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Mercedes Benz GL - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Mercedes Benz GL ranks 2 out of 11 Luxury Large SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 65 published reviews and test drives of the Mercedes Benz GL, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is for drivers who have a lot of passengers but aren't willing to sacrifice a luxury driving experience to carry them all.

While other Luxury Large SUVs offer burly off-road capabilities and loads of bling, the 2010 Mercedes Benz GL Class offers just what a luxury large SUV should: luxury, and plenty of it.   While others in the class have more room or more powerful engines, few can match the total package of comfort and driving experience the GL provides.  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. 

However, if you're looking to be coddled while you venture off the beaten path, the GL isn't the best choice.  It's a car-based crossover, not a truck-based SUV.  While it seats just as many passengers as a truck-based SUV, it's not meant to tackle rough off-road terrain.  It also can't tow as much as some competitors. If you need to take a crowd off road in comfort and style, consider the Toyota Land Cruiser.  Its base price is higher than the base GL's, but it comes with so many standard features that it actually costs about the same as a similarly outfitted GL. If you're comfortable spending even more for a luxury nameplate, the Lexus LX offers all of the Land Cruiser's capabilities, plus Lexus cachet.

Though the GL has a relatively low base price, the base model doesn't come with many of the features and luxury touches that buyers may be looking for; to get those on a GL, you'll have to pay extra.  The GL Class has three models: the GL 450, the GL 550 and the GL 320 BlueTEC, which has a 50-state diesel engine.  For 2010, changes to the GL class are minor.  Mercedes has made some minor tweaks to the exterior styling and added its Post-Safe system, which shuts off the engine and unlocks the doors after a crash.

• "The unibody GL arrived two years ago and promptly became one of our favorite utes, combining passenger-car driveability with SUV cargo-and-passenger room. The GL is solidly built and beautifully finished. The best engine choice is arguably the "value-priced" diesel." -- Car and Driver
• "Relatively trim exterior dimensions ease parking and maneuverability, too. Any GL offers impressive power and high levels of refinement. Don't overlook the diesel BlueTEC--it's the least expensive model, yet is plenty powerful and remarkably frugal. " -- Consumer Guide
• "Rises above the competition with its confident road manners and exquisite build quality." -- Edmunds
• "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

GL Performance - 8.9 (Very Good)

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a superbly performing SUV, and earns a very good score and high performance ranking within the class. A powerful, but silent, V8 engine powers a car that Motor Trend says "never feels like a full-size brute that can swallow seven; rather, it drives small, coming across more as an S-Class sedan than an Escalade competitor."  Read More

GL Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

While others in the class try to out-bling each other and with styling that's dripping in chrome, the Mercedes-Benz GL class is more subdued. Edmunds says the GL is "all about understated class." The GL-Class is a Cadillac Escalade competitor, but reviewers agree its exterior appeal is not the same.  Read More

GL Interior - 8.6 (Very Good)

The seven-seat interior of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is luxurious and comfortable. However, the lack of standard leather seats and other features in a car of this class gives some reviewers pause. Read More

GL Safety - NA

Crash test ratings are not yet available for the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class from the federal government or insurance industry, so it is difficult to assess the GL-Class's safety. However, the GL has lots of safety features, including side-curtain airbags for the third row. Read More

GL Reliability - 6.0 (Mediocre)

The 2010 Mercedes Benz GL reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The GL-Class comes with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. Read More