Price: $62,400 for the GL 350 BlueTec; $63,900 for the GL 450; $86,900 for the GL 550
Competitors: Cadillac Escalade, Lexus LX570, Lincoln Navigator, Toyota Land Cruiser
Powertrains: 3.0-liter turbo diesel V-6, 240 hp, 455 lb-ft; 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8, 362 hp, 406 lb-ft; 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8, 429 hp, 516 lb-ft; 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, 550 hp, 560 lb-ft; 7-speed auto, AWD
EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 18?24/13?18
What?s New: The seven-passenger GL embarks on its second generation in 2013. The exterior changes are relatively subtle: new headlights, a bigger grille, more detail in the hood, more rake to the windshield, and more bodyside character creases. There?s also simply more vehicle: The new GL has grown an inch longer, to 201.6 inches, and almost a half-inch taller, to 72.8.
As before, the GL offers three engine options, but a fourth?a 550-hp 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8?will arrive with the hot-rod AMG version in early 2013. More significant, the new GL also boasts improved fuel economy, reduced interior noise, and more safety features.
Tech Tidbit: The newest of the GL?s new safety features, Collision Prevention Assist, uses radar to monitor objects ahead and track how close they are. If the system?s brain sees a collision as imminent, it flashes a warning light, beeps, and precharges the brake system. Unlike some similar systems, this one leaves the actual braking to the driver.
Driving Character: A big Mercedes is supposed to pamper its occupants, and the GL exceeds expectations: It?s got club-room comfort and is library quiet; the Benz brings an extensive list of amenities and draws ample power from all the engine options. No surprise there.
What caught our attention is how well this big, 2-tons-plus SUV comports itself on all roads paved or otherwise. The new electric power-steering system is vague at urban speeds but surprisingly tactile at highway velocities. A bigger surprise is how well the GL?s two-mode pneumatic active suspension manages its mass, particularly on the sport setting.
Favorite Detail: Even if you were inclined to get your luxury SUV dirty, its long wheelbase and heavy weight would stop you from tackling terrain that?s too tough. However, you can upgrade the new GL?s mud-running chops by selecting the On & Offroad option package. It adds a two-speed transfer case to the standard four-wheel drive, a differential lock, and a version of the Mercedes Airmatic suspension that allows the driver to increase ground clearance to 12 inches (from 8.5) and fording depth to almost 2 feet.
Driver?s Grievance: The GL?s seven-speed automatic transmission, the same one employed in other Mercedes SUVs, is one of the smoothest self-shifters in the business. It?s essentially transparent on upshifts. But getting the transmission to downshift for passing requires a very determined stab at the throttle, and even then you meet reluctance. All the engine options produce plenty of power, but summoning all of it requires practice.
Bottom Line: Already the top banana in a pretty exclusive bunch, the GL strengthens its appeal with a bevy of upgrades in the new generation. There?s an expanded inventory of optional safety features, an updated Comand infotainment system, a standard power rear liftgate, and a power-folding third-row seat (optional). The interior is much quieter, the new electric power steering sharpens precision at highway speeds, and the Airmatic auto-adjusting damping provides exceptionally brisk responses in quick maneuvers.
The GL is the only player among its immediate rivals to offer more than one engine choice, and it lays claim to the best fuel-economy ratings too. The addition of an optional off-road package enhances the GL?s creds for off-pavement use, even if it?s unlikely this vehicle will see anything rougher than a well-maintained dirt road.
The Benz?s blend of style, luxury, and capability is expensive; carefree option shopping could easily inflate the cost past $100,000. But the sum of its improvements adds up to continued domination.
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