Avg. Price Paid:$26,900 - $38,293
Original MSRP: $53,400 - $77,375
MPG: 18 City / 24 Hwy
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2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Review

Review Last Updated: 3/12/09

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class U.S. News Best Cars 8.5
Critics' Rating: 9.2
Performance: 8.5
Interior: 8.3
Safety: N/A
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Luxury, sedan-like driving experience
  • Upscale interior with clever features
  • Diesel engine available
  • Slightly less cargo space than some competitors
  • Options are pricey, and some optional features should be standard at this price

Research Other Years

The GL-Class ranks highly on our list because it is a high-performing luxury vehicle that can seat seven while providing one of the best full-size SUV driving experiences available.

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class earns high marks for both style and its sedan-like driving experience, as well as a high ranking in luxury large SUVs.   For 2008, a new GL550 model with a 382-horsepower V8 engine is added to the line. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class won several awards, including Motor Trend's "SUV of the Year," and Car and Driver's "Best Luxury Sport Utility." Despite a smaller engine than many competitors, the base model still earns excellent reviews, with nearly all noting that it drives more like a luxury sedan than a bulky SUV.  Another plus is the GL's excellent fuel economy, which is among the best in this class. 

  • "Fast and stylish and screams exclusivity." -- Car and Driver
  • "As slick as a Zamboni-treated ice rink. The ride is virtually bump-free on anything but the craggiest surfaces, and the interior is quiet enough so you can hear the subtleties of a concerto on the audio system." --The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • "Following two intense weeks with the GL, it was all sparklers and Roman candles for the biggest Benz ever offered in the United States." --Motor Trend
  • "Big also describes the GL450 prices, starting at $54,675. Dig into the healthy list of options, and you can quickly be pushing the $70,000 mark." --Motor Week
  • "Mercedes charges extra for the really good stuff. Adding some $13,000 in options brought my GL to $68,075, in line with an Escalade or a Lexus LX 470 but a good $20,000 less than a comparable Range Rover."-- The New York Times

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