Mercedes Benz GL350 BlueTEC AMG Premium
Even the German automakers understand that the easiest way into many family carbuyer hearts (and driveways) is to offer a way to haul the kids around – and the GL Class is Mercedes-Benz's most largest, most luxurious vehicle for that job.
While the GL may wear a very large three-point star on its grille, it's actually manufactured in the US. It's sold well in the US since its launch in 2007.
It's a luxury SUV without question, but its exterior design is more subdued than many of the other vehicles in the class. The GL wears a mix of soft curves and long angles, giving it the attractive qualities of a crossover, but with a gloss that's decidedly rugged-looking.
Once inside, the GL takes another step up the luxury ladder and the GL’s advantages are readily apparent. There’s ample space for a large family, and while looking in the rear-view mirror is like looking down the aisle of a church, it’s obvious that there’s going to be leg, head and shoulder room to spare. Access and egress to the second row is made conspicuously easy by the button operated forward roll of the seat in front (although, disappointingly, it requires adult muscles to shunt it back into place). Wood trim and leather upholstery give the cabin a warm, rich feel.
Push all the buttons and the seats fold almost flat to reveal 2300 litres of load space, enough to make even a new Range Rover’s innards look stingy. It’s also worth mentioning that the quality of Mercedes’ fit and finish does not diminish the further you get from the driver’s seat - this is a premium product, and even those in the second row will testify to it. Certainly more so than in the last GL, which is reflected in the driving experience, too. The manufacturer has worked hard on the noise, vibration and harshness of its formerly hollow-sounding creation, and although its claim of S-class-style refinement can be taken with a pinch of salt, it’s a quiet and comfortable punt.
Of all the full-size luxury SUVs, the GL SUV have some of the best road manners. Electric power steering is new, and though it isn't full of feedback, it's not loose or overly light. The GL's independent suspension has air shocks that give it a pillowy ride, and the adaptive suspension counteracts body lean. This way, a wider spread between comfort and sport driving modes tailors the GL to more drivers. The GL SUV can tow up to 7500 pounds,
The GL's cabin is bigger and more comfortable than before. It's about an inch longer and an inch wider, and a half inch taller. But the best trick the GL does is its new flip and fold feature. Not only do the power-folding third-row seats stow for more cargo space, the second-row seats tuck away with power assistance. The GL's interior is just immense. Folding the seats in various ways opens up the GL's cargo space to cavernous proportions. With the third row up, there's 16 cubic feet of space; with the third-row seats flipped forward, the GL has 49.4 cubic feet of storage space. With the second row folded forward, it has 93.8 cubic feet of room--an immense amount of space.
The third-row seats are split 50/50, and all models have power-fold ability, so the bench seat can be stowed or used for passengers. Even adults will fit back here, better than in most full-size utes.
In the second row, there's a bit of innovation that doesn't affect the generous head and legroom. These second-row seats benefit from wider door cuts, which makes it easier to get in, but they also have a new Easy-Entry feature--either a manual handle or a power actuation, that flips and folds them forward for superior access to the third-row seats. The power controls also slide the front seats forward to accommodate the folded second-row seats, a nice touch--but the sounds of the motors moving the seats aren't the most precise ones we've heard in a Mercedes.
The GL's front seats with eight-way power adjustments are fine, and don't require too much of a step up to access.
On the safety front, the GL picks up a slew of new technologies. The usual airbags and stability control join a 360-degree camera that adapts its display as you dial into a parking spot. The GL can also park itself, with active park assist. Lane keeping assist nudges it back into a lane if you cross the median, and collision prevention assistance will bring the GL to a stop if it detects an obstacle in the road ahead at speeds of up to 20 mph.
While some brands choose to run the road of bling and extra chrome, the Mercedes-Benz remains comfortable with its more traditional SUV styling. Sure, there are a few more curves here and there, but this full-size SUV remains the same as it always has been, and that's not a bad thing.
The GL has grown more assertive in style–with a few more curves and a few more angles, especially up front–but it's generally softer that it has been in past generations. There's LED lighting at the front and rear, and the grille is more pronounced. It's a little less boxy than it was, but it's still just as rugged as ever. This GL are differentiated from the standard models with their flared wheel arches and 21-inch wheels and other AMG styling features.
Inside, the GL reconfigures the look of the prior version into a neater order, while packaging in some new features. The GL has a matte-finish glow here that avoids the blingy excesses. There's a standard seven-inch screen on the dash for infotainment, and the knob controller on its console runs those features through the COMAND operating system. Wood trim and leather upholstery warm up the cabin.
For performance, the GL 350 BlueTec relies on a turbo diesel six-cylinder with just 258 hp but 620 pound-feet of torque. The turbodiesel gets the best fuel economy of the GL lineup. The brutish diesel torque of twists its way through the GL's standard paddle-shifted seven-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system for a 0-100 km/hour acceleration in about 7.9 seconds. There's some turbo lag, and the diesel's powerband is pretty narrow. But the diesel's fuel economy is estimated as high as 24 mpg highway--one of the reasons the smooth, strong powerplant still makes this version one of our favorite big SUVs of all. Mercedes also offers a pair of gas V-8s in the new GL but these are not available in Thailand.
Better at isolating road surfaces than other large luxury utes, the GL has an independent suspension and standard air springs that are tuned for a pillowy ride. One thing there's much less of: the side-to-side head pitch we've noticed in the past in almost all Mercedes SUVs. The GL utes are some of the most composed full-size SUVs on the market, and the new electric power steering don't change that. The variable-ratio rack has different response at low speeds than it does at high ones; the transition's much less obvious here than in some of Mercedes' smaller, lighter cars.
The Mercedes-Benz GL has more safety tech than ever before, giving the brand that much more to add to its reputation for safety. Safety options on the GL include some of the innovations seen on recent S Class sedans. A new 360-degree camera adapts its display as you dial into a parking spot--and the GL can also park itself, with active park assist. All GL Class utes comes with the requisite airbags, including front knee airbags and full-length curtain airbags, and stability control. Every version also has standard Collision Prevention Assist, which uses cameras to sense impending collisions and applies brakes to mitigate impacts--or to stop the ute fully, if speeds are below 20 mph. The GL also has crosswind stabilization, which uses stability control to modulate braking and cut down on the steering effect generated by strong crosswinds. A rearview camera and Bluetooth are standard, too, as is Attention Assist--the Mercedes-pioneered system that flashes a coffee cup on the dash when a rearview-mirror-mounted camera detects a drowsy driver.
There's little left to ask for when it comes to the long list of standard equipment available on the Mercedes-Benz GL.
Of other standard equipment in the Thai version is navigation, ambient lighting, auto-dimming mirrors, Harman/Kardon surround sound, pushbutton start, and soft-close doors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, as well as active park assist, active-curve suspension and a panoramic sunroof. Power windows, locks, and mirrors; automatic climate control; heated power front seats and a power tailgate, power third-row seats; an DVD changer with HD radio, the COMAND interface, Bluetooth, mbrace2, Mercedes' connectivity suite, which links smartphones and mobile apps to the vehicle's infotainment system. Mbrace2 displays via the GL's seven-inch LCD screen, and includes features like custom speed alerts, geofencing, and the ability to search Google, Yelp!, and get Facebook updates while on the go.
The Mercedes-Benz GL lineup shaves weight wherever possible, with aluminum body panels, suspension pieces, and body bracing. It adopts electric power steering and a more efficient electrical structure, and adds gears to its automatic transmission, all in the interest of saving fuel.
Granted, there is none of the dynamic charm of Land Rover’s latest product line - this a benign machine with ethereal, finger-twirling steering - but the GL benefits from the full support of its air suspension, fidgeting only slightly and inoffensively over bad roads.
Conclusion:
The Mercedes Benz GL350 BlueTEC AMG Premium may be an expensive way to haul the family around, but it has excellent driving manners and some very sophisticated safety technology, too. Highlights MB Test Fast Lane Car
While the GL may wear a very large three-point star on its grille, it's actually manufactured in the US. It's sold well in the US since its launch in 2007.
It's a luxury SUV without question, but its exterior design is more subdued than many of the other vehicles in the class. The GL wears a mix of soft curves and long angles, giving it the attractive qualities of a crossover, but with a gloss that's decidedly rugged-looking.
Once inside, the GL takes another step up the luxury ladder and the GL’s advantages are readily apparent. There’s ample space for a large family, and while looking in the rear-view mirror is like looking down the aisle of a church, it’s obvious that there’s going to be leg, head and shoulder room to spare. Access and egress to the second row is made conspicuously easy by the button operated forward roll of the seat in front (although, disappointingly, it requires adult muscles to shunt it back into place). Wood trim and leather upholstery give the cabin a warm, rich feel.
Push all the buttons and the seats fold almost flat to reveal 2300 litres of load space, enough to make even a new Range Rover’s innards look stingy. It’s also worth mentioning that the quality of Mercedes’ fit and finish does not diminish the further you get from the driver’s seat - this is a premium product, and even those in the second row will testify to it. Certainly more so than in the last GL, which is reflected in the driving experience, too. The manufacturer has worked hard on the noise, vibration and harshness of its formerly hollow-sounding creation, and although its claim of S-class-style refinement can be taken with a pinch of salt, it’s a quiet and comfortable punt.
Of all the full-size luxury SUVs, the GL SUV have some of the best road manners. Electric power steering is new, and though it isn't full of feedback, it's not loose or overly light. The GL's independent suspension has air shocks that give it a pillowy ride, and the adaptive suspension counteracts body lean. This way, a wider spread between comfort and sport driving modes tailors the GL to more drivers. The GL SUV can tow up to 7500 pounds,
The GL's cabin is bigger and more comfortable than before. It's about an inch longer and an inch wider, and a half inch taller. But the best trick the GL does is its new flip and fold feature. Not only do the power-folding third-row seats stow for more cargo space, the second-row seats tuck away with power assistance. The GL's interior is just immense. Folding the seats in various ways opens up the GL's cargo space to cavernous proportions. With the third row up, there's 16 cubic feet of space; with the third-row seats flipped forward, the GL has 49.4 cubic feet of storage space. With the second row folded forward, it has 93.8 cubic feet of room--an immense amount of space.
The third-row seats are split 50/50, and all models have power-fold ability, so the bench seat can be stowed or used for passengers. Even adults will fit back here, better than in most full-size utes.
In the second row, there's a bit of innovation that doesn't affect the generous head and legroom. These second-row seats benefit from wider door cuts, which makes it easier to get in, but they also have a new Easy-Entry feature--either a manual handle or a power actuation, that flips and folds them forward for superior access to the third-row seats. The power controls also slide the front seats forward to accommodate the folded second-row seats, a nice touch--but the sounds of the motors moving the seats aren't the most precise ones we've heard in a Mercedes.
The GL's front seats with eight-way power adjustments are fine, and don't require too much of a step up to access.
On the safety front, the GL picks up a slew of new technologies. The usual airbags and stability control join a 360-degree camera that adapts its display as you dial into a parking spot. The GL can also park itself, with active park assist. Lane keeping assist nudges it back into a lane if you cross the median, and collision prevention assistance will bring the GL to a stop if it detects an obstacle in the road ahead at speeds of up to 20 mph.
While some brands choose to run the road of bling and extra chrome, the Mercedes-Benz remains comfortable with its more traditional SUV styling. Sure, there are a few more curves here and there, but this full-size SUV remains the same as it always has been, and that's not a bad thing.
The GL has grown more assertive in style–with a few more curves and a few more angles, especially up front–but it's generally softer that it has been in past generations. There's LED lighting at the front and rear, and the grille is more pronounced. It's a little less boxy than it was, but it's still just as rugged as ever. This GL are differentiated from the standard models with their flared wheel arches and 21-inch wheels and other AMG styling features.
Inside, the GL reconfigures the look of the prior version into a neater order, while packaging in some new features. The GL has a matte-finish glow here that avoids the blingy excesses. There's a standard seven-inch screen on the dash for infotainment, and the knob controller on its console runs those features through the COMAND operating system. Wood trim and leather upholstery warm up the cabin.
For performance, the GL 350 BlueTec relies on a turbo diesel six-cylinder with just 258 hp but 620 pound-feet of torque. The turbodiesel gets the best fuel economy of the GL lineup. The brutish diesel torque of twists its way through the GL's standard paddle-shifted seven-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system for a 0-100 km/hour acceleration in about 7.9 seconds. There's some turbo lag, and the diesel's powerband is pretty narrow. But the diesel's fuel economy is estimated as high as 24 mpg highway--one of the reasons the smooth, strong powerplant still makes this version one of our favorite big SUVs of all. Mercedes also offers a pair of gas V-8s in the new GL but these are not available in Thailand.
Better at isolating road surfaces than other large luxury utes, the GL has an independent suspension and standard air springs that are tuned for a pillowy ride. One thing there's much less of: the side-to-side head pitch we've noticed in the past in almost all Mercedes SUVs. The GL utes are some of the most composed full-size SUVs on the market, and the new electric power steering don't change that. The variable-ratio rack has different response at low speeds than it does at high ones; the transition's much less obvious here than in some of Mercedes' smaller, lighter cars.
The Mercedes-Benz GL has more safety tech than ever before, giving the brand that much more to add to its reputation for safety. Safety options on the GL include some of the innovations seen on recent S Class sedans. A new 360-degree camera adapts its display as you dial into a parking spot--and the GL can also park itself, with active park assist. All GL Class utes comes with the requisite airbags, including front knee airbags and full-length curtain airbags, and stability control. Every version also has standard Collision Prevention Assist, which uses cameras to sense impending collisions and applies brakes to mitigate impacts--or to stop the ute fully, if speeds are below 20 mph. The GL also has crosswind stabilization, which uses stability control to modulate braking and cut down on the steering effect generated by strong crosswinds. A rearview camera and Bluetooth are standard, too, as is Attention Assist--the Mercedes-pioneered system that flashes a coffee cup on the dash when a rearview-mirror-mounted camera detects a drowsy driver.
There's little left to ask for when it comes to the long list of standard equipment available on the Mercedes-Benz GL.
Of other standard equipment in the Thai version is navigation, ambient lighting, auto-dimming mirrors, Harman/Kardon surround sound, pushbutton start, and soft-close doors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, as well as active park assist, active-curve suspension and a panoramic sunroof. Power windows, locks, and mirrors; automatic climate control; heated power front seats and a power tailgate, power third-row seats; an DVD changer with HD radio, the COMAND interface, Bluetooth, mbrace2, Mercedes' connectivity suite, which links smartphones and mobile apps to the vehicle's infotainment system. Mbrace2 displays via the GL's seven-inch LCD screen, and includes features like custom speed alerts, geofencing, and the ability to search Google, Yelp!, and get Facebook updates while on the go.
The Mercedes-Benz GL lineup shaves weight wherever possible, with aluminum body panels, suspension pieces, and body bracing. It adopts electric power steering and a more efficient electrical structure, and adds gears to its automatic transmission, all in the interest of saving fuel.
Granted, there is none of the dynamic charm of Land Rover’s latest product line - this a benign machine with ethereal, finger-twirling steering - but the GL benefits from the full support of its air suspension, fidgeting only slightly and inoffensively over bad roads.
Conclusion:
The Mercedes Benz GL350 BlueTEC AMG Premium may be an expensive way to haul the family around, but it has excellent driving manners and some very sophisticated safety technology, too. Highlights MB Test Fast Lane Car