The GL is one of the more recent models from the German carmaker as it was launched in 2006. The GL model is a full-size luxury SUV, and it is built on the same body platform as the smaller M Class. The GL is now in its second generation and in India it is available with only a diesel engine, but a refreshed version of the car was launched in 2014. The GL competes against other luxury SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery 4, Audi Q7 and BMW X5.
Design & Styling
The GL is a large SUV that leans more towards elegance than muscle. There are more curves than what you would find on a traditional SUV. The car is over 5 metres in length and it features the same traditional but a new and very large Mercedes front grille and it also has a very nice looking front bumper. The rear end now features the new-look two-piece tail lamps with LED fibre-optic cable and the roof with a large roof spoiler emphasise the vehicle's width and give it a road-hugging look. Then it has got massive tyres that come with newly designed shiny alloys. The overall body of the car is big but the mid-section and rear-end are not inspiring. Overall the car looks good but not very impressive.
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Interiors
The Interiors have also been refreshed and are of the highest luxury you can find in an SUV. The seats are very nice and there is lots of space for all three rows of passengers. The dashboard also gets a new design and the ergonomics are spot on. The steering wheel is nice and big and the tube-style instrument cluster is in full view and easy to see. The interior layout of seats is also good and you can easily fit in 7 people. Every aspect of the generously dimensioned interior of the GL-Class is designed to offer passengers the highest degree of comfort and make every journey as pleasant as possible.
Engine & Transmission
The GL 350 CDI still comes with the V6 2987cc diesel engine that can pump out 258bhp and 619Nm of torque. The engine is brilliantly built and it sounds quite for a diesel. The engine is mated to the highly-acclaimed 7G automatic gearbox.
Performance and Handling
The GL is a good car to drive and it performs very well. Although we wouldn’t advise you to do too much off-roading in this car, it seems better suited for highway and city use, but it does have some very good technology that can assist in tough driving situations. The engine is a very good performer and it responds well to the driver’s requirements. There is so much torque available and with such a heavy car you will need it, and in this case you definitely feel it. The suspension setup is really good and even in a heavy and tall car there isn’t much body roll when you are driving around sharp curves at high speeds. The steering response is also very good, but could have been a just a bit more responsive, but is otherwise good and the car is very easy to handle.
Fuel Efficiency
We managed to record a fuel efficiency of about 10kmpl.
Features
As standard equipment you get power steering and steering mounted controls, power windows, electrically adjustable seats and full automatic climate control, cruise control, multi function display, in-built audio system with very nice speakers and a central infotainment controller and now they also come with start/stop button, and that is exactly what the GL Class features. There is also a rear seat entertainment package that includes LCD screens for the rear passengers and there is also AIRMATIC suspension.
Safety
Once again all Mercedes cars come with standard safety features such as Electronic Stability Control, Acceleration Skid Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, adaptive brake lights, multiple airbags, and remote central locking. Then there is a PARKTRONIC system with reverse camera, ATTENTION Assist, Agility Control, CROSSWIND assist and Collision prevention system.
Quality & Reliability
This is the ultimate luxury machine, so quality is the best out there. It is also very well built and engineered to perfection, so it is highly reliable. Components can sometimes be a problem and servicing is expensive, especially in the monsoon seasons, electrical failures can happen.
Value for Money
The GL Class is a very strong car and is very well built with all the luxury. Even though it has a high price tag. We think it is justified.
Verdict
The GL is a great car for the city and highway. It is after all a luxury SUV, and we wouldn’t recommend you go on an off-road stint with it. It is comfortable and luxurious and comes with great features. If you want a luxury SUV that can handle rough terrain, look at the Land Rovers and the BMW X5.
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