Planning a bachelorette celebration is one factor, however looking for a automobile that may comfortably chauffeur individuals from Denver Airport to Colorado Springs with their baggage in tow is a complete totally different activity. Happily, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was (principally) as much as the duty.

With room for six passengers and behind the third row however with sufficient baggage area (squeezing slightly) GLS 450 I went to the freeway with my six pals. Beginning with an hour’s drive from the airport adopted by a protracted weekend hike within the Rocky Mountains, the GLS has confirmed to be an excellent freeway cruiser with among the finest lively security in the marketplace.

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Few automobiles run as easily because the GLS south of the six determine. On the primary 60-mile experience (and again) between Denver Airport and Colorado Springs, the GLS was the proper freeway companion. The leather-based buckets have been supremely snug for me and my entrance passenger, the suspension was gentle and spongy, and the soundproofing was next-level good.

One other constructive signal for the GLS’s navigational capabilities is its commonplace bundle of lively security tools. Adaptive cruise management mixed with lane centering know-how made hours of freeway driving an absolute breeze, even in muddy situations. The GLS utilized throttle and braking inputs easily as wanted and did not play desk tennis aggressively within the lane.

mercedes getting in vary EQ SUVs in a special design route. However GLS and smaller GLE nonetheless two of one of the best trying luxurious SUVs in the marketplace, interval. Positive, there are higher paint choices on this tester than Diamond White – I am keen on Cardinal Purple – however the optionally available 23-inch AMG wheels are glossy, the physique traces are clear and never too angular, and the general look is elegant with out feeling overdone.

Cons

in comparison with one thing like BMW X7 or the closest Range RoverThe GLS really has fairly good numbers on paper. The 17.4 cubic ft of room within the rear of the second row is among the many finest at school, and even the 38.9 inches of headroom and 34.6 inches of legroom within the third row are first rate. But my biggest activity was to attempt to push the seven males and their baggage right into a automobile that might apparently desire one or the opposite somewhat than each.

For those who’re on the lookout for a three-row automobile made for journeys with six different adults, you should still must do extra. The GLS prefers smaller individuals and fewer baggage over a protracted journey. Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator – three rows on the bigger trunk. Each of those choices nonetheless outperform monolithic crossovers on this respect, with higher cargo and passenger area throughout.

Again in 2019, I by no means felt that the GLS 450 was underpowered. With 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six presents greater than sufficient energy for typically on a regular basis driving conditions. . However an outlier might be to pack seven individuals in baggage and go to larger altitudes.

The GLS 450 struggled a bit with passengers and cargo; Some whining and growling from the six cylinder compelled me to bury my foot within the accelerator slightly bit deeper than standard. For those who normally commute in these denims with tow passengers, you would possibly need to take into account the 483 horsepower GLS 580.

Gaining simply 18 miles per gallon of cities, 24 highways, and a complete of 20 miles at its most effective, the GLS just isn’t the gasoline protect of the group. Compared, the X7 and audi q7 each supply two higher mpg mixed, and even the bigger Escalade presents a mixed 23 mpg for those who go for the diesel.