Mercedes-Benz GLS 2012-2019 review

If there’s one word that sums up the GLS, it’s 'massive'. Compared with an Audi Q7, the Mercedes is longer, taller and a bit wider. Although that might sound like a recipe for disaster on our tiny island, the GLS comes as standard with a 360deg camera system that makes manoeuvring surprisingly easy. The boxy body also helps.

On the move the V6 is as smooth and refined as you’d hope from a luxury SUV, no doubt helped by its sub-2000rpm cruise. Sure, when pushed you do hear it, but it’s not an unpleasant noise which avoids the more strained sound of a Q7’s V6 diesel.

Over larger bumps and undulations, the GLS strikes a fine balance between comfort and body control at speed, largely avoiding the floaty feeling you get from some air-suspension systems. You do pay a price for standard-fit 21in wheels though, with expansion joints and potholes thumping through the car's structure.

Designo Line benefits from clever anti-roll bars that all but eliminate body roll in the bends. Although this masks the bulk of the GLS to a point, you do feel the car’s mass if you push harder, especially during braking.

The steering is precise enough but is missing any real feedback, even when put into Sport mode. The suspension also gets a Sport setting, which firms it up significantly. You feel much more of the road but it seems pretty pointless considering the absence of roll in Comfort. 

Step up into the cabin and you’re treated to a commanding view of the road over the long, vented bonnet. There’s ample room to stretch out for all occupants in the first two rows while even adults in the rearmost seats shouldn’t complain too much. Compared with rivals such as the Range Rover Sport, there’s noticeably more space for third-row occupants.

Although the boot is relatively small with the third row up, the seats fold electrically into the floor as standard. Do this and you’ll open up a vast cargo area, but fold the middle row down too and there isn't much you couldn’t fit into the rear of the GLS.

It’s not all good news though. Considering that Mercedes bills this as ‘the S-Class of SUVs’, some of the interior doesn’t feel as plush as you’d hope. While there are plenty of nice leather and metal trimmings, there’s a surprising amount of creaking plastic and buttons which have come from much lower down in Mercedes' range. Next to the considerably cheaper Audi Q7, it’s disappointing.

If you’re after a big, imposing SUV, there’s not much on sale that is either as big or, indeed, imposing as the GLS, save for the (more expensive) full-fat Range Rover of course. The problem is that while it’s decent to drive and has the looks on the outside, it feels underwhelming in places on the inside.