2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS

In the third year of its third generation, the Mercedes-Benz GLS full-size SUV rolls on with minimal changes. It’s the automaker’s largest model, sitting at the head of the opulence table with the GLE, CLC, GLB and GLA below it in descending order. New standard equipment for 2022 includes ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control, an enhanced alarm system with parking damage detection and 20-inch wheels, but the GLS was already a luxurious and well-equipped place to be.

There are two basic GLS models and an AMG GL63 variant. (The GLS 580 is available only on a limited basis as a 2022 model later this year.) Each is tied to a specific powertrain. The GLS 450 motivates with a 362 horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six; a 48-volt mild-hybrid adds 21 horsepower on demand. The GLS 580 (available only on a limited basis as a 2022 model later this year) has a 483-horsepower twin-turbo V8 with the same mild hybrid system dubbed “EQ Boost.” Both the GLS 450 and GLS 580 use a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s a capable wagon but not really an off-roader, and most people will never encounter anything more challenging than snow in Aspen or sand in Vero Beach. 

The base price for the GLS 450 is $78,900 (including destination). That’s within $4,000 of the base price of competitors, including the BMW X7 xDrive40i and the Cadillac Escalade, and, surprisingly, about $10,000 below the Lexus LX 600. The GLS 580 starts at $102,300, again very close to its only direct competitor in this set, the BMW X7 M50i. Beyond the 121 extra horsepower over the base model, the GLS 580 includes five-zone automatic climate control, illuminated running boards, standard leather instead of Mercedes’ MB-Tex, 21-inch wheels and soft-closing doors, but it’s also 500 pounds heavier than the GLS450. Most buyers are well-heeled, but expect to pay more at the pump with the GLS580.

The AMG GLS 63 ($133,150 in 2021, 2022 still TBD due to late arrival) brings a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 yielding 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. It’s a different animal, one that counts the new 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V and BMW X7 M50i  and Alpina XB7 as its chief competition. An AMG-tuned air suspension, performance brakes and a 9-speed transmission each hold up their end of the performance promise. Moreover, the AMG model looks the part from the driver’s seat, where the steering wheel boasts performance-oriented controls with color displays for added flair.

While AWD is standard on all GLS variants, and these are rugged, robust vehicles, they shouldn’t be confused with hardcore off-roaders. At only 7.9 inches of ground clearance, these are on the low side for off-pavement adventures. Misjudging rocks on even a mildly-challenging dirt road could result in expensive underside damage. That said, confident drivers without qualms about directing an $80k vehicle off the pavement and onto the rocks will find its capabilities far in excess of the average owner. For more hard-core folks, Mercedes-Benz offers the smaller but more capable G-Class.

We spent a week driving a lightly optioned GLS 450 and found it quick, luxurious and spacious. Though harsh impacts make themselves known over large road imperfections, it feels particularly solid and substantial. It steers and handles nearly as well as any full-size SUV, though the X7 and Escalade display a slight edge in both metrics. Not only is it a solid competitor for its natural rivals like BMW, Cadillac and Lexus, but with restraint on the options, the GLS 450 can be had for roughly the same price as a fully loaded Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon or Ford Expedition. That’s a trick harder to pull off with BMW’s option pricing and impossible with the Lexus LX 600‘s nearly $87,000 starting price.

Performance: 13/15

The GLS 450 is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The limited-availability GLS 580  has a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 with 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Both engines employ a 48-volt mild-hybrid system Mercedes calls “EQ Boost,” which adds up to 21 horsepower and 184 pounds per foot of torque for brief periods, such as stepping off from a complete stop. That makes both these huge SUVs quicker than they should be. The GLS 450 springs from zero to 60 in just  5.9 seconds, and the GLS 580 shaves it to 5.2. That puts the GLS 450 just three-tenths of a second behind the 335-horsepower BMW X7 xDrive40i and the GLS 580 in a tie with the 523-horsepower BMW X7 M50i, despite the senior BMW’s 40-horsepower advantage.

The Cadillac Escalade, despite its standard 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and the Lexus LX 600 with a turbocharged 409-horsepower 3.5-liter turbo V6 tie at 6.1 seconds in the same measure. The Cadillac Escalade also offers a 3.0-liter inline-six diesel with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It’s considerably slower at 8.5 seconds to 60 from a standing start but offers best-in-class fuel economy.

Max towing for all four vehicles falls between 7,500 and 8,000 pounds, with the GLS 450 and GLS 580 at 7,700. Both Benzes are AWD-only, and among direct competitors, only Cadillac’s Escalade is available in either rear-wheel or AWD.

Fuel Economy: 10/15

The GLS 450 is EPA rated for 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. Its 20 mpg combined fuel economy rating slots between the LX 600’s 19 mpg and the X7 xDrive40i’s 21 mpg ratings. The Escalade is far behind at 16 mpg, but that leaps to 23 when equipped with the desirable diesel engine option. Official EPA numbers for the 2022 GLS 580 aren’t out yet, but the 2020 model with a similar 4.0-liter V8 and mild-hybrid assist returned 16 city, 21 highway and 18 combined. The higher-performance version of the BMW shows a similar trend, the X7 M50i returning  15 city, 21 highway and 17 combined. 

Vehicles in the leviathan class rarely trade on fuel efficiency numbers, and even with record-high gas prices, few buyers are deterred. That’s particularly true of the AMG GLS63 variant that s rated for 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 7/15

The Mercedes-Benz GLS lacks crash ratings from either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Nor has it been rated by European or Australian safety officials. That said, the NHTSA gave Mercedes’ smaller GLE, GLC and GLB SUVs five-star overall ratings, and the IIHS has rated the slightly smaller GLE a Top Safety Pick+ and the GLC a Top Safety Pick. However, Mercedes does include a smattering of safety tech as standard equipment, including blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking, parking collision warning and a surround-view camera.  

The GLS also has good visibility for a vehicle of its scale. However, no crash data and some critical active safety features like adaptive cruise control being optional at extra cost hurt its overall score. Unfortunately, when it comes to a lack of available crash test data, the others in this competitive set—the BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade and Lexus LX 600—are in the same boat.

Comfort & Room: 13/15

The GLS 450 is proof that in this class, a base vehicle need not be spartan. Materials and workmanship are top-class, and the seats, in Mercedes’ tradition, are well padded but not so soft they feel unsupportive. Second-row passengers enjoy the most legroom in the competitive set, 41.9 inches, compared to the Escalade’s 41.7, the X7’s 37.6 and the LX 600’s 36.6. 

Third-row legroom is 34.6 inches; the X7 has 33.3, and the Escalade 34.9 (36.6 in the extended length ESV). The Lexus LX trails with 31.1 inches. While grouped relatively tightly, our testing indicates the Benz and the Cadillac offer the most useable and easy-to-access third rows of the bunch. 

Infotainment: 14/15

The Mercedes-Benz GLS benefits from some leading-edge tech that plays into the value equation. Twin 12.3-inch screens, one for instrumentation and one for multimedia, are standard. Navigation and a 13-speaker, 590-watt Burmester surround sound system are also standard equipment, as are satellite radio, wireless charging, nine USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 64-color ambient lighting. It’s also pre-wired with an adapter to add rear entertainment options later. While more elaborate features are available, the standard equipment makes it possible to enjoy a GLS 450 without poring over an extensive list of pricy options. 

Cargo Space & Storage:  13/15

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS models have 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. Folding down the third-row yields 54.2 cubic feet; folding the second row flat offers a maximum of 79.7 square feet of cargo room. 

That compares to the X7’s 12.8, 48.6 and 90.8 cubic-feet measurements and the LX’s 11, 44 and 64 measurements in the same metrics. The  Escalade is the capacity champ with 25.5, 72.9 and 121 cubic-feet. 

If carrying even more cargo is a concern, the Escalade ESV is your huckleberry. (It’s six inches longer than the Mercedes, more than seven and a half inches longer than the BMW and nearly a foot longer than the Lexus.) It leapfrogs the competition with the Escalade ESV, a long-wheelbase model with 42.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 81.5 feet with the third row folded and a whopping 126.6 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

Style & Design: 8/10

Though it breaks little new ground, the GLS has a classic European SUV design and pleasing proportions befitting an SUV of a higher class. The fascia is prominent but not as intimidating as the Escalade; likewise, the rest of the bodywork employs slightly softer edges, lending it a less clinical look. Because of this, it can appear smaller than it actually is without another parked vehicle nearby for scale.

The interior is a model of functional style in the latest Benz design ethos but not as overtly plush as some competitors. A large center console housing the shifter and touchpad sits below a row of frequently used hard buttons and a quartet of vents. 

Is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS Worth It? Which Mercedes-Benz GLS Is the Best Value?

What’s surprising about the Mercedes-Benz GLS is how low the price of an entry-level model is compared to the rest of the class. In fact, its $78,950 base MSRP is a bit lower than a loaded top-of-the-line Chevy Tahoe or Ford Expedition. But in this class, that money buys refinement and amenities. Speaking from recent experience driving a lightly-optioned GLS 450, that would be our pick. That said, there are a few extra-cost options worth having (heated steering wheel, the Acoustic Comfort Package with additional insulation and acoustic, infra-red absorbing film on the windshield and side windows). But if you can resist your most sybaritic urges, it’s possible to stay near the  $80,000 mark—a bargain in premium luxury SUVs.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS? 

The six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 isn’t cheap to insure but is about average compared to its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,350, though this averages all 50 states. Costs go up steeply for the AMG model, however, running around $4,000 annually. That compares to $2,395 for the Audi Q7  and $2,866 for the Lexus LX. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.