Mercedes-Benz GL450 saves the day

Over the last few weeks, you’ve been reading about how great an SUV our long-terming Mercedes-Benz GL450 Grand Edition is. We’re quite impressed with the silky smooth 335bhp 4.6-litre V8, the suspension that affords a ride quality as comfortable as an S-Class, as well as the huge, highly flexible cargo space in the GL. So this week it’s not going to be about any of these, but on how all these qualities together came in handy when we put it to an unexpected yet gruelling test.

One of our photographers, Chris, has this uncanny knack of turning up for a photoshoot without some essential kit, like his camera. We had good reason then to ask him to double-check if he’d packed everything before we set out to shoot the three coupés you see on this issue’s cover. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry about that,” was the answer.

So, off we went to our top secret location on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border, and just as we arrived, he told us that he’d left his rig, ladder and safety harness back at wheels towers. Since we were losing light and were far away from the office, we had no choice but to get by with whatever resources we had. That was when Dejan had a brainwave and suggested we use the GL as our camera car.

At the press of a button, the third row seats folded back and the seatbelts were improvised to serve as harnesses so that Christopher didn’t end up on the bonnet — or under — one of the coupés. And they did a pretty good job too.

Although he had doubts about road imperfections blurring the shots, those were soon cleared as the GL began gliding over the most treacherous of potholes, and there were many on the stretch of road that we used, not that you’d be able to tell from the photos. They came out as sharp as they would have had he remembered to take his rig.

The absence of a ladder also didn’t prove a problem as the 1,840mm tall GL’s roof gave the photographer as high a platform as his contraption would have. And it also proved how sturdy the metalwork of the car is.

So, the GL was the hero of the hour and the next time Chris forgets any of his equipment, we’ll just make sure one of the wheels crew hasn’t forgotten the Merc.

Facts

Driven by Sony
Start mileage 6,399km
Recent cost Fuel
Average fuel economy 16mpg
Highs Flexibility of space inside, strong body
Lows None

The progress

Week 3
Highs Comfortable ride, remarkably poised for a two-tonne SUV
Lows Feels heavy

Week 2
Highs Very versatile and user-friendly, great cargo space arrangement
Lows Faulty tailgate

Week 1
Highs Much longer wheelbase than rivals, ‘only’ Dh299K now!
Lows None so far...