Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 the pure embodiment of our age
An Oscar Wilde quip from another opulent century aptly sums up our time: “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.”
That would seem to be the design ethos behind the 603-horsepower MercedesAMG GLS 63 for 2021, a family hauler for our narcissistic age.
The three-row SUV makes its presence unmistakably felt with a high, blunt front end accented with a mammoth Mercedes-Benz grille that appears as if it’s ready for world domination. Mercedes-Benz describes the GLS 63 as the “S-Class of SUVs,” so its mission couldn’t be clearer.
By any measure, this Mercedes is dressed to impress, with a lavish interior boasting three rows of seats and room for seven. The 2021 GLS has an additional 3.4 inches of second row legroom compared to its predecessor. A bench seat is standard; captains’ chairs are optional.
But this is a MercedesAMG, not a MercedesBenz, so performance is the priority here. For the uninitiated, AMG stands for Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) who founded their company at the Old Mill in Burgstall near Grossaspach (G). AMG is now an inhouse tuning division of Mercedes-Benz.
This is why it wears body-colored flared wheel arches, side skirts and mirror housings, while windows are trimmed in high-gloss chrome. The rear view is equally arresting, with specific rear trim accented with twin rectangular tailpipes. And let’s not overlook the unique AMG 21-inch wheels. Inside, it’s trimmed like a motorhead’s bordello, with metal AMG sport pedals, three-spoke AMG steering wheel with aluminum shift paddles, illuminated door sills, and doors trimmed in Nappa leather and high-gloss anthracite limewood.
The state-of-the-art instrument panel features twin 12.3-inch screens under a single piece of glass that makes it seem to be a single display. But the instrument cluster can be configured in one of four distinct appearances. Not to be outdone, the MBUX infotainment system gets AMG-specific displays, although there’s a lot of unnecessary scrolling to get to specific menus.
But the performance that truly matters isn’t on-screen; it occurs when you press the accelerator.
That’s when the GLS 63 shows it brute strength, thanks to an AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine with an integrated starter-generator that adds 21 horsepower and a very significant 184 pound-feet of torque. Power is rated at 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, and moves this massive Merc from 0-to-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 174 mph.
Aiding and abetting this strong surge of power is a nine-speed automatic transmission, and 4Matic all-wheel drive. Six driving modes adjust the steering, torque distribution, allwheel drive and active stabilizers.
And it handles far better than you’d expect. Its monster tires provide impressive grip, while the air suspension ensures you won’t require a trip to the chiropractor. 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GLS63
Base price:
Nobody needs this sort of vehicle, but need has nothing to do with it. This is true luxury, and priced accordingly.