It’s said that an old man’s sayings are seldom untrue. If that’s indeed correct, then it should be pretty much impossible for someone to be a Jack of two trades and be master of both. But by calling its GL-Class a seven-seater, all-terrain S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is claiming this SUV can serve two masters — the city and the wilderness — and love them both.
Having put it to the test over a 700km trail in the Omani outback a few months ago, we had no doubt that it’s exceptionally capable at tackling the rough stuff. But how does it fare in an urban setting? Is it as great as Mercedes claims it is?
The latest GL is not an all-new model, but receives a few revisions. The looks have been sharpened all round, with a few tweaks to the bumpers and the lights, but these are not enough to make it look significantly different from the previous model.
Although the wheelbase remains the same at 3,075mm, at 5,120mm long, 1,934mm wide and 1,850mm tall, the new GL has grown in every direction compared to its predecessor. It’s no doubt one of the most imposing cars on the road today, but the Merc blends into the cityscape unlike the striking new Range Rover.
The growth in overall dimensions also means the GL boasts one of the most enormous cabins in any class and is quite generous with its luxury trappings. The cabin refinement is right up there, as Merc claims, with the S-class saloon, which for many remains the benchmark of luxury.
Legroom between the three rows remains the same, but headroom has been slightly increased. The easy-entry system, with optional electric controls to adjust the middle row in a variety of ways, offers better access to the third row of seats.
The cargo volume of 680 litres, expandable to 2,300 litres, is also greater than what was offered in the previous version. Features such as the adaptive main beam assist and adaptive night view assist improve overall visibility at night, while the 360-degree camera that offers a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle is especially handy when trying to slot it into a tight parking spot.
The imperious driving position, combined with the outstanding ride quality provided by the revised air-suspension system and the well-insulated cabin, make it an excellent long-distance cruiser.
What’s even more impressive is the way the GL goes about in town and smaller roads, defying its heft thanks to the light and precise steering and the optional active curve system, which uses lateral stabilisers for the front and rear axles to keep body roll in check.
The turbocharged 4.6-litre V8 is good for 435bhp and a whopping 700Nm of torque, propelling the leviathan from a standstill to 100kph in just 5.4 seconds on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 250kph.
Apart from a faint rumble when you bury the throttle, the V8 is super silent and incredibly refined, in no way less than an S-Class. After spending a good five days with the GL 500, taking it on long highway trips, along winding mountain roads and in stop-and-go city traffic, I realised something; old adages can sometimes be untrue.
