2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS

Test Vehicle:

2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580

Powertrain: 4.0L V8 Biturbo Mild Hybrid

Exterior Color: MANUFAKTUR Signature Ireland Mid Green Metallic

Interior Color: Bahia Brown / BLack Leather

Options: MB-Tex Upper Dash and Door Trim ($350), Magic Vision Control ($350), Night Package ($400), Acoustic Comfort Package ($1,100), PInnacle Trim ($1,800)

MSRP as tested: $126,610 (With Destination & Delivery)

Pros: V8 Performance, Luxurious Interior, Smooth/Quiet Ride, Plethora of Features

Cons: High Price, Fuel Economy, Slow Seat Mechanics, Less Intuitive Tech

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is a full-size luxury crossover that first debuted in 2006 as a three-row, seven passenger vehicle above the popular GLE / M-Class. The GLS is considered the flagship of the marque's SUV lineup, although the body-on-frame G-Class is more expensive and has been in production longer. It is currently in its third generation which debuted in 2019 and was refreshed for 2024 with exterior design updates, powertrain boosts, customizable touchscreens, more driver-assistance tech, executive seating, and more. The GLS shares the same unibody architecture with the GLE and is  assembled at the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama alongside both the GLE and EQE. 

The GLS is available in three distinct models known as the 450, 580, and AMG 63. The GLS 450 comes with a 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive that generates 375 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque.  GLS 580 models come with a 4.0L V8 biturbo with mild hybrid drive that bumps up the horsepower to 510 with 538 lb.-ft. of torque. And the top trim is the most powerful AMG GLS 63 that gets 603 horsepower and 627 lb.-ft. of torque from a handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 biturbo with hybrid assist.

Prices start at $89,200 for the 450, $114,800 for the 580, and $149,500 for the AMG 63. Loaded with options it’s possible to get this vehicle up in the $190k range. My test vehicle was a GLS 580 that checked in at $126,610. The Mercedes-Benz GLS competes with vehicles such as the Audi Q7, BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX, and Range Rover.  After a week in the GLS 580, including a quick road trip, here’s what stood out…

Exterior Style:

Finished in Ireland Mid Green Metallic, the GLS was a standout wherever it went. And to further enhance the style, it came with the Night Package which adds gloss black trim elements for an even sportier appeal. Overall proportions are very well balanced with a solid, athletic stance and minimal overhangs. Recently refreshed in 2024, the front fascia features a larger high-gloss black grille with four horizontal slats and integrated Mercedes star. LED multibeam headlights are sleek, adaptive, and intelligently integrated with three-block daytime running light motifs. A more sculpted front bumper with larger side air intakes gives the front end a bolder, more aggressive look. Along the side is a long wheelbase with subtle character lines that run across the shoulder and lower doors that add some depth without being over-stylized. Wheel options include the standard 21″ alloys, with 22″ and 23″ AMG-style wheels available for sportier flair. Around back are new LED tail light designs that have a three-block signature for a more clean, modern look. The GLS 580 also has quad exhaust finishers integrated into the bumper and a chrome strip that bridges the taillights across the hatch.  Overall styling is elegant and refined, but not quite as flashy as some rivals like the new Escalade or Navigator that have edgier, aggressive styling cues. 

Powertrain:

While there are three powertrains available to GLS buyers, I only spent time in the 580 with the 4.0L V8 mild hybrid. Power gets a boost from 483 horsepower up to 510 with 538 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a 9-speed automatic and comes standard with a 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Despite its beefy size, it’s powerful enough to shoot from 0-60 MPH in just 4.7 seconds and sounds good doing it. There’s a rich V8 growl under load, but near silence at cruise. The GLS has a refined presence about its power that is well-controlled and well-mannered compared to other V8 powerhouses like the Dodge Durango Hellcat which feels more like a wild child.

The 9-speed transmission is responsive and buttery smooth. It can hustle when you want or glide in comfort when you don’t. It offers several drive modes that include:

• Comfort: Ideal for everyday luxury cruising

• Sport & Sport+: Sharper throttle and steering response

• Off-Road: Optimizes AWD, raises suspension

• Individual: Custom settings

In Sport+ mode, the GLS 580 almost forgets it's a 3-row SUV as it corners flatter and pulls harder than it should, while still pampering the driver. During my time with the GLS, we took it on a college visit to Central, IL and were impressed by how comfortable it was on the highway. Once outside city limits, the GLS made highway driving a breeze from the semi-autonomous cruise control to the massaging seats. The standard AIRMATIC air suspension soaked up road imperfections exceptionally well making it feel like we were riding on a pillow.  Comfort mode was ideal for the longer trek in delivering the smoothest ride, softest steering, and lightest throttle response. It was a true luxury to have the GLS for this quick trip.

Handling:

For a nearly 6,000-pound, full-size luxury SUV, the GLS 580 delivers remarkably composed and confident handling. It doesn't drive like a sports car—but it doesn't drive like a school bus either. Available on the GLS is an E-Active Body Control that uses camera-based predictive suspension to counter roll, pitch, and dive—making it feel smaller and more agile than it is.  This system reduces body roll in corners and allows the GLS to bounce in sand or off-road conditions. 

The Electromechanical Steering is light and relaxed at low speeds for city driving while heavier and more responsive at highway speeds. Overall it excels in comfortable, composed driving and handles surprisingly well for its size—but if you're seeking sporty feedback or high engagement, you'll likely find it lacking.

Fuel Economy:

When it arrived with a full 23.8-gallon tank it had a driving range estimate of around 381 miles. EPA estimates are 14 MPG City, 19 MPG Highway, and 16 MPG Combined. After a mixed week with some heavy highway driving, I average just over 19 MPG with the GLS. Compared to its competition, the GLS is competitive and hovers in the middle of the pack with models like the BMW X7 performing better. Premium fuel is recommended.

Interior:

Hopping inside is where the GLS really shines in comfort. You know you’ve stepped into luxury as soon as you open the doors and are welcomed with top-tier materials like Nappa leather, open-pore wood, metal trim, and piano-lacquer accents. The front seats are very comfortable with plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room. They come with 18-way power adjustable seats for optimal visibility and comfort for adults of any size. Beyond that, heating, ventilation, massage functions, and heated armrests further add to the luxurious indulgences of these seats. 

Moving back to the second row you’ll still find plenty of space with about 42 inches of legroom, available captain’s chairs that also come with heated, ventilation, and massaging functions. My kids fought for those second row seats for the massage functions alone on our longer drives. While the third row loses the luxury amenities like massage and ventilation, heated seats are still available and  it does offer a reasonable amount of space to accommodate passengers. Ideally suited for smaller adults or children, it can be utilized by average to tall adults on shorter trips. Access to the third row can be done between the captain’s chairs or through the power folding second row seats. While the power folding seats are nice in theory, they move extremely slow. It feels like a lifetime of waiting as the seats fold forward and back, versus a manual pull of a lever. 

In addition to space, the GLS offers a five-zone climate control system with rear-seat controls to adjust the climate no matter where you’re seated. Up front are also cooled and heated cup holders which is a nice touch for those longer drives. Ambient lighting adds to the interior vibes with 64 colors that are integrated into various themes that tie lighting, modes, and UI styling all together. There are also multiple USB-C fast charging ports and cupholders in each row providing convenience for all passengers. This is the most spacious Mercedes available and overall has a very open and airy vibe. The large panoramic opening moonroof lets in a lot of natural light (and air) and large windows all around provide for a very welcoming and comfortable interior space. 

Technology:
Drivers will face twin 12.3” screens under a single glass panel that stretches across the dash. Both the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen are crisp, responsive and customizable. The cluster can be set to three display modes that include classic, sport, or progressive and can further be customized with what information you want to see such as navigation maps, media info, trip data, fuel economy, and more. The infotainment system integrates wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers multiple input methods including a touchscreen, center console touchpad with haptic touch, steering wheel controls, and voice activation. The voice controls are activated by using the command “Hey Mercedes” followed by a command such as “set the temperature to 72 degrees.” I found the system to work well and had no issues with the phone integration. There was also a wireless charging pad and USB-C ports for multiple devices to plug into. For audiophiles, there is a 26-speaker Burmester 3D surround-sound stereo that fills the interior.

Mercedes does offer rear-seat entertainment in the form of optional dual 11.6-inch screens with streaming and gaming capabilities, controlled via tablets or touchscreens. Other optional features include augmented reality navigation which projects navigation prompts over the live camera feed on the central screen.  The system is generally quick, smooth and easy to navigate. Since it does offer so much, there is a learning curve with the system in which new owners will have to take the time to understand the system.

Cargo:

The GLS has 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third-row seats, 42.7 cubic feet with the 3rd row folded and a maximum of 84.7 cubic feet with all the rear seats folded. Those figures are a little below average for the luxury large SUV class with models like the X7, Escalade, and Navigator all offering more cargo space. As previously mentioned, the seats are power-folding and move rather slowly, but do drop easily at the push of a button.  There is also underfloor storage that includes a hidden compartment and a spot for a full-size spare tire.  Also standard is a hands-free power liftgate and load height adjustment with AIRMATIC suspension which lets you lower the rear for easier loading. 

Safety / Driver Assistance:

The GLS comes standard with a long list of safety features that includes the following:

• Active Brake Assist

• Blind Spot Assist

• Attention Assist

• Crosswind Assist- Detects strong side winds and stabilizes the vehicle automatically

• Active Parking Assist- Helps detect and steer into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces

• Surround View Camera

• LED Headlamps with Adaptive Highbeams

• Pre-Safe System - Tightens seatbelts, closes windows, and prepares the cabin if a collision is imminent

• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

A more advanced suite of semi-autonomous features are also available on the GLS 580 on the Driver Assistance Package Plus and includes the following:

• Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC: Adaptive cruise control that maintains set following distance

• Active Steering Assist: Keeps the car centered in its lane, even on gentle curves

• Active Lane Keeping Assist: Warns and corrects when drifting out of the lane

• Active Lane Change Assist: Allows lane changes by simply tapping the turn signal (if safe)

• Active Emergency Stop Assist: Stops the vehicle if the driver becomes unresponsive

• Evasive Steering Assist: Helps steer around obstacles in emergencies while staying in control

• Active Blind Spot Assist: Can apply brakes or steer to avoid collisions when changing lanes

• Traffic Sign Assist: Detects and displays road signs (e.g., speed limits, no-entry signs)

These features work impressively well and make longer drives much more palatable for the driver and reduce driver fatigue. Beyond these features, other add ons include an available head-up display, night vision assist, and dash cam integration. Overall, The GLS offers class-leading safety and semi-autonomous driving tech when fully equipped. Even in standard form, it's impressively safe—but with the Driver Assistance Package Plus, it steps into Level 2 autonomy, making long-distance highway cruising safer and more relaxing.

Final Statement:

As Mercedes Benz’s flagship SUV, the GLS combines high-end comfort, advanced technology, performance, and real-world practicality all into one refined package. The twin-turbo V8 offers impressive power and handling for a vehicle of this size while also delivering a comfortable and smooth ride. The interior encompasses luxury with high-class materials and features such as massaging seats, surround sound, ambient lighting, and more. Whether you prioritize comfort, tech, space, or presence—the GLS makes few compromises. Just be ready to pay for the experience: its price climbs quickly with options.