What Is the Best SUV to Buy for Luxury Accessories

The best SUV to purchase for luxury accessories is the GL-Class offered by Mercedes-Benz. Built in Vance, Alabama, the GL-Class was introduced for the 2007 model year and offers a variety of interior and exterior luxury amenities that can make a GL the perfect long-distance cruiser. While many SUVs offer luxury accessories like heated seats and navigation systems, the GL-Class offers luxury at an affordable price for what you get. When you are in the market for a new or used GL-Class, be sure to find local vehicles for sale by making use of a service like CarsDirect. Whether you prefer gasoline or diesel powertrains, the GL-Class can offer you a great ride and reasonable fuel economy for an SUV. This guide will help you decide if the GL-Class offers the right luxury accessories for you.

Luxury Powertrains

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class offers three responsive engine choices. The first is a 3.0 liter diesel V6 that offers excellent highway fuel economy; this engine is offered in the GL350 BlueTEC. The most popular engine in the GL is the 4.5 liter V8 offered in the GL450; this engine has risen to popularity because Mercedes-Benz often offers lease incentives on the GL450 model. The GL550 offers a 5.5 liter V8 as well as a larger selection of standard luxury options that the GL450. Whichever engine you choose, the Mercedes-Benz powertrains are smooth and coupled to full-time all-wheel drive systems. All GL-Class models feature a seven-speed automatic transmission with driver shift control on the steering wheel.

Full Leather Seating

For drivers seeking the most in luxury with the GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz offers a package that upgrades the standard MB-Tex leatherette seating surfaces to full-leather seating. In exchange for upgrading to natural leather seats, this option also includes interior ambient lighting and comfort head restraints. Finding a GL with the full leather package can be difficult, so you need to be prepared for the prospect of special ordering a vehicle. A stand-alone package allows you to include heated rear seats in addition to the standard heated front seats.

Premium Packages

Although all Mercedes-Benz products come with a high-level of standard equipment, popular luxury options are packaged together in a set of premium packages called Premium 1 and Premium 2. The Premium 1 package includes common luxuries like an auto-dimming mirror, hard-drive based navigation system with voice control, HD Radio, iPod and MP3 player connectivity, memory driver's seat, power folding exterior mirrors, power liftgate, power steering column, rearview assist camera, SIRIUS satellite radio and a 4GB hard drive on which you can store music.

The Premium 2 package includes the amenities of the Premium 1 package in addition to a premium Harman/Kardon audio system and a keyless ignition system. For owners looking for luxury at every touch, there is also an available wood- and leather-wrapped steering wheel that can be ordered on any GL. For drivers with families, the rear seat entertainment system provides two seat-mounted LCD screens to keep passengers entertained.

If you have any specific questions about the options available on a GL, be sure to contact a local Mercedes-Benz dealership. You may also use a service like CarsDirect to get pricing information on a vehicle with your preferred options. New GLs can be scarce, so you should be prepared to place a special order depending on the options you deem necessary.