2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV Model Overview
Mercedes-Benz GLS
Key Features
- Starting at $87,000 MSRP*
- Standard 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive producing 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque or 4.0L V8 biturbo with mild hybrid drive producing 510 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque
- Hybrid Integrated Starter-Generator
- 20-inch 8-spoke wheels
- AIRMATIC® suspension
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display
- Burmester® Surround Sound System
- LED Intelligent Light System with Ultra Wide High Beams
- Surround View System
About The Mercedes-Benz GLS
The GLS is at the pinnacle of the Mercedes-Benz SUV range, a vehicle that treats you to the finest in Mercedes-Benz luxury and technology in a spacious and attractive package. A seamless blend of traditional wood-and-leather luxury and absolutely cutting-edge technology, the GLS is the best of what Mercedes-Benz does best. Offering up driving dynamics that few imagined a full-size SUV was capable of, the GLS has the power to astonish thanks to a standard 375-horsepower inline-6 or optional 510-horsepower V8. Settle into the heated and ventilated front seats, turn on the Burmester® Surround Sound System, and enjoy the calm luxury of the GLS.
What the Critics Say
The GLS is so refined on the road, its off-road capability is a surprising and welcome trait. Mercedes has made sure it’s able to tackle more obstacles than most buyers could dream of taking on. The air suspension can raise for more ground clearance, there are clever all-wheel-drive features to help keep things going in the right direction, and there’s even available underbody protection to shield the GLS’s sensitive bits when navigating over rocks and ruts. On the road, the GLS’s agility and comfortable ride are its most satisfying characteristics.” — Car & Driver
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is luxury writ large. Mercedes-Benz was one of the pioneers of the grand experiment of the luxury SUV, and the flagship GLS translates the experience of the iconic S-Class into SUV form. It has the top-notch interior quality and satisfying driving manners you’d expect from the brand, plus the convenience of 3-row seating and adventurous off-road capabilities.” — Kelley Blue Book
What’s New for 2024
The GLS gets a redesign for 2024, but not to fear, Mercedes-Benz has been careful not to change much about the user experience that made the GLS so popular in the first place. A new grille and front bumper will probably be the first things you notice about the new design, and they help set the GLS apart from the rest of the SUV lineup aesthetically. Inside, the cabin gets a mild reworking, including a new steering wheel. But the big changes are literally “under the hood”. Both available engines get a bump in power, and there is now an Off-Road Engineering package, which gives a boost to the already surprisingly capable off road ability of the GLS. This package comes with underbody protection and a setting to raise the air suspension by up to 1.2 inches.
Mercedes-Benz GLS Features
Capable Performance
All GLS trims offer excellent features like all-wheel drive and air suspension as standard, but when it comes to the powertrain, you have a choice. The standard powerplant is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with a mild hybrid system that makes 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough power to get the GLS to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. But if you’re craving more, there is an available 4.0-liter biturbo V8 with a mild hybrid system that produces 510 horsepower and 538 lb-ft, which will propel you to 60 MPH in just 4.7 seconds. Towing capacity for both engines is 7,700 lbs, which is enough to take whatever you need on your very comfortable road trip.
Luxury Interior
The largest of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs, the GLS is a vehicle that can actually fit adults in the third row of seats. Or the seats can all be folded flat for a huge cargo capacity of 84.7 cubic feet. The GLS can be configured for either 7 seats or 6, with the option of second-row captains’ chairs. 4-zone climate control is standard, with a 5-zone option available. A wide selection of interior colors and materials is available, including either Nappa leather or wood and leather for the steering wheel, which can be heated as well. Available options include soft-close doors, heated armrests, and heated and cooled cup holders.
Cutting Edge Technology
Much like the S-Class sedan, the GLS is a showcase for the latest and most advanced technology, not only for Mercedes-Benz, but for the entire automotive industry. The dash sports two 12.3-inch screens, one being a digital instrument cluster, and the other being an infotainment touchscreen. The cabin is lit by a 64-color LED ambient lighting system, and there is a choice of two Burmester® Surround Sound systems, one with 13 speakers and one with a staggering 29 speakers.
There is an available Augmented Video option for the navigation system, which overlays street names and upcoming turns over real-time video displayed on the infotainment screen. It can also work with the available 9.5-inch head-up display projected onto the windshield. There is even available MAGIC VISION CONTROL®, a whole system for the windshield wipers where the washer fluid jets are incorporated into the blades themselves, which are also heated. This not only works much better in the winter, but also eliminates that brief period between spraying your windshield and waiting for your wipers to catch up when your vision is completely obscured.
Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV vs Range Rover
Since it has been around for so long, any large luxury SUV will inevitably be compared to the Range Rover. In long-wheelbase form, the Range Rover offers the same 7-seat configuration as the GLS, and the pricing is similar to the V8-equipped GLS 580. That said, it’s not immediately obvious where this money goes. The GLS is noticeably quite a bit more powerful, and as a result, much quicker; it offers more legroom as well, and the Range Rover really can’t keep up with the tech that comes standard on the Mercedes flagship. That’s especially noticeable when it comes to proprietary Mercedes technology like augmented reality navigation, but it also remains true with things like the lack of a premium audiophile-grade stereo in the Range Rover.
| 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 | VS | 2024 Range Rover LWB |
|---|---|---|
| $112,000 | MSRP | $113,400 |
| 510 HP / 538 LB-FT TQ | Horsepower / Torque | 395 HP / 406LB-FT TQ |
| 4.7 seconds | 0-60 Time | 5.8 seconds |
| 40.3 inches / 41.9 inches | Legroom (1st row / 2nd row) | 39.9 inches / 40.4 inches |
| Burmester® 1,610-watt system with 26 speakers | Premium Stereo | Not Available |
| Optional | Augmented Reality Navigation | Not Available |
Trims & Specs
GLS 450 SUV
- Starting at $87,000 MSRP*
- 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive producing 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque
- 4MATIC® fully variable all-wheel drive
- Choice of 6- or 7-seat cabin configuration
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display
GLS 580 SUV
- Starting at $112,000 MSRP*
- 4.0L V8 biturbo with mild hybrid drive producing 510 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque
- AIRMATIC® suspension
- 22-inch AMG® wheels
- full-grain leather upholstery
- Burmester® Surround Sound System
*Starting price is MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. MSRP excludes transportation and handling charges, destination charges, taxes, title, registration, license, tag, preparation and documentary service fees, insurance charges, and Dealer add-on products, accessories and associated labor and installation charges. MSRP for a base model prior to customer build also excludes charges for optional equipment, products, packages, and accessories. Actual vehicle price and availability may vary by Dealer and should be confirmed with the dealer selected by customer.
**Burmester® is a registered trademark of Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH, Berlin, Germany
