2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Utility Player
When it comes to full-size luxury SUVs, names like Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Range Rover immediately spring to mind. One is all about bling, the other is all about off-road prowess. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class blends the best attributes of both, with greater practicality to boot. It’s one of the most versatile and feature-laden vehicles on the market today, SUV or otherwise.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class offers one of the most comprehensive powertrain lineups of any vehicle. Whether you want fuel economy and towing grunt, or sensational noises and high performance, Mercedes has you covered. The GL-Class really can do it all, depending on how you equip it.
Mercedes may tout the GL-Class as the “S-Class of SUVs,” but there’s still a sensible diesel engine offered in the GL350 BlueTEC® model. The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 produces 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, and like all GL-Class powertrains, it comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC® all-wheel drive. The BlueTEC will do 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph, according to Mercedes. It also gets an EPA-rated 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway).*
A gasoline alternative is the GL450, which boasts a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. This engine produces 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, obviously providing a better balance between horsepower and torque than the diesel. The GL450 will do 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, and also tops out at 130 mph. EPA-rated fuel economy is 19 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway).*
Getting more into the performance realm is the GL550, which comes with the type of engine most people would probably expect a big SUV to have. It’s a burly 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8, boasting 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get the GL550 from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and to 130 mph, but the V8 is also capable of achieving 15 mpg combined (13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway).*
Finally, there’s the GL63 AMG®. This is a high-performance model created by AMG®, Mercedes’ in-house tuner. It’s 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes 550 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque, and allows for mind-boggling performance. The 5,754-pound GL63 will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 174 mph. It also gets an EPA-rated 14 mpg combined (13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway).*
Features and Trims
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a five-door, seven-seat full-size luxury SUV. It’s the flagship of the Mercedes SUV range, with prices starting at $64,550.**
Befitting a flagship vehicle, the GL-Class comes loaded with standard equipment, including 19-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, LED daytime running lights, Eucalyptus wood trim, power liftgate, 60/40 split-folding second row and 50/50 power split-folding third-row bench seats, Mercedes’ COMAND® system with central controller, a Nappa leather multifunction steering wheel, heated front seats, and more.
Optional features include a panoramic glass roof, illuminated running boards, 20-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated and cooled cupholders, a power tilt-telescoping steering column, power-folding side mirrors, and an 80-gigabyte hard drive navigation system, among other features. Some of this equipment is grouped in option packages, depending on the model.
Design
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is undeniably an SUV. Its boxy profile and tall ride height rebuke the current trend toward more car-like utility vehicles. But the GL’s exterior design isn’t without some finesse. The rounded corners and side sculpting give it a muscular look, as do the distinctive headlights and LED daytime running lights.
The interior is just as luxurious as you’d expect from any other Mercedes, but with lots more space. The GL-Class seats seven, with 60/40 and 50/50 split folding second and third rows that make switching to cargo-hauling mode easy. With all three rows in place, there is 16.0 cubic feet of cargo space, while lowering the rear two rows yields 93.8 cubic feet of stowage space.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, a rearview camera, Crosswind stabilization, Trailer Stability Assist, Attention Assist®, Collision Prevention Assist, and 11-way airbag protection.
Optional equipment includes a surround-view camera system, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, DISTRONIC PLUS® with Pre-Safe® Brake, and PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist.
Bottom Line
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class combines the luxury of an S-Class sedan, the utility of a station wagon, and the ruggedness of an SUV.
Be sure to contact us online or visit us at our dealership to schedule a test drive.
*Excludes all options, taxes, title registration, $925 transportation charge and dealer preparation fees.
**EPA estimated fuel economy. Compare the estimated mpg to the estimated mpg of other vehicles. You may get different mileage depending on how fast you drive, weather conditions and trip length. Your actual highway mileage will probably be less than the highway estimate.
Image: Mercedes-Benz