level luxury while rewarding its driver with surprising agility. The entry-level engine is a 362-hp turbocharged inline-six that’s eerily smooth and plenty powerful but if you want more go the GLS580 swaps the six for a twin-turbo V-8 with 483 ponies. Of course, fuel economy takes a nose dive with the big motor. All models come with all-wheel drive and an adjustable air suspension. The ride is smooth when you want it to be but setting the drive mode selector to Sport brings taut body control not found in rivals such as the Land Rover Range Rover and the Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes has dropped a ton of tech features into the GLS’s cabin, including a massive dual-display dashboard that digitizes pretty much everything from the SUV’s gauges to its infotainment system. Despite the almost over-reliance on screens the GLS’s controls are fairly easy to use while driving, which we reckon most buyers will appreciate.
What’s New for 2023?
The GLS-class receives two minor alterations for 2023. The GLS450 now comes with metallic paint and all models now ship with a panoramic sunroof as a standard feature.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
GLS450:$82,950
GLS580: $106,150
The GLS450’s turbocharged inline-six provides plenty of power and is just as smooth as the GLS580’s V-8, so we’d stick with that and put the extra dough toward some options. The Executive Rear Seat Plus package turns the second row into a Sybarite zone with massaging seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a tablet controller for the GLS’s infotainment system, and plusher headrests. It also ups the safety level with side-impact airbags. Ordering that package requires that you shell out for leather upholstery, which, surprisingly, isn’t standard.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Two models are offered—the six-cylinder GLS450 and the eight-cylinder GLS580—and both feature some hybridization. The GLS450’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six is smooth as polished granite and good for 362 horsepower. The GLS580 is far more powerful, making 483 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. At our test track, the GLS450 managed a brisk 5.5-second run to 60 mph and stopped from 70 mph in a short 154 feet. Despite its size, the GLS-class is easy to hustle on a twisty road, but it’s not overly sporty. All models come standard with an air suspension, but Mercedes also offers a trick system called E-Active Body Control. It utilizes a forward-facing camera to scan for bumps and adjusts the suspension accordingly so riders will feel less of the road’s imperfections. It’s a cool technology but expensive, and we think most buyers will find the standard setup does a fine job.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA fuel economy estimates for the GLS-class aren’t great. The GLS450 earns 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. The GLS580 does worse, with 16 mpg, 21 mpg, and 18 mpg, respectively. In our real-world testing, the GLS450 performed a little better than its rating, managing 24 mpg on our 75-mph highway test. The GLS580 returned a dismal 18 mpg in the same test. If fuel economy is a priority for you, the BMW X7 will be a better choice in the luxury-SUV department. A six-cylinder X7 xDrive40i managed an impressive 28 mpg in our highway test while an eight-cylinder xDrive50i delivered 24 mpg. For more information about the GLS-class’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Borrowing its dashboard and cockpit layout from the similarly new GLE-class SUV, this generation of GLS is far more modern than the one it replaces. It’ll fit up to seven passengers but can be spec’d for six with the optional captain’s chairs. Passenger space is generous in the first and second rows, and the third row, while not as spacious as the second, can accommodate an adult without too much complaining—something that can’t be said of the wayback in the X7.
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz/gls-class-2023
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