2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Overview

With three spacious rows of seats, the 2023 GLS-class is an SUV that can allow the whole family to experience Mercedes-level luxury while rewarding its driver with surprising agility. The entry-level engine is a 362-hp turbocharged inline-six that’s eerily smooth and plenty powerful but if you want more go the GLS580 swaps the six for a twin-turbo V-8 with 483 ponies. Of course, fuel economy takes a nose dive with the big motor. All models come with all-wheel drive and an adjustable air suspension. The ride is smooth when you want it to be but setting the drive mode selector to Sport brings taut body control not found in rivals such as the Land Rover Range Rover and the Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes has dropped a ton of tech features into the GLS’s cabin, including a massive dual-display dashboard that digitizes pretty much everything from the SUV’s gauges to its infotainment system. Despite the almost over-reliance on screens the GLS’s controls are fairly easy to use while driving, which we reckon most buyers will appreciate.

What’s New for 2023?

The GLS-class receives two minor alterations for 2023. The GLS450 now comes with metallic paint and all models now ship with a panoramic sunroof as a standard feature.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Executive Rear Seat Plus package turns the second row into a Sybarite zone with massaging seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a tablet controller for the GLS’s infotainment system, and plusher headrests. It also ups the safety level with side-impact airbags. Ordering that package requires that you shell out for leather upholstery, which, surprisingly, isn’t standard.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Two models are offered—the six-cylinder GLS450 and the eight-cylinder GLS580—and both feature some hybridization. The GLS450’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six is smooth as polished granite and good for 362 horsepower. The GLS580 is far more powerful, making 483 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. At our test track, the GLS450 managed a brisk 5.5-second run to 60 mph and stopped from 70 mph in a short 154 feet. Despite its size, the GLS-class is easy to hustle on a twisty road, but it’s not overly sporty. All models come standard with an air suspension, but Mercedes also offers a trick system called E-Active Body Control. It utilizes a forward-facing camera to scan for bumps and adjusts the suspension accordingly so riders will feel less of the road’s imperfections. It’s a cool technology but expensive, and we think most buyers will find the standard setup does a fine job.

More on the GLS-Class SUV

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA fuel economy estimates for the GLS-class aren’t great. The GLS450 earns 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. The GLS580 does worse, with 16 mpg, 21 mpg, and 18 mpg, respectively. In our real-world testing, the GLS450 performed a little better than its rating, managing 24 mpg on our 75-mph highway test. The GLS580 returned a dismal 18 mpg in the same test. If fuel economy is a priority for you, the BMW X7 will be a better choice in the luxury-SUV department. A six-cylinder X7 xDrive40i managed an impressive 28 mpg in our highway test while an eight-cylinder xDrive50i delivered 24 mpg. For more information about the GLS-class’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Borrowing its dashboard and cockpit layout from the similarly new GLE-class SUV, this generation of GLS is far more modern than the one it replaces. It’ll fit up to seven passengers but can be spec’d for six with the optional captain’s chairs. Passenger space is generous in the first and second rows, and the third row, while not as spacious as the second, can accommodate an adult without too much complaining—something that can’t be said of the wayback in the X7.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Two huge 12.3-inch digital displays take up the majority of the dashboard. One serves as a reconfigurable gauge display for the driver, while the other handles infotainment duties and runs Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX software, which features an iPhone-like virtual assistant. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, in-dash navigation, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard. All GLS models come with a 13-speaker Burmester Surround Sound stereo, but if that’s not enough for you, there’s an available Burmester 3D audio system with an insane 26-speaker arrangement.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Mercedes-Benz offers several different types of driver-assistance features on this SUV, but the most interesting bits—such as a semi-autonomous driving mode—cost extra. For more information about the GLS-class’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Buyers of the GLS-class receive a four-year/50,000-mile warranty as standard, which is far from the best in this class. The Cadillac Escalade offers two more years of powertrain coverage, and the Lincoln Navigator comes with four years of complimentary scheduled maintenance if you go for the luxurious Black Label model.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS450

VEHICLE TYPE

front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED

$96,835 (base price: $76,195)

POWERTRAIN

turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 362 hp, 369 lb-ft + AC motor, 21 hp, 184 lb-ft (combined system 362 hp, 369 lb-ft; 0.9-kWh lithium-ion battery)

TRANSMISSION

9-speed automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink

Brakes (F/R): 14.8-in vented, cross-drilled disc/13.6-in vented disc

Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 PNCS, F: 275/45R-21 107Y MO-S R: 315/40R-21 111Y MO-S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 123.4 in

Length: 205.0 in

Width: 77.0 in

Height: 71.8 in

Cargo volume: 17 cu ft

Curb weight: 5594 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec

60 mph: 5.5 sec

100 mph: 14.4 sec

120 mph: 22.6 sec

Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.2 sec

¼-mile: 14.1 sec @ 99 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 129 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.92 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 17 mpg

75-mph highway driving: 24 mpg

Highway range: 570 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/city/highway: 21/19/23 mpg

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS580 4Matic

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$126,785 (base price: $98,795)

ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement
243 in3, 3982 cm3
Power
483 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
516 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 123.4 in
Length: 205.2 in
Width: 79.9 in
Height: 71.8 in
Curb weight: 5973 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
60 mph: 4.7 sec
100 mph: 11.7 sec
130 mph: 21.8 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.1 sec
¼-mile: 13.3 sec @ 106 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 166 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 13 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 18 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 18/16/21 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs