Advertisement
Canada markets open in 4 hours 2 minutes
  • S&P/TSX

    21,837.18
    -12.02 (-0.06%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,149.42
    +32.33 (+0.63%)
     
  • DOW

    38,790.43
    +75.63 (+0.20%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7365
    -0.0024 (-0.33%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.43
    -0.29 (-0.35%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    86,444.95
    -6,119.04 (-6.61%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,156.10
    -8.20 (-0.38%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,024.74
    -14.58 (-0.72%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.3400
    0.0000 (0.00%)
     
  • NASDAQ futures

    18,213.75
    -17.75 (-0.10%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    14.51
    +0.18 (+1.26%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,716.80
    -5.75 (-0.07%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6788
    -0.0004 (-0.06%)
     

The Mercedes-Benz GLS450 Is the Best Large SUV – 2017 10Best Trucks and SUVs

What is a Mercedes-Benz doing at the top of the large-SUV segment when alternatives such as the Chevrolet Suburban exist? Rather than walk you through the pricing minutiae between the entry-level $69,625 GLS450 and a base Suburban—suffice it to say that if you option the two with similar equipment, the Chevy’s price advantage mostly erodes—we’ll instead direct you to the three-row Benz’s palpable edge in assembly quality, driving dynamics, and space efficiency over its competition.

First, a clarification: Of the various GLS-class models, only the six-cylinder GLS450 earns a 2017 10Best Trucks and SUVs award, as the less expensive GLS350d diesel has yet to be certified by the EPA for the current model year and the V-8–powered GLS550 starts at more than $90,000, above our $80K price cap. So, too, does the insane, 577-hp GLS63 AMG, which exists for families that prefer traveling at the speed of light but who are forced to settle for land-based transportation. The twin-turbocharged, 362-hp GLS450 has such a wealth of talent, however, that more power is mostly superfluous. Down two cylinders on every direct competitor on hand during our 10Best test, the GLS450 nonetheless is the quickest to 60 mph and the most fuel-efficient. It can even tow up to a healthy 7500 pounds, or just 1100 pounds shy of the pickup-truck-based Suburban’s maximum.

The engine’s underdog performance underpins a plot arc shared with the GLS450 as a whole. Look past the SUV’s price tag, behind its gilded façade, and it is a pragmatic large SUV. It does most of what the 22.4-inches-longer Chevy Suburban does while being merely the size of a destroyer, not an aircraft carrier. Credit its unitized body; without a bulky separate frame and live rear axle taking up space, the GLS450 has more real estate for people and stuff, and there is adult-friendly head-, knee-, and foot room in the second- and third-row seats. Access to those seats is thoughtfully considered, and the second-row perches cleverly fold and tilt forward at the press of an optional button (otherwise with the yank of a handle) for easy access to the rearmost seats, which power themselves flat with the single touch of a switch located just inside the liftgate opening.

ADVERTISEMENT

This being a Benz, every passenger is treated to luxury befitting the three-pointed star in the grille. Even in the third row, each occupant (two fit back there) enjoys a padded armrest, a cupholder, and reading lights. Contrast that with the GMC Yukon, the Lincoln Navigator, or the Nissan Armada, in which the amenities and accommodations grow bleaker the farther you are from the dashboard. No matter where you sit in the GLS450, the standard four-corner air-spring suspension—which affords height adjustability and automatic load leveling for hauling duty—cossets with a pillowlike compliance over road imperfections; it’s an order of magnitude more polished than the body-on-frame competition.

Are there other large SUVs that can tow more or carry more stuff or that cast bigger shadows? Of course, but none can match the GLS450’s ride, handling, or refinement, even though more than a few can brush up against its MSRP when comparably equipped. Roll in the model’s family-friendly functionality and its garage-friendly size, and it’s easy to see why the GLS450 nabs our 10Best award for large SUV.

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS450

VEHICLE TYPE:front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door hatchbackBASE PRICE:$67,975–$69,625ENGINE:twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter V-6, 362 hp, 369 lb-ftTRANSMISSION:9-speed automatic with manual shifting modeCURB WEIGHT (C/D EST):5350 lbFUEL ECONOMY:EPA combined/city/highway driving: 19/17/22 mpg

2017 10Best Trucks and SUVs: Return to Overview

The Competition

As this year marks the inaugural 10Best Trucks and SUVs competition, we couldn't follow our usual 10Best procedure of limiting the invitees to the previous year's winners plus vehicles that are new or significantly updated. Therefore, we also invited some competitors based on our previous experiences, including (but not limited to) comparison-test results. As with 10Best Cars, a competing vehicle must have a base price of less than $80,000 and be on sale by January 31, 2017. Unlike 10Best Cars, our Trucks and SUVs awards are given out by category. Next year, we will invite the returning winners, new and/or significantly updated models, and the models that were unavailable for evaluation this year.

For the large SUV segment we invited the following:

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Ford Expedition/Expedition EL*
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL
Mercedes-Benz GLS-class
Nissan Armada

*Unavailable for testing


2017 10Best Trucks and SUVs: Return to Overview