Mercedes launches S-Class of SUVs
GETTING out of the new Mercedes-Benz GLS to sample the magnificent view from Hochgurgl, high in the Austrian Alps, was a lot more difficult than actually driving the road to get to the view point.
My co-driver had parked hard up against a snow drift, and the ground where I alighted was frozensolid ice, which meant I had to cling to the side of the GLS to make my way around to some tarmac with more grip.
That little taste of how slippery things can be, and indeed were in many places up there above the clouds, emphasised the sheer competence of this luxury range-topping seven-seater SUV from Mercedes-Benz. By sticking within the parameters advised by our “squadron leader” up the mountain, we were able to assess at least some of the tractive and behavioural elements of the new six-way Dynamic Select function on the GLS, the car Merc is calling “the SClass of SUVs”.
Dynamic Select now offers up to six transmission modes in the new GLS, which is effectively a facelifted GL with some telling technical upgrades. These settings include Comfort, Slippery Sport, Off-Road and Individual.
This offroad function is for lightoffroading, but as an optional extra, an Off Road Engineering package is on offer, which provides a lowrange transfer case, a locking centre differential, and an increase in ride height of up to 306mm.
All GLS models come standard with Airmatic suspension, which has been retuned for the new GLS with revised damping characteristics. Another option, for those who enjoy fast tarmac mountain road running, is Active Curve System, which employs active anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles.
Getting back to our snow-bound drive, it was indeed impressive as to the acumen that this Merc showed up the snow-bound roads with ice patches aplenty.
We were interested to learn from the Mercedes engineers on hand at the launch that in standard form the GLS has a straight 50-50 mechanical split for its four-wheeldrive system, with no limited-slip or locking differentials. Wheelspin is controlled by ABS-related individual braking when it detects slippage on one wheel or more. It is a simple system, which Mercedes feels is appropriate to the type of mild offroading that most of its GLS customers would tackle.
The Off Road Engineering package, which includes low range for the standard fit 9G-Tronic gearbox, also employs a centre diff lock. This caused us problems in the particularly slippery snow-’n-ice conditions on the way down, as we decided to try using low range for more engine braking and control. We didn’t factor in the centre difflocking function, which tended to make the car push the nose too much in smooth but icy conditions!
As for the rest of the GLS, you can distinguish the new model easily by the very attractive new nose section which has a squarer, more upright radiator grille placement, and this works better, stylistically, in conjunction with the squared-off wheelarches which were previously a GL feature. The bonnet now also incorporates the twin power bulges which Merc has introduced to its SUV range, and restyled headlights.
The new lights in Standard form feature new LED running lights, while optional is the excellent Intelligent Light System (standard on the GLS 500 4Matic) which blocks out lighting to avoid blinding oncoming traffic (or cars up ahead). The system provides amazing side illumination for picking out the edges of the road, which we found amazingly useful travelling through countless curves on our way up from Innsbruck to Hochgurgl, the night before our snowy mountain test drive.
During that run we sampled the 350d version (equipped with the optional Intelligent Lighting) and were impressed as to the smoothness of the V6 engine, now rated at 190kW, and its very un-diesel-like sound. We also enjoyed the revised infotainment system with bigger screen and the easy-to-use controller on the console. Overall, the GLS impressed hugely, considering that it is huge, being a seven-seater that weighs close to 2.5 tons.
The next day we drove the GLS 500 4Matic, our pick of the bunch, and one of the three models that Mercedes-Benz SA is shipping to South Africa and which should be on sale here in late March, or early April, 2016.
The third model is the supercarstomping Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4Matic with 430kW on board, which we didn’t get to drive.
Prices: GLS 350d - R1 205 953 GLS 500 - R1 363 648 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 - R2 117 137