2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is setting new standards in comfort, dynamics, safety, elegance and efficiency and with this spectrum it is regarded as the S-Class among off-road vehicles. This premium SUV is able to demonstrate its exceptional capabilities in everyday situations with dense city traffic, over very winding roads or on well-built motorways as well as way off the beaten track. Here the multi-talent's qualities are even more evident. Whether driving over tracks with potholes, continually altering road surfaces or dusty natural trails interspersed with off-road sections - the superior comfort of the seven-seater's ride as well as its outstanding power and confident performance are really convincing even when the going gets really tough.

Relaxed - and that means safe - driving both on-road and off-road - is one of the great strengths of the new GL-Class. Especially its NVH qualities (noise, vibration, harshness) are very convincing and are on a par with those of the S-Class. The high standards of comfort are derived from the combined result of a very rigid bodyshell, a perfected drivetrain, improved chassis and superb aeroacoustic finishing as well as the intelligent use of new-style insulation materials. At the same time, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class retains its traditional advantages of being extremely responsive with outstanding off-road expertise.

On the manufacturer-sponsored press launch in sunny Sante Fe, I drove the base model, the GL350 BlueTech, a diesel that is the most mindful albeit the least powerful. It’s stocked with a 3.0 liter turbo diesel V-6 that produces 240 hp. I found power sufficient for moving the vehicle’s considerable 5467 pounds. The diesel-powered engine earns an EPA estimate of 18/24 mpg and boasts an impressive 500-mile range. Despite it’s size, the GL350 handles its weight on the brakes, without appearing sluggish . Steering is up to part — when I blew past one turn, I was able to make a graceful u-turn on the wide-open road. The use of lighter weight aluminum in the body makes the GL more agile on its feet despite it’s brawnier appearance. It’s only 50 pounds heavier than the previous model though it gains about an inch.

Next time around the block, I’d like to sample the thirstier 4.7 liter biturbo V-8 found in the GL450 which produces 362 hp and 406 pound feet of torque or even better the GL550V-8 that produces 429 hp and 516 pound feet of torque. The sportiest drivers will wait for the ultimate GL63 AMG debuts that has a ravenous 550-hp bi-turbo V-8. What’s also interesting about the GL550 is the flashier grill sliced with more statement making lines. The grille is distinct enough that the 350 and 550 look like distant cousins in the rearview.

The safety systems on the GL keep things in line even when driving patterns turn in to the wild west on remote desert roads, and are a nod to the future of driving, in which cars will rely on sensors to detect information and perform automatic driving functions. When Attention Assist is engaged a coffee cup logo illuminates on the dash and a “dong” pulses through the speaker. The Active Curve System feels as, for an instant, a phantom driver has seized the steering wheel, which takes some getting used to. Crosswind Stabilization does just that when a gust of wind blows. There’s also a 360-degree camera projecting an aerial image of the GL on the screen. It’s all very Tron-like.

The inside of the GL350 has the texture and technology one would expect of a proper Mercedes-Benz. Seats bend and fold with a button. Buyers can opt for Harman Kardon Logic 7 or Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG systems — two outstanding varieties for audiophiles. And Mercedes has nailed the cup holders, lest driver worry about spilling while off-roading through the peaks and valleys on a ski trip to Taos, New Mexico, where I took a break for lunch and had a proper plate of Bavarian style strudel.

The GL 450, priced at $63,900, and the GL550, prices $86,900, go on sale in September, followed by the $62,400 GL350 BlueTec in October and the yet-to-be-priced GL63 AMG in early 2013.