2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. the Competition

Mercedes-Benz GLS VS BMW X7

For our first comparison, we’re looking at the BMW X7. This makes a good starting point because it’s the only real competition from another German brand, pricing is similar, and both vehicles come with standard 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines that produce 375 horsepower. But then we start getting into the differences, and the first of these is interior space, quite an important one for a luxury vehicle. The GLS offers more legroom for all three rows of seats, but especially for the second row. And there’s more cargo space in the back as well. What’s especially remarkable is that, despite this extra space, the GLS has a tiger turning circle, and is able to negotiate tight spaces better than the X7. And if that extra space isn’t enough for you, you can tow quite a substantial amount with the GLS, more than quite a few pickup trucks, but you can’t tow at all with the X7.

For a lot of people, an audiophile-grade listening experience is an irreplaceable component of a luxury experience, and here the GLS has another advantage. Not only does the standard stereo come with more speakers, it’s made by the high-end stereo manufacturer Burmester®. BMW includes a generic 10-speaker system. Although you can upgrade to a name-brand system in the X7, it still falls short of the optional system in the GLS. BMW has never been great for standard equipment, and this is true even of flagship models like the X7, which doesn’t offer adaptive headlights at all, and charges extra for adaptive cruise control and a surround view backup camera. Even ventilated seats cost extra in the X7, which is unusual in this segment.

Mercedes-Benz GLS VS Lexus LX

The Lexus brand was launched with the debut of the LS, aimed squarely at taking on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The brand has obviously expanded, and now the LX is aimed at the GLS in the same way. The LX starts off priced much higher than the German vehicles in this segment, so we’re using the more powerful GLS 580 4MATIC® for this comparison, so the pricing is a bit closer. And power is a good place to start this comparison, since the GLS comes with quite a bit more of it. Normally, something like 0-60 times wouldn’t be a major factor when comparing two vehicles in this segment, but the LX really is shockingly slow for a luxury vehicle, and a difference of 2.2 seconds is an eternity in 0-60 times. But the GLS isn’t just quicker, it scores big points for practicality with noticeably more cargo space.

The stereo in the LX is pretty average for the segment, but with its 13 speakers from the high-end Burmester®, the GLS is anything but average. The optional stereo available for the LX fares a little better, but still doesn’t quite measure up to the GLS. These are large vehicles, and the GLS comes with 22-inch wheels to appropriately fill the large wheel arches. The LX comes with 20-inch wheels, which look small by comparison. And this is made worse by the fact that bigger wheels aren’t even an option on the base trim, and the only way to get different wheels is by selecting a different trim level. The LX comes with a good towing capacity, very similar to the GLS, but hooking up a trailer is much easier in the GLS, thanks to the available trailer backup assist. There are other features that are just better on the GLS as well. While the LX has good LED headlights and integrated navigation, the GLS has adaptive LED headlights, and the integrated navigation also provides real-time traffic and weather information. Lastly, we have one more example of how Mercedes-Benz takes seating more seriously than its competitors, with standard front massage seats, an option on the LX.

Mercedes-Benz GLS VS Range Rover

As rare as GLS competitors are, it’s even more rare to find one that has a high-performance version. But Range Rover does make one, so we’re taking a look at the Range Rover SV for our last comparison. Both vehicles are powered by a twin-turbo V8, and they produce nearly identical horsepower figures. The difference between the two is the torque output, where the GLS has an enormous advantage, and the result is a quicker 0-60 time. But this isn’t the whole story. The Range Rover is available with either a short or a long wheelbase, and the long version is needed if you want a third row of seats. The problem there is that the Range Rover SV is only available in short-wheelbase form. It’s true that not everybody cares about a third row of seats, but if you’re one of those people, you can get the same handbuilt AMG® engine from the GLS 63 in the GLE 63 and hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. The Range Rover asks you to make a compromise either way, and you have to give up either the extra seating or even more of the already less impressive performance.

As far as features go, the two vehicles have a lot in common. As you expect, both offer things like leather upholstery and adaptive air suspension as standard equipment. And while things like the GLS offering five-zone climate control while the SV has four-zone aren’t really going to be a deciding factor for anyone, there are some impressive tech features that only the GLS offers. Augmented video is used to great effect in the GLS, with an offroad mode that enables a “transparent hood” feature that gives you real-time info on the part of the ground that would otherwise be obscured by the hood. The integrated navigation also uses augmented video, showing you a live video feed of the road in front of you with things like street names and upcoming turns superimposed over it. It’s all part of the more sophisticated approach to performance that you get with Mercedes-Benz.