Massive interior space; imposing looks; oozes ‘Benz quality; brilliant driving dynamics
Not-so-large luggage space when seven people on-board
Champion American footballer Dan Fouts once said: “In order to win you must expect to win. You might even call it the arrogance factor.” The Mercedes-Benz GL is a champion and there is a champion’s arrogance about the huge seven-seat SUV.
Mercedes-Benz knows what its customers want - no suggestion of downsizing here and the updated GL (all 2.4-tonnes and 5.1-metres of it) is selling up a storm, particularly in North America.
Debuting a revised engine lineup, the latest Mercedes-Benz GL range is more fuel-efficient and better-performing than its predecessor and hauls seven people with five-star luxury.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 Overview
The GL Class is Mercedes’ luxury seven-seater. It’s massive and actually provides adult-friendly space in the two third-row seats (easily accessed too via a clever electronic tumble-fold function for the three-seat second row).
Carshowroom.com.au tested the mid-grade GL 500 (twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 petrol) priced at $154,900. Entry to the GL lineup is the GL 350 CDI V6 turbo-diesel ($129,900) and new to the lineup is the range-topping GL 63 AMG (410kW/760Nm twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 petrol) which will set you back $214,900.
Currently this is as good as it gets for luxury seven-seat SUVs – the GL comes equipped with the full kit of Mercedes-Benz luxury and convenience technology and our GL 500 boasted a superb interior in beautiful leather and timber finishes.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 Engine
For the latest GL 500, Mercedes’ has delivered the uprated twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine. Power is up to 320kW at 5250rpm and torque is up to a staggering 700Nm from 1800rpm.
Driving all four wheels via the seven-speed 7-G-TRPNIC PLUS automatic transmission, the GL 500 covers zero to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds – faster than the smaller, 300kW/600Nm twin-turbo V8 ML 500 (5.7 seconds).
The GL 500 is from Mercedes’ fuel-efficient ‘BlueEFFICIENCY’ range so, for example, features auto-start-stop. Fuel consumption (combined cycle) is rated at 11.5l/100kms. Equipped with a 100-litre fuel tank, the GL’s highway cruising range is impressive.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 The Interior
Open the front doors of the Mercedes-Benz GL 500 and you’re greeted by prominent illuminated ‘Mercedes-Benz’ lettering in the alloy door sills – a good feeling when you’ve shelled-out $154.9-large for your seven-seat SUV we’d imagine.
You climb into superb leather-trimmed front seats (a contrasting brown colour in our test car) with the usual ‘Benz door-mounted multi-electronic adjustment. The seats are heated and feature a massage function.
In front is a stylish wood/leather four-spoke steering wheel with electronic adjustment for rake/reach and the familiar ‘Benz-style dashboard/instruments and stalk-operated cruise control.
To the left is the familiar ‘Benz audio/satellite navigation screen and controls. The centre console contain several large storage bins.
The second row has three seats and the third row provides comfortable seating for two. Access to the third row is a snack with the Mercedes’ ‘Easy-Entry’ system which, with the touch of a button, retracts the second row headrests and tumble-folds the seat forwards. We can’t think of a similar seven-seat SUV with better access to the third row or with a more comfortable position once seated there.
Use the GL 500 as a five-seater and the luggage space is massive. As a seven-seater, cargo space isn’t massive but the remote tailgate opening makes for easy loading.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 Exterior & Styling
The latest GL Class benefits from minor styling updates – new-design E-class-like tail-lights and the latest upright Mercedes-Benz front grille.
It’s an imposing vehicle, no doubt about it – high-waist, nicely proportioned glasshouse, polished alloy side-steps and those massive 21-inch alloy wheels exuding a commanding on-road presence. Just the right amount of chrome under the front bumper and at the rear (the latter housing massive twin exhaust pipes) adds to the allure.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 On The Road
Nail the throttle on a wet road, unleashing the full 320kW/700Nm of the Mercedes-Benz GL 500 and you can feel the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system working its magic, transferring drive and grip. Startlingly fast and sublimely refined, the GL 500 is amazingly agile.
Of course such antics aren’t the norm for GL 500 drivers but even so, over our high-speed mountain roads test route our GL was astonishingly competent – certainly aided by those massive 295/40 R 21 Pirelli P-Zero tyres and adaptive dampers (noticeably firmer in ‘Sport’ mode). The Airmatic suspension keeps things level and there was uncanny precision when you turned-in.
Steering too was surprisingly precise with high levels of feedback (others who make large SUVs would be well-served to get a ‘Benz GL 500 and learn how the steering works).
Both up in the mountains and back in the city, naturally the GL 500 was quiet at all speeds with just the reassuring rumble from the 4.7-litre V8 to remind you of its potential.
Bet you’re wondering about parking and maneuverability? Well at 5.1-metres in length, 2.14-meres in width and 1.85-metres high, the Mercedes-Benz GL 500 certainly knows how to occupy a parking space.
Here’s the thing: with a turning circle of 12.4-metres and the excellent reversing camera and parking monitors, this massive seven-seater surprises with its nimbleness. In fact, hand-on-heart we can say in our week with the Mercedes-Benz GL 500 we never once had to back-up and give parking a second shot – we were in first-time, every time.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 Challenges
With all seats occupied, cargo space is reasonable but not massive.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 Verdict
Some have dared criticize the Mercedes-Benz GL 500 for its gargantuan size. That’s not really valid as you know what you’re getting into – this is the motoring equivalent of surfing’s ‘Duke Kahanamoku’ (the giant who rules supreme over all others).
As we said, the GL 500, with its excellent camera/parking sensors set-up is actually a piece of cake in tight parking. Combine that ease-of-operation with the astonishing space for seven people…well it’s a prestige seven-seat SUV as you’d expect from the Mercedes-Benz colossus.
In a nutshell, three items stand-out for us after our week in the GL.
Firstly the driving dynamics. OK it’s no ‘Benz SLS gullwing but man-o-man does this high-tech SUV deliver with astonishing acceleration, grip and sublime ride/handling (and remember the GL 500 we tested weighs 2370kgs).
Secondly there’s the inherent ‘Benz luxury. Like Range Rover, Mercedes has succeeded in delivering an SUV with a six-star interior. You might have a family hauler, but it feels like an S Class inside.
Thirdly the space and practicality. Access to the third row seats? Easy. Adult-size comfort and space when you get there? Yep that’s correct.
Mercedes-Benz GL 500 The Competition
In this league, Mercedes-Benz holds the ace card with the GL 500’s seven-seat capacity.
Audi offers the excellent Q7 in seven seats - $90,000 for the V6 turbo-diesel or $95,200 for the supercharged V6 petrol. The Q7 is a definite Car Showroom favourite for its classy interior and hallmark Audi sporty driving dynamics.
Of the comparable five-seaters - the all-new Range Rover is simply a marvelous vehicle but you’ll need $168,900 for the entry-level turbo-diesel V6 and the first petrol V8 is the supercharged Vogue at $224,400.
The BMW X6 is a pearler (we like the looks but not everyone does) and the twin-turbocharged V8 petrol xDrive50i ($150,900) will reward enthusiast drivers with its top-notch on-road dynamics.
