While their shapes are often quite similar, sport-utility vehicles come in all sizes.
The interior is also very important for any SUV as it endows the vehicle with a certain character and identity. Sport-utes also offer range of other features including concert hall-quality sound systems, comfortable seats, copious amounts of storage as well as some of the latest technology.
But few vehicles manage to blend all of these intangibles into one package as artfully as Mercedes-Benz does in the GLS.
The 2022 GLS 450 4Matic is blends elegance, sophistication and performance into well-balanced vehicle with seating for seven with impressive luxury. It also has plenty of power and the ride and handling is first rate, so the overall performance also is very impressive.
Exterior
The GLS 450 4Matic has a confident demeanor as it sits at a curb or in the driveway. It has a bold stance and clean profile with a long hood and roof that edges out over the tailgate as well as roof rails, which I suppose you might actually use if you wanted to pile stuff on the panoramic roof.
The headlights, front fascia and taillights are blended to give the vehicle an elegant, polished appearance. Below the light fixtures the corners are fortified by 21-inch, five-spoke wheels with black accents. The exterior designers also make good use of the unmistakable, pointed-star badges to underscore the vehicle’s identity as an authentic luxury vehicle.
Interior
The cabin of the GLS 450 4Matic has a deceptively simple layout but it is loaded with technology for driver assistance, connectivity, entertainment and navigation. The materials are top notch and carefully knitted together to deliver a luxury appearance and unmistakable luxury feel, which underscores the vehicle’s overall character.
I found the seats to be very comfortable and there was plenty of storage space and the screens in the center stack and behind the steering wheel deliver a variety of information simply and clearly. The view from the driver’s seat is excellent and the passenger seats in the second and third rows, which are one of the vehicle’s principal assets are accessible and comfortable and even when all three seats are locked in place there is still room under the hatch for packages or luggage.
Powertrain
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4Matic is powered by 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is matched with a 9-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic All-Wheel-Drive. The ute also uses a stop-start feature with a mild hybrid. The system produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 a combined fuel-economy rating of 20 mpg, including 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
Safety and Technology
For 2022, the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is equipped with an advanced airbag system and the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system. It also utilizes an electronic stability program, anti-lock brakes and crosswind stabilization.
The driver assistance features include blind-spot assistance, active lane change assistance, active emergency stopping, cross-traffic alert and an acoustic comfort package. There also is a surround-view camera system.
There is also a 12.3-inch screen in the center stack for entertainment and navigation as well as 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster equipped with the MB user experience. The GLS 450 also is equipped with voice controls, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth Connectivity as well as steering-wheel controls and inductive wireless charging. The model I drove also was equipped with active parking system.
Driving Impressions
Large SUVs are typically not very nimble. The GLS 450 had plenty of power from its turbocharged 6-cylinder engine plus the boost from the mild hybrid, but the driving dynamics were surprisingly good. It handled like a smaller vehicle. The steering was very crisp, and the brakes were excellent while the stop-start system, which saves fuel, was invisible.
It even had a surprisingly short turning radius, making it relatively easy to maneuver in places such as parking lots. The four-wheel drive system built into the vehicle also provided additional stability on all kinds of surfaces. The GLS 450 was a surprisingly pleasant vehicle to drive in all sorts of situations.
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4Matic Specifications
| Dimension | L: 205 inches/W: 79.9 inches/H: 71.8 inches/Wheelbase: 128.4 inches |
| Weight | 5,467 pounds |
| Powertrain | 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder w/mild hybrid, 9-speed automatic transmission |
| Fuel Economy | 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined |
| Performance Specs | 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $78,900; As tested: $94,230 including $1,050 destination charge |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
If you are looking for an authentic luxury SUV, the GLS 450 certainly fits almost any kind of search parameter. It’s big, roomy, powerful and well-equipped with all sorts of features. It also has a luxurious interior filled with bright metal right from the door sills. It’s also quite expensive and will probably run you more than six figures once the taxes and licenses fees are added to the final bill.
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4Matic — Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450?
The MSRP for the GLS-Class starts at $78,900 for the base model. Our tester came in at $94,230 and it could go higher.
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 a full-size SUV?
It’s a luxurious and opulent full-size SUV that seats as many as seven passengers. It’s filled with first-rate materials and a slew of impressive concierge and safety technologies.
How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLS?
When it comes to luxury three-row SUVs, the Mercedes-Benz GLS is a top player with loads of performance, comfort and opulence for the money, according to Consumer Reports, which knocked it down for convoluted controls that hurt its road-test score, and below-average predicted reliability drags down its Overall Score.
