Mercedes GLS by Mansory (2023) - AWESOME SUV!
- last year
Highs Cabin’s contemporary tech and rich finishes, roomy interior, refined powertrains.
Lows Styled like a box of Cheerios, drinks rather than sips fuel, brand-appropriately, eye-wateringly expensive.
Verdict Comfortable and surprisingly satisfying to drive, the GLS-class SUV earns the S in its name by doing a good impression of Benz’s ritzy S-class sedan.
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.
The GLS450's turbocharged inline-six provides plenty of power and is just as smooth as the GLS580's V-8, so we'd stick with that and put the extra dough toward some options. 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. I
Lows Styled like a box of Cheerios, drinks rather than sips fuel, brand-appropriately, eye-wateringly expensive.
Verdict Comfortable and surprisingly satisfying to drive, the GLS-class SUV earns the S in its name by doing a good impression of Benz’s ritzy S-class sedan.
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.
The GLS450's turbocharged inline-six provides plenty of power and is just as smooth as the GLS580's V-8, so we'd stick with that and put the extra dough toward some options. 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. I