The Mercedes-Benz GLS debuted in 2006 as a big SUV with a larger-than-life presence. Boxy and imposing with an almost truck-like personality, the GLS offered a definitively stern and Teutonic take on the luxury sport utility genre.

Fast forward to the third-generation 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Benz’s largest people mover has evolved into a sexier, yet more approachable version of its former self. Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the 2021 model carries on with only minor changes.

Though not as distinctive as some of its more avant-garde competitors, the GLS’s styling manages to stay within Mercedes-Benz’s design language while neither offending nor provoking its target audience. The more visually aggressive AMG GLS 63 is seen here.  Mercedes-Benz

Climb inside the GLS and upscale trimmings suggest it has evolved into more of a stretched and lifted version of a fancy S-Class sedan than it has embraced its more utilitarian leanings. On one end, the $77,950 GLS 450 4Matic delivers a pleasant, comfortable space that’s functional for 6 or 7 passengers, bundled with a good amount of standard equipment. On the other extreme, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic starts at $161,550 and delivers ultraluxury features like individual jet-like reclining rear seats, a refrigerator, and sophisticated two-tone paint finishes. 

All GLS models now feature Mercedes-Benz’s smooth-running EQ Boost system, which uses an electric motor to add power, increase fuel economy, and reduce emissions. The setup also uses an integrated starter-generator to enable nearly imperceptible engine start/stop functions, engine-off coasting for fuel savings, and energy regeneration during deceleration.

Wood veneers offset the GLS’s otherwise somber interior, offering a splash of texture against its dual 12.3” digital screens. At least the displays deliver crisp graphics and intuitive functionality.  Mercedes-Benz

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4Matic starts at $77,950, including a $1,050 destination fee. Power comes from a smooth-operating turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine rated for 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque; a nine-speed automatic transmission funnels its output to a standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. 

One neat feature: the entry GLS450 is available with either a standard three-passenger second row (for a total of 7 passengers), or a no-cost 6-passenger setup with captain’s chairs. The GLS 450 offers a solid amount of standard equipment, including 20-inch wheels, a 12.3” digital instrument cluster and 12.3” multimedia touchscreen, 13-speaker Burmester sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and air suspension with adaptive damping. Numerous options and packages are available. A “panorama” glass roof is $1000; a rear spoiler is $600; illuminated running boards are $650 and the trendy illuminated star for the grille is $450—but that’s just a small sampling.  

Step up to the GLS 580 ($99,900 including destination) and the power quotient ratchets up significantly thanks to a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 rated for 483 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque. The GLS 580 gets 21-inch wheels standard MBUX multimedia interface, and available features like the E-Active Body Control system ($6500), which uses a camera to scan the road ahead adjust the suspension accordingly by way of the advanced 48-volt technology to minimize body roll. The rear seat executive package ($4400) brings heated and ventilated massaging seats with comfort headrests, second-row wireless charging, and MBUX tablets. 

 Available in 6 or 7 passenger configurations, the GLS’s rear seats are only available for two passengers, rounding out the cabin with a more civilized alternative to squeezing three full-sized humans on the wayback.  Mercedes-Benz

The AMG GLS 63 ($133,150) elevates the performance envelope considerably with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 yielding a prodigious 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque backed up by an AMG-tuned suspension and AMG performance brakes. Moreover, the AMG model looks the part from the driver’s seat, where the steering wheel boasts performance-oriented controls with color displays for a bit of added flair.

Mercedes-Benz’s GLS lineup faces stiff competition, starting with the Cadillac Escalade ($77,790 including $1695 destination charge), whose advanced technology, soothing comfort, and alluring semi-autonomous capability may draw many away from the triple-pointed star. Though not nearly as capable as the AMG version of the GLS, Escalade’s interior space and superior cargo capacity (up to 121 cubic feet, versus Mercedes’ 84.7 cubic feet) makes a strong case for itself. Also compelling in the comfort arena is the Lincoln Navigator ($78,645 with $1295 destination), whose tony interior seats up to 8 and cargo area can hold up to 120.2 cubic feet in the extended Navigator L model. Another plus-sized competitor is the Infiniti QX80 ($70,545 including $1395 destination fee), which trades athleticism for a more conventional approach to luxury. Perhaps the Benz’s most potent foes arrive in the form of the BMW X7 ($75,895 including $995 destination) and Land Rover Range Rover ($93,350 including $1350 destination), which strike back with sophisticated, upscale packages that can be combined with even higher-end luxury and performance equipment.

The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is distinguished by its quad exhaust tailpipes, a relatively discreet alternative to high-performance competitors like the BMW Alpina XB7 and Land Rover Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic.  Mercedes-Benz