GO LARGE(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 89

Some Mercedes models are the epitome of on-road luxury. Others are almost unrivalled for off-road prowess. And then there's one which claims to offer the best of both: the GLS. This is the very few super-luxury SUVs that can seat seven fully-sized adults. And it claims to be able to do so while offering a properly dynamic drive on road as well as extreme capability off it. This improved version of the third generation 'X167'-series design is smarter, plusher and even more appealing. Got a family? You'd like one.

Background word count: 275

This Mercedes GLS, if you haven't yet come across it, is a vehicle billed as 'the S-Class of SUVs', a luxury conveyance for those whose real - or more likely imagined - commute to the real world is from a craggy mountaintop. We first saw it (badged then as the 'GL-Class') in 2007, the original 'X164'-series design (like the current one) built in America for Americans and since then, it's been occupying super-sized shopping mall spaces from New York to New Orleans in ever-increasing numbers. Over there, it was a necessary addition to the brand's luxury SUV line-up, given that for Yanks, the brand's usual large luxury SUV, the five-metre-long GLE, is seen as being pretty compact and the exorbitantly-priced G-Class is too crude for most. A second generation 'X166'-series design followed in 2015, and when that model was facelifted in 2016, it was renamed the 'GLS'. The third generation 'X167'-series GLS model we have here debuted originally in 2020 and included a super-opulent Mercedes-Maybach version. It was primarily tasted with taking on the all-conquering Range Rover - and, more specifically, BMW's entrant in this segment, the X7. This Mercedes model line has always featured a third seating row, something that's always set this SUV apart in a luxury 4x4 market that rarely offers this option - or if it does, often restricts practical use of the extra seats to children. Not so here. It's certainly more practical for seven than the brand's other super-luxury SUV of this size, the all-electric EQS SUV. In this case, we're reviewing an updated version of this MK3 GLS model, launched in Spring 2023. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience word count: 281

Not everyone is going to feel comfortable piloting something of this size but provided you do, then GLS motoring is a pretty fabulous way to view your everyday world. AIRMATIC air suspension with the brand's 'ADS Adaptive Damping System Plus' package smoothes your way over poor surfaces and power is transmitted by 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The key engine option for our market is the straight six cylinder 2.9-litre diesel, provided with 308bhp with the base GLS 350d, or with 362bhp with the GLS 450d. For those who can never have too many Tiger tokens, there's also a wild turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 in the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 variant, which gains 48V mild hybrid tech and puts out 612hp via a now-standard sports exhaust. The super-luxury Mercedes-Maybach version uses the '600'-badged 550bhp petrol V8. 4MATIC 4WD is standard across the range of course, which works using a transfer case with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. This allows a variable transfer of drive torque from 0-100 percent between the axles. Across the range, there's up to 3.5-tonnes of towing capability. As an option, buyers can specify an Off-Road Engineering package, which has been reconfigured because previoius owners didn't need to it be so extreme. Components include an underride guard and 30mm more ground clearance. And, thanks to the standard 'Parking Package' and its 360-degree camera, there's a 'transparent bonnet' function. When the Offroad mode is active, the central display shows a virtual view under the front of the vehicle. The view is composed of the images from the 360-degree camera. With the 'transparent bonnet' on the screen, obstacles such as large stones or deep potholes on the route ahead can be better recognised.