New name ups the Mercedes game
Mercedes-benz’s new naming policy for its SUVS has cut the confusion, says John Oxley – and the latest GLS is exactly what the nomenclature states.
What do the letters stand for in a Mercedes-benz name? Well, it’s a lot easier to understand with the latest naming convention. GL means SUV. The last letter indicates the platform it’s built on. So GLS indicates an SUV built on the S-class platform – and that in turn means it’s the top of the tree! In the case of our test vehicle, our GLS was fitted with a 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel, but the numbers 350 after GLS sowed a few seeds of confusion… Whatever, the latest GLS is Merc’s most luxurious SUV to date, and much of it is new, though not all. The basic body stays the same as the old GL, which it succeeds, but there have been lots of changes, including a major rework of the front end, minor restyling work on other parts of the body, a revised interior, and improvements to the drivetrain and chassis. Most notable of the latter is the new nine-speed 9G-tronic automatic gearbox, so smooth that you hardly ever feel it change, yet versatile thanks to a sports mode and paddle shifters. Merc interiors have never been shabby, and this one is no exception, with superb fit and finish, lots of black-dyed wood, and hand-stitched leather, plus a new eight inch screen on the dash, with satnav, etc., operated via Merc’s latest touch pad on the centre console. There’s a reversing camera with 360 degree function, too – especially good when reversing the bulky GLS – plus new instruments and a new steering wheel. It’s still as opulent as ever, and bulging with space, enough to carry seven adults (yes, even the rearmost seats, with easy access thanks to electrically-folding centre seats) – with all the comfort features you expect at this price point, including a Hardon Kardon surround sound audio system, full climate control aircon/heating, with the centre row of seats having their own controls, heated front seats, sun blinds in the second row doors, and smart phone integration with Apple Play. For the driver, there’s an electricallyadjusted tilt and reach steering wheel, with wood and leather trim, satellite controls for just about everything, including the radarcontrolled active cruise control, active blind spot assistance, lane keeping assistance, electric front seats with memories, electric parking brake, and paddle gear shifters. A big plus, especially on such a big car, is the Parktronic feature, which helps you find a right-sized parking space, then actively twirls the steering wheel while you operate the brake and accelerator (and gearshift if necessary) to slot in. Other features include 20-inch alloy wheels, a glass electric sunroof with tilt and slide operation, dark tinted privacy glass, electric tailgate, and one we really like, puddle lamps which throw a perfect Mercedes-benz logo onto the ground when you enter or leave the vehicle. Add in rain sensor wipers, a tyre pressure monitor, and the Mercedes-benz safety kit, and it makes the GLS one car you’ll feel happy your kids are riding in! On the road the GLS benefits from an improved Airmatic air suspension, which includes Adaptive Damping Plus with level control and automatic lowering at higher speeds, resulting in a much better ride than before and a lower propensity for the passengers to be thrown around the cabin in high-speed corners. Full-time four-wheel drive operates in a 50-50 split for even power distribution and snappier handling, and there are five drive modes which can be selected – Individual, Sport, Comfort, Slippery and Off-road). Although the GLS doesn’t come equipped with a low range gearbox, (although it IS available overseas), it does get a downhill speed regulation system and traction control, and a decent ground clearance. You could happily take this one across a small river to get a lot more from the outdoors! In summary, a spacious and ultracomfortable touring vehicle which can accommodate seven adults, which is exceptionally economical for its size, and which has a fair turn of speed when you need it. If you need to go big, well this is the one to get.