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2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

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Make
Mercedes-Benz
Model
GLS-Class
Year
2018
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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
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2018 Base GLS 450 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC
most popular
Price:   -  From $69,550
2018 Base GLS 550 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Price:   -  From $94,950
2018 Base AMG GLS 63 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Price:   -  From $125,300

Overview

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is the company’s flagship SUV, challenging the Land Rover Ranger Rover, Lexus LX570, and the Cadillac Escalade. But it's also old, and despite a name change in 2016, that's beginning to show.

What's New for 2018

Apart from a new wheel design on the GLS 450, there is no change to GLS-Class for 2018.

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Formerly called the GL-Class, the GLS-Class comes into 2018 with three trim levels, separated largely by powertrain.

The base GLS450 gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic gearbox, along with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system and the popular air suspension (called "Airmatic") is standard. Despite weighing over 5000 pounds, the GLS 450 goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in a decent 6.5 seconds. Mileage is 17 miles per gallon in city, 22 highway and 19 mpg combined.

Slotting above the GLS450 is the GLS550, with its 4.7-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine that pushes out 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. As with its lesser sibling, all-wheel drive, an air suspension, and a nine-speed automatic transmission come standard. The GLS550 completes the sprint to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while returning an economy of 14 miles per gallon in city, 18 highway and 16 mpg combined.

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

GLS450

The GLS 450 starts at $70,545 (including $995 destination charges). Apart from a formidable powertrain, it offers features like LED headlights and running lights, 19-inch wheels, heated front seats, a sunroof, faux leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and an eight-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. Safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, an attention alert system, and Mercedes’ Pre-Safe system, which can detect an impending crash or rollover and take strides to protect passengers.

Individual options items include ventilated front seats ($570), heated rear seats ($620), three zone climate control ($1,450), panoramic sunroof ($1,090), Harmon Kardon sound system ($850), and an active parking assistant ($910).

Apart from the standalone items, customers should consider the Premium 1 Package ($3,830), the Driver Assistance Package ($2,250) and the Lighting Package ($1,390). The Premium 1 pack adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, passive entry with push-button engine start, multi-color ambient lighting, lane keeping assist, navigation, and voice control. The Driver Assistance Package adds blind-spot monitoring, speed-limit data, an Pre-Safe system that can protect passengers in a rear-end collision, adaptive cruise control, and an enhanced front-collision prevention system with the cross-traffic function. Meanwhile, Lighting Package gives you automatic high-beam and adaptive headlights.

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

GLS550

At $95,945, the GLS550 is priced at $25,000 more than the GLS 450. The main reason for that is the upgraded powertrain, but you'll also get 21-inch wheels, real leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a Harmon Kardon audio system, automatic parking, and everything from the Premium 1 and Lighting packages.

Moreover, while the Driver Assistance Package remains an optional extra, its price drops to $1,375. Considering all this, the price tag on the GLS 550 doesn’t seem unreasonable.

As with the GLS450, there are plenty of standalone features. We recommend the $2,900 Active Curve System, which uses electrohydraulic sway bars to mitigate body roll while corner, effectively mitigating some of the GLS' heft. The $2,850 Off-Road Package is a good choice if you're venturing off the beaten path, too, adding a pair of off-road driving modes that optimize the GLS's ride height, suspension, and two-speed transfer case (although if you really want to hit the trails, a Range Rover is always a more capable, comprehensively equipped choice).

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

GLS63 AMG

The AMG-tuned GLS63 will set you back a whooping $126,295. For that sum, customers get all the components of the lower trims plus a cabin with ample, supportive seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof. The exterior wears the hallmarks of AMG's work – massive wheels, flared wheel arches, aggressive front and rear fascias, and quad-tipped exhausts.

These improvements are in addition to the more powerful engine, uprated suspension, brawnier brakes, and a less-restrictive (louder) exhaust system that are expected on an AMG-tuned Mercedes.

CarsDirect Tip

No one needs the Mercedes-Benz GLS63 AMG. In fact, you probably don't need the GLS550. We recommend saving some coin and grabbing the perfectly adequate GLS450 with a few optional extras, such as the Premium 1 and Driver Assistance packages.

Get your price on a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

Don’t let the 2016 rebranding fool you – the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a holdover from an older era. Boxy and unapologetic, it spoils you with leg room and burns fuel like it’s 2009. Luckily for us, Mercedes likes to stay abreast of technology, which means that the GLS is also a sophisticated and dynamic beast.

Best Value

The V8 powertrains are mighty indeed, but you’ll have to shell out at least an extra $25,000 if you want one. That means that value-wise, the base GLS 450 is the way to go. Don’t worry – you’re still getting a twin-turbocharged V6 with 362 horsepower, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and standard all-wheel drive.

The interior of a stock GLS is relatively spartan, but a few options will spruce it up. Most of these are features we wish were standard: leather seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a package with basic tech compatibility. Still, there are some nice included touches, like heated front seats, power side mirrors, a sunroof, and a power liftgate.

  • Model: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
  • Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6
  • Output: 362 hp / 369 lb-ft
  • Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
  • Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
  • MPG: 17 City / 22 Hwy
  • Options: Leather seats ($1,620), Heated Steering Wheel ($250), Tri-zone Automatic Climate Control ($1,450), Premium 1 Package ($3,830, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power front passenger seat, ambient lighting, push-button start, illuminated front door sills, navigation, XM radio, CD/DVD player, voice control)
  • Base Price: $70,545 (including a $995 destination charge)
  • Best Value Price: $77,695

Performance

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

The GLS-Class is a top performer by any metric. Above the base engine are a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V8 for the GLS 550 and a fearsome 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 in the GLS 63 AMG, which also gets a beefier seven-speed transmission. The acceleration is impressive, but the GLS’s chassis may be the real star: Mercedes wizardry makes the GLS handle like a much smaller car. The standard air suspension irons out bumps, and the all-wheel-drive system is responsive and intelligent.

On the downside, using so many turbos means that lag is inevitable. The nine-speed transmission on the lower trims has to downshift through several ratios at times, which means that it can feel busy on highway ramps. While the suspension does a remarkable job controlling the car’s mass, the steering lacks real feel. Oh, and fuel economy is (by today’s standards) dismal – with the loss of the diesel option, none of the GLS models make it past the high teens in combined mileage.

Style

Though not quite as cubic as the flagship G-Class, the GLS still makes no bones about its SUV heritage. It’s refreshingly old school, and a big three-pointed star in a wide grille still speaks volumes. The interior is roomy, and the third row can seat real six-foot adults. Cargo space is plentiful, with more than 90 cubic feet available with the seats down. Seats are comfortable and supportive, and material finish is what you’d expect from Mercedes.

The biggest blemish on the interior is Mercedes’ outdated COMAND system. Occupying an 8.4-inch infotainment screen at the head of the cabin, the system is clunky and unintuitive. Inputs require a control knob to move around a non-touchscreen, and the smartphone connectivity apps require leaving the native system. Next to other brands’ smooth systems, it feels old.

The Best and Worst Things

A car this large has no right to be this drivable. We just need a new infotainment system. Oh, and we’d like a thriftier powertrain back.

Right For? Wrong For?

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

The Mercedes GLS is its own breed of status symbol. Less brash American showmanship (looking at you, Cadillac Escalade) and more Germanic confidence. The GLS will look good when you pick up the kids from the country club, and it'll carry all their friends, too.

Buyers who don’t need a prestigious badge on their SUV may look elsewhere. Fresh designs like the Volvo XC90 and the Ford Expedition are strong choices at tens of thousands less than the Mercedes. For a luxury SUV with a diesel option (and true off-road credentials), the Range Rover Sport is another tempting competitor.

The Bottom Line

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class brings drivability to traditional SUV brawn, and that’s a hard combination to pass up. In some ways, we wish the GLS were more modern, notably in its attitude toward connectivity and fuel economy. But any way you slice it, there aren’t many ways to travel in this much comfort and style.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.0L V-6 / 362 HP / 369 ft.lbs.
Transmission
9-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD
Drive Type
Full-time 4matic All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
17 / 22 / 19 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
7
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.0L V-6 / 362 HP / 369 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Full-time 4matic All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
17 / 22 / 19 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
26.4 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$101
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
93.8 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
144 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
202.0 "
Exterior Width
76.1 "
Exterior Height
72.8 "
Front Headroom
41.2 "
Rear Headroom
40.0 "
Front Legroom
40.3 "
Rear Legroom
38.5 "
Front Shoulder Room
58.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
58.3 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
5,335 Lbs.
Wheel Base
121 "
Turning Radius
20.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
19.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum / 20.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum / 19.0 " Silver Aluminum / 20.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Heated, Power Remote Driver, Power Remote W/tilt Down Passenger
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Chrome
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Dual Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
7
Seat Trim
Mb-tex Leatherette / Leather / Nappa Leather / Leatherette
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Front Armrests
(8-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Center / Center With Pass-thru
Rear Seats
60-40 Split-bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Comand Am/fm/hd, Seek-scan / Comand Siriusxm Am/fm/hd/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers
8 / 14 Harman/kardon / 14 Bang & Olufsen
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Power Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Sun Roof
Express Open/close
Rearview Mirror
Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
3
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Rear Side-impact Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front And Rear
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Active Brake Assist Forward Collision Mitigation / Presafe Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Active Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot / Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure / Active Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Distronic Plus With Steering Assist Hands-on Steering Assist
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Attention Assist Driver Attention
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors
Parktronic W/active Parking Assist Automated
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class for Sale

5 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Mercedes-Benz
Base 4MATIC
Color: White
Price

$28,788

Mileage

76,838 mi

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Audi Mission Viejo (49 mi)

Phone: (888) 711-5837
Mercedes-Benz
4MATIC
Color: Designo Cardinal Red
Price

$32,499

Mileage

56,769 mi

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House of Imports, Inc. (24 mi)

Phone: (888) 208-7678
Mercedes-Benz
4MATIC
Color: Silver
Price

$33,874

Mileage

45,367 mi

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Redondo Mitsubishi (4 mi)

Mercedes-Benz
4MATIC
Color: Designo Diamond White Metallic
Price

$36,995

Mileage

65,674 mi

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California Car Company (35 mi)

Phone: (714) 256-8600
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