Making an attempt to plan a bachelor get together is one factor, however looking for a automobile that can comfortably chauffeur folks from the Denver Airport to Colorado Springs with baggage in tow is an entire totally different mission unto itself. Fortunately, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was (largely) up for the duty.
With room for six passengers and simply sufficient baggage house behind the third row (with some squeezing), I loaded up the GLS 450 with six of my buddies and hit the freeway. Beginning with an hour-long jaunt from the airport and adopted by an extended weekend of trekking in regards to the Rocky Mountains, the GLS proved that it’s nonetheless an distinctive freeway cruiser with a number of the greatest lively security in the marketplace.
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Professionals
Few autos south of six figures cruise as easily because the GLS. Within the preliminary 60-mile jaunt between Denver Airport and Colorado Springs (and again), the GLS was a superb freeway companion. The leather-based buckets have been supremely comfortable for myself and my entrance passenger, the suspension was gentle and spongy, and the sound deadening was next-level good.
One other optimistic tick towards the GLS’ cruising talents is its commonplace suite of lively security tools. Adaptive cruise management paired with lane-centering know-how made the hour-long freeway drive – even in slushy circumstances – an absolute breeze. The GLS utilized throttle and braking inputs easily as wanted and didn’t ping-pong aggressively within the lane.
Mercedes is taking its vary of EQ SUVs in a… totally different design route. However the GLS and the smaller GLE are nonetheless two of the best-looking luxurious SUVs in the marketplace, full cease. Certain, there are higher paint choices obtainable than the Diamond White on this tester – I’m a fan of Cardinal Pink – however the non-obligatory 23-inch AMG wheels are fashionable, the physique strains are clear and never too boxy, and the general look is elegant with out feeling over-the-top.
Cons
In comparison with one thing just like the BMW X7 or the closest Vary Rover, the GLS really has fairly good figures on paper. The 17.4 cubic ft of room behind the second row are amongst greatest at school, and even the 38.9 inches of headroom and 34.6 inches of legroom within the third row are first rate. Nonetheless, my largest activity was making an attempt to shove seven dudes and their baggage right into a automobile that will seemingly desire one or the opposite, not each.
In case you’re on the lookout for a three-row made for street journeys with six different adults, you continue to would possibly have to go larger. The GLS prefers smaller folks and fewer baggage than one thing like an prolonged Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator – larger body-on-frame three-rows. Each of these choices are nonetheless superior to the unibody crossovers on this respect with higher cargo and passenger house throughout.
I by no means felt that the GLS 450 was underpowered after I drove it again in 2019. The dual-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, usually presents greater than sufficient energy for on a regular basis driving conditions. However an outlier could possibly be loading up seven folks with baggage and heading into increased altitudes.
With passengers and cargo, the GLS 450 did wrestle a bit; some whining and wheezing from the six-cylinder compelled me to bury my foot only a bit deeper into the accelerator pedal than regular. In case you do usually commute at these elevations with passengers in tow, possibly take into account the 483-horsepower GLS 580 mannequin.
Incomes simply 18 miles per gallon metropolis, 24 freeway, and 20 mixed at its most effective, the GLS isn’t the fuel-sipper of the group. By comparability, the X7 and Audi Q7 each provide two higher mpg mixed, and even the bigger Escalade presents 23 mpg mixed for those who go for the diesel.
