The following review is for a 2022 Model Year. There may be minor changes to current model you are looking at.

Introduction

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS is a full-size luxury seven-seat SUV, a flagship that rules the road with a powerful engine, a luxurious cabin, and a plush ride. 

For 2022 it gains cooled front seats, 20-inch wheels, and four-zone climate control. However, due to chip shortages, the GLS has lost all its V-8 engines. Mercedes hoped to reinstate the models as supplies increased, but as of this writing it only sells one 6-cylinder model, the GLS 450. 

The GLS 450's turbocharged inline-6 engine makes 362 horsepower, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that augments fuel economy. It's teamed to a 9-speed automatic transmission and has standard all-wheel drive. 

The GLS offers effortless acceleration from any speed, even with its weight of about 5,400 pounds. Ride and handling match its power output, though on large wheels and tires the GLS can jostle its occupants. 

The GLS 450 is EPA-rated at 20 mpg city, 24 highway, 21 combined. 

No crash-test scores have been published, but the GLS comes with standard automatic emergency braking. An available package called Driver Assistance Package Plus adds adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a handful of additional active driving aids. For about $2,000, it's a wise buy for the ultimate in SUV safety. 

Lineup

Made in Alabama, the GLS 450 starts at about $80,000. With leather upholstery, natural wood trim, and the driver-assistance package, it costs about $86,000. 

Walkaround

The GLS 450 doesn't shout for attention. It's an elegant mansion, with a well-balanced shape and a minimum of fuss. A big tri-star logo studs the GLS' elegant twin-bar grille, under which a set of trim pieces suggest a set of rugged skid plates-they're not functional in that way, but burnish the GLS' SUV attitude. The relatively plain body sides resolve into an angled set of taillights. 

Mercedes will fit the GLS with an AMG-styled body kit and 21-inch wheels; there's even an option to light the logo in its grille. 

Interior

The sublime cabin might have been transplanted from the S-Class sedan. Giant 12.3-inch screens under a single glass pane bring high technology without, necessarily, complexity. It's lavish even before the options arrive. And even with its standard synthetic leather, which is (or can be) so good nowadays, that real mostly only matters in your head. Several colors are available, along with various wood, metal, and carbon fiber trims. 

There was a time when Mercedes seats, even on the most expensive models, were too hard. That time has passed. There's ample room for three in the second row, and even room for two in the third row. Cargo space is vast: 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 49 behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows dropped. 

Driving Impression

The power from the turbo-6 with its 362 horsepower is impressive. The GLS 450 shoots forward like a spaceship, and you can barely feel the 9-speed automatic upshifting. You can't feel the all-wheel drive working at all, using its traction control modes. 

The ride is mostly poised, even on the big 20-inch wheels, even on slippery terrain. The standard air suspension works hard to quell big bumps in Normal mode and to encourage a quicker pace in Sport mode. With the largest wheels, the GLS' efforts to damp out bumps and soften its responses can generate some side-to-side motions that disturb the placid ride, so drive before you choose the flashiest rims. 

Summary

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS has slimmed down to a single model, but it's still one of the best three-row luxury SUVs. Pick up the driver-assistance package with the GLS 450, for the most up-to-date technology. 

 

-by Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.