Want a track star but need a hauler?
Roomy 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 63 4Matic impresses with power without skimping on size
MLOS ANGELES ercedes-Benz redesigned the full-sized GLS for 2020, making it bigger inside and out.
But because size might not be enough for some insatiable drivers, the German automaker handed the family-sized SUV over to the wizards at AMG, who boosted the already potent 4.0-litre V8 to just a touch above 600 horsepower and incorporated a 48-volt mild hybrid system that adds even more punch. If that doesn’t satisfy even the most demanding family chauffeur, nothing will.
Before we peek under the hood at what makes the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4Matic a fire-breathing seven-seater, here’s a look at the changes it receives over the previous model.
For starters, wheelbase has been lengthened by 60 millimetres, while the body is 77 mm longer, and 22 mm wider. These changes have increased legroom behind the front seats by 87 mm; not only is there more shoulder room for everyone, but two full-sized adults can fit comfortably in the third row with just enough legroom for a six-footer like me — as long as the first two rows of seats aren’t set too far back. And if you forego the passengers, there’s now 100 L more storage space with the second- and third-row seats folded down, at 2,400 L. Storage capacity behind the third row is 355 L.
On the outside, the GLS 63 gets a wider and taller grille with vertical bars, distinctive front and rear aprons, and 22-inch wheels. The silhouette is less angular, and the sides are more streamlined, with fewer character lines on the door panels. Full LED lighting is now standard, including multi-beam headlights with 112 individual LEDs that enable auto highbeam and cornering lights. A panoramic sunroof is standard.
From the driver’s seat, you’ll see an ultrawide, high-resolution screen instead of a conventional gauge cluster and centre stack. This is actually a pair of 12.3-inch screens that seamlessly sit side by side. The configurable forward screen displays the instruments, while the one to the right is a touch screen. It operates like a horizontally mounted tablet, allowing you to drag and select apps for infotainment, GPS navigation, vehicle settings, and other functions.
There are redundant controls for many of the functions in the steering wheel and via a touchpad on the centre console. No matter where you sit in the GLS, your smartphone should never run out of juice with 11 USB ports scattered throughout — all the way to the third row. They are, however, the smaller Type-C ports, but if your phone charges wirelessly, drop it on the pad in the centre console, just ahead of the cupholders.
So far, the changes between the standard GLS and the 63 are subtle. Less subtle is what’s happening under the hood. The 4.0-L V8 in the GLS 580 claims a peak output of 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. That’s
OK, but if you’re one of those drivers who considers sub500 hp a touch anemic, the GLS 63 claims 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque from the same engine.
A 48-volt electric starter/ alternator provides a brief boost of 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to fill the gap in power as the turbocharger spools up. In practice, there’s no lag when you get on the gas. The 48-volt electrical system also powers the automatic start/stop, steering, and climate-control systems, thus eliminating power-sapping drive belts.
Engine power transfers to all four wheels via a quick-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission. The AWD system can send all the power to the rear by electronically locking the differential, or vary power distribution to up to a 50/50 front/ rear split, depending on the selected drive mode and conditions.
Towing capacity hasn’t been divulged, but Mercedes-Benz claims 7,700 lbs. for the standard GLS. It’s quite good, and there’s no reason to believe the AMG should be any different.
Sure, the GLS is a big, heavy beast, but hit the gas pedal in Sport+ mode and it’ll plant you into the seats like a roller-coaster at the bottom of a drop. The outrageous output drops the zero-to-100 km/h time to 4.2 seconds — that’s more than one second faster than the GLS 580’s 5.3. And it comes standard with AMG Track Pace, which uses GPS and various sensors to record lap times and other track-related data — so you can try to beat your travel times on trips to Home Depot.
No AMG would be authentic if it didn’t include the enhanced performance exhaust system, which adds rich sound in the Sport modes, as well as off-throttle farting — your kids will love the Sport modes on their way to school. And if they get rambunctious in the back, just hammer the throttle; the G-forces pushing them into the seats should immobilize them.
Surprisingly, it’s not just about the power, because the GLS 63 also handles well — for a big, heavy beast. Its chassis is remarkably taut, and the standard-issue Active Ride Control, which uses electromechanical stabilizers to counter body lean through turns, keeps the SUV level when cornering at speed. Standard air suspension can lower the GLS by 10 mm for reduced drag at speed, or raise it by 55 mm for increased ground clearance.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 will arrive this fall, but pricing hasn’t been released yet. It will be pricey, though, as indicated by the 2019 model’s $140,100 price tag. But if you have an insatiable want for power, yet also need a full-sized family hauler, price is probably the least of your worries.