Mercedes-Benz GLS-class 2017
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Mercedes-Benz GLS-class 2017 Benz’s naming changes largely make sense, unlike those of Infiniti. (We’re supposed to be the experts and we still use the Japanese luxury brand’s old designations to refer to its vehicles.) Benz’s logic comes courtesy of aligning its SUVs with its core sedan lineup, so the GLK became the GLC (C-class), the ML became the GLE (E-class), and the GL became this model, the GLS (S-class). (The A-class-aligned GLA-class launched under the new naming convention.)
New top-spec non-AMG model is the GLS550, and according to one Mercedes display we saw at the launch event, it is “lavishly motorized” thanks to a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 putting out 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. From behind the wheel, this engine is sufficient in the same way that a gas-powered blender is. Yes, it’s fun, but you rarely have a chance to use the available power. The lower-cost V-6s once again are the sweet spots of the lineup, and the diesel-powered GLS350d even gets a small power bump over its predecessor.
GLS’s interior is quiet and serene, and the same can be said of driver feedback from the steering wheel and pedals. Like the GL450 of before, a soft brake pedal puts some unnecessary guesswork into deceleration and the steering wheel feels disconnected to what’s happening at the road. But this is not to slam the vehicle, nor is it to say that, on their own, these are glaring errors among three-row luxury SUVs. Coupling the two together, however, makes us want for a little more tactility.
Pricing isn’t finalized but we’re expecting 2017 GLS pricing to mirror the outgoing GL’s, with the GLS350 diesel and GLS450 starting at less than $70,000. You should not, however, expect to see many V-6 GLSs on dealer lots wearing stickers for much below $90K, which is how much these wagons usually cost once entertainment screens, full-leather lining, dynamic anti-roll bars, two-speed transfer cases, and other big-ticket items are selected. The GLS550 should begin around $93,000, so it’s already in its own stratosphere.
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Continue Reading
Mercedes-Benz GLS-class 2017 Benz’s naming changes largely make sense, unlike those of Infiniti. (We’re supposed to be the experts and we still use the Japanese luxury brand’s old designations to refer to its vehicles.) Benz’s logic comes courtesy of aligning its SUVs with its core sedan lineup, so the GLK became the GLC (C-class), the ML became the GLE (E-class), and the GL became this model, the GLS (S-class). (The A-class-aligned GLA-class launched under the new naming convention.)
New top-spec non-AMG model is the GLS550, and according to one Mercedes display we saw at the launch event, it is “lavishly motorized” thanks to a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 putting out 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. From behind the wheel, this engine is sufficient in the same way that a gas-powered blender is. Yes, it’s fun, but you rarely have a chance to use the available power. The lower-cost V-6s once again are the sweet spots of the lineup, and the diesel-powered GLS350d even gets a small power bump over its predecessor.
GLS’s interior is quiet and serene, and the same can be said of driver feedback from the steering wheel and pedals. Like the GL450 of before, a soft brake pedal puts some unnecessary guesswork into deceleration and the steering wheel feels disconnected to what’s happening at the road. But this is not to slam the vehicle, nor is it to say that, on their own, these are glaring errors among three-row luxury SUVs. Coupling the two together, however, makes us want for a little more tactility.
Pricing isn’t finalized but we’re expecting 2017 GLS pricing to mirror the outgoing GL’s, with the GLS350 diesel and GLS450 starting at less than $70,000. You should not, however, expect to see many V-6 GLSs on dealer lots wearing stickers for much below $90K, which is how much these wagons usually cost once entertainment screens, full-leather lining, dynamic anti-roll bars, two-speed transfer cases, and other big-ticket items are selected. The GLS550 should begin around $93,000, so it’s already in its own stratosphere.
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