BIG-BOY UTILITY
In many ways, the MercedesBenz GLS remains an S-Class on stilts. But there’s a new kid on the block now
Jumbo SUVs are quite popular in the Middle East and US, where road space is generally expansive and gas relatively inexpensive.
Due to their body size, gargantuan 4x4s like the Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia aren’t as appealing in other global markets. That’s why the smaller Fortuner and its likes are the biggest SUVs sold in Thailand, for one.
But there are some other brands that have tried to push such vehicles into as many markets as possible. One of them is Mercedes-Benz with its GLS, only to be followed by BMW recently with the all-new X7.
The first-generation GLS (known simply as the GL during its early years) won praise for being an S-Class on stilts by incorporating similar levels of comfort and luxury. These two traits are quite important in capturing attention of buyers in Asia.
The GLS may not be a big-seller in Thailand but it did have its fans. Which is why the Thai Mercedes office is wasting no time in selling the second-gen model. Crucial, too, is BMW’s decision to bring over the X7 to this country for the first time last year.
Lots of interior room is a must for full-size SUVs explaining why the GLS still has extra-big dimensions, be it in wheelbase or overall length. Three rows of seats is also imperative.
As the GLS (and X7) are flagship SUVs, it’s equipped with lavish features on the convenient side of things. The last-tier chairs can disappear into the floor to create a super-large boot via the touch of electric buttons and can return to their original positions in the same fuss-free manner.
While space isn’t an issue in the GLS, the seats could have had softer cushions despite being upholstered with nicefeeling leather. Because of this, the GLS is not always that jacked-up S-Class (the same could be said for what the X7 tries to be with the 7 Series).
Design-wise, the cabin in the GLS feels modern thanks to that classy digital widescreen on the fascia looking very much like in the smaller GLE. Although it looks generally upmarket in the GLS, some testers didn’t like the air-con vents that look too ordinary to really feel special in a car costing nearly nine million baht.
Maybe, Mercedes wants to reserve super-opulence for the Maybachbadged variant because it needs to target exotics like the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Whatever the reason, it would be great to see the GLS having posher details, too.
Due to its bulk and the need to offset any accusations of it being a downright gas-guzzler, the GLS continues to be sold with a 3.0-litre diesel-turbo in Thailand. Despite the same GLS350d badge, there’s now the brand’s latest in-line-six unit in place of the previous vee-sixer.
The outputs aren’t vastly more than before, but the GLS350d still packs
FOR: roomy cabin and boot, modern-looking fascia AGAINST: wallowing ride, cumbersome handling VERDICT ....................... 7/10
The latest GLS is still what it has always been: an S-Class on stilts. A more powerful engine would suit its lofty image better.
sufficient punch at low to medium revs. Grunty diesels work perfectly fine in such SUVs of this size. Mind, the motor is also refined and well-muted but somehow a little raucous when coming back to life after the automatic engine-idling system has had enough at the lights.
While the GLS350d continues to offer enough performance outside the city, you’d sometimes crave for more punch. The price-to-performance ratio in the GLS350d feels blunted the instant you put the similarly priced 400hp X7 M50d into perspective. Yes, the Bimmer glides more effortlessly and serenely in all places.
Like before, the GLS is cumbersome to drive especially around town where you’d always feel that width via the vast bonnet in front of you. You now start to cherish some driving aids the GLS has as standard.
Out in the open, though, the GLS manages to conceal some of its bulk well, thanks to a reasonably responsive steering. Together with the 4Matic allwheel drive, the GLS can tackle corners with sufficient confidence.
There’s a two-level air suspension in the GLS whose Comfort mode makes for a pillowy ride and Sport just a touch firmer, if never to the sporty side of things. True, such SUVs arguably need to prioritise comfort for potential buyers, but it appears the X7 has more balanced chassis settings. And to top things off, the X7 seems to have better cruising refinement by a notable margin.
It sometimes feel that final development of the new GLS was signed off a little too early to really seal its top position in the class again (the X7 has hit global markets last year only a few months earlier than this second-gen GLS).
Despite being redesigned as a newgeneration model, the GLS could have had more marked improvements now that its chief nemesis has come into existence. After all, such SUVs are intended as flagships and not outright sellers, so they should showcase the best wherever possible. And it’s here where the X7 underscores its lofty intentions more clearly.
IT SOMETIMES FEEL THAT FINAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW GLS WAS SIGNED OFF A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO REALLY SEAL ITS TOP POSITION IN THE CLASS AGAIN