Automotive Spot

The three-row GL450. Not surprisingly, it drives almost identically to the M-class on which it is primarily based. The steering is light and smooth; no thumps or crashes mar the ride; and the quiet, comfortable, well-appointed cabin seals out road noise. Air springs are optional on the M-class, but here they're standard equipment, and they help keep body roll to a minimum. Under hard acceleration or braking, however, the GL pitches forward and back like a headbanging teenager. It doesn't help that the brakes take a good jab before they engage. Very little of the 4.6-liter V-8's rumblings make their way inside this unibody SUV. An estimated 0-to-60-mph time of 7.4 seconds demonstrates the 5249-pound truck's get-up-and-go, but, nevertheless, the GL feels slow-and it certainly won't get any livelier when you ask it to pull 7500 pounds, its maximum tow rating. However, a more powerful variant, the GL550, will be released in about a year if the GL450 sells well. Wisely, Mercedes plans no AMG version. The GL is a worthy entry in its segment, but it has none of the charisma of the Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes-Benz's own G-class, which it was supposed to supplant. In fact, Mercedes is hedging its bets by keeping the ancient, preternaturally cool Gel,,ndewagen in its lineup for at least four more years. The GL is certainly a comfortable and capable SUV, but there are plenty of those. There's only one G-wagen, though.


The 2008 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." This luxury SUV provides an excellent driving experience, with nearly every review noting, as New Car Test Drive does, that "the Mercedes-Benz GL 450 is large and capable off road yet feels surprisingly car-like on the road." This is in large part thanks to its unibody construction, instead of the body-on-frame construction that is typically used in most large SUVs and trucks. Edmunds notes the GL "manages to present itself with a touch of class. Its mechanical sophistication, unit-body construction and superior craftsmanship also set it apart from other seven-passenger full-sizers" Ride comfort, as befits a luxury SUV, also puts the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class at the top of its class, thanks to standard all-wheel drive, an independent rear suspension, and features such as electronic stability control. AutoWeek adds that the GL550 offers "an impressive combination of power, smoothness, surefooted handling and luxury." As previously noted, the 2007 GL-Class was recognized with several awards, including Edmunds' "Most Wanted SUV of 2007."



Most reviews say that the 2008 Mercedes GL-Class offers above-average handling, despite the lack of road feel. AutoWeek says that all GL models "drive smaller than they are; agile handlers, they hustle quickly through curves." However, Edmunds says some "might find the Mercedes GL's handling to be a bit willowy -- this isn't a truck you toss around for the sheer joy of it. But the ride and handling compromise is acceptable, and the GL's steering, although a bit slow, is nicely weighted and never numb." Car and Driver says the steering "feels as if road feel were being delivered to you on a tiny pillow by a tiny butler - but there is good precision and heft to the wheel."