Why the Mercedes GLS isn't good enough!

Meet the updated Mercedes big daddy SUV - the GLS!

Mercedes has given its largest SUV a mid-life facelift, and Mat’s got his hands on this behemoth to find out what’s changed and whether it can compete with the likes of the BMW X7 and Range Rover!

When it comes to the exterior design… Well, not a whole lot has changed! Around the rear, you’ll find some of the most obvious fake exhausts in the business, while there’s also some updated lights and a new bumper. Along the side, the only changes are new alloy designs, and upfront, the most notable difference is the huge grille - which is definitely an improvement on the old model!

Step inside and the similarities to the previous gen continue, but thankfully it’s still a pretty luxurious place to sit. There’s a huge digital dial screen (with lots of customisation available) coupled with a big infotainment screen in the centre of the dash. There’s a fair bit of storage throughout the cabin, and the seats are super comfortable. What’s more, bar a few small areas, pretty much everything is coated in soft-touch materials.

There are four engines to choose from with the new GLS. At the start of the range, you can pick a 3-litre straight-six turbo petrol or diesel, and these deliver 380hp and 370hp respectively. At the top-of-the-range is the AMG GLS 63, which is packing a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 that can put down 612hp. All cars come with a 9-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

So it sounds pretty impressive, but there’s one issue - the starting price is around £108,000! So is it worth it?! You’ll need to stick with Mat and see for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:39 Design
02:56 Price
04:14 Interior
09:06 Back Seats
14:21 Boot
16:31 5 Annoying Things
18:!4 5 Good Things
20:02 Engines
20:47 Town Driving
23:37 Motorway Driving
25:20 Country Road Driving
26:42 0-60mph
27:29 Verdict

[periklispanagiotidis]

You should start reviewing cars again … It’s a shame we only see drag races

[Ruckus]

As a 2020 GLS owner I realized that when Merc said "the best or nothing" that sometimes they choose nothing

[HossLUK]

Those panel gaps/alignments are unacceptable for a car even half that price

[themachine]

A new king of depreciation has arrived

[Pastronomer]

Both the panel gaps, condensation and the fact the touch pad is identical to my A35's is pretty unacceptable at £125k!

[lukephilip]

Matt, thank you so much for picking up the quality control issues with the GLS!!! I had a 2022 model after owning a BMW X7 and was shocked by how poor quality the Merc was for relatively similar money. I sold the £90k model for the executive model at £100k.. My kids climbed into the third row and two bits of trim fell off. I knew it was time to get rid.

I noticed they've improved the options, leather colours etc, but wonder if those horrible "worse than Dacia" buttons still exist around the gear shifter? Honestly, growing up I thought Mercedes were the king of quality. I'm afraid to say BMW are miles ahead.

[vladislavdimitrov]

This grille looks older than the prefacelifted one. Actually looks very 2000s to me.

[petiertje]

Panel alignment is one of the biggest issues I have with high end cars. It is as if all those cars have some kind of wonky panels somehow. Exhausts too, charge 150K for a car, at least make the exhausts and panels symmetrical and properly aligned. You see that sometimes on 1 million supercars even.

[yourtubisfilled]

That gap alignment jumped in my eye right away, glad and so right that you pointed it out.

[SkyF]

I really like this longer/less edited format. Feels more authentic.

[Eric-qius]

That plactic grille is going to age like milk.

[TamasDemeterM]

"Old fashioned color for the wood trim"... Yeah, that's what wood looks like and for me that piece of decoration is the only truly pleasant thing in this gray exterior/black interior car.

[Seba-chyq]

Damn, gotta love that brake light misalignment... worse than a Renault, and most Renaults have misaligned trunks😂

[Covkid]

I was thinking of buying 10 of these for family. Not now after this review. Just booked Toyota Aygo’s instead 😮

[the_deee]

1:11 Now i cannot unsee the unmatched gap

[okemefulachidera]

I just hope Mercedes Benz group sees this review and take corrections

[TizzleT]

The rear wheel skipping 24:57 isn't the suspension, it's a mix of the staggered wheels and wide rear wheels. The feeling is called tramlining (google it on Wikipedia).

[sidlamba]

The panel gap at the back is pretty evident if you look at the car at once

[kyrianpaul]

Now this is how a car review should be done. Unbiased, fun, and informative

[ibraheemmonks]

How that front grill is plastic on a £120k car is insane.