A closer review of the Mercedes GLS500.. seven seats without sacrificing fun

Source: Asri Net, written by: Thaer Sobhi

It is difficult for a person who is a car lover, or rather obsessed with cars, like me, to be satisfied with only one car all the time. But if we assume, for example, that I only have one car, I will not think much about my decision, and the Mercedes S-Class will be my choice.

This introduction was necessary before I write to you about my driving experience of the Mercedes GLS500 because it is simply more like a seven-seater “S-Class” four-wheel drive car..not completely, but to a large extent. Perhaps this is what made me enjoy driving it to the point where I almost enjoyed driving what I think is the best car produced by the famous German company in its history, which is the S-Class, which I have just revealed to you that I prefer it over others, so that you do not blame me if you read between the lines what might indicate its desire.

Quick overview

The first generation of this vehicle appeared in 2006 under the name Mercedes GL, and lasted until 2011. Then Mercedes-Benz produced the second generation between 2012 and 2015. After that, the company decided to follow a new policy in naming its car classes to simplify matters and connect its SUVs with its other cars.

In the end, this car received the GLS name from the 2016 model year, but at the same time it received a series of distinctive updates, including a new design for the front grille, headlights and hood, and new tires in sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches. From the rear, it is adorned with all-new LED lights and a distinctive rear bumper.

The secret to performance under the hood

Under the hood sits an 8-cylinder with a total capacity of 4.7 liters with a Twin Turbo turbocharger that delivers a large torque of 700 Nm and a power of 455 hp. Most importantly, the full torque of the car is achieved at a rotational speed of 1800 rpm only, which provides a high response to the car in various driving conditions, and on different types of roads.

What is remarkable about the GLS is that it comes with a 9-speed transmission, the first of its kind in the world. During the test, I noticed a remarkable contribution to smooth performance, high response and fuel economy, in addition to reducing the noise level and enhancing the comfort inside the cabin on the highways.

The GLS500 also features remarkable acceleration in relation to its class, size and weight, as it does not need more than 5.4 seconds to reach a speed of 100 km / h, while its top speed is set at 250 km / h.

Although it is equipped with a Twin Turbo system, I did not notice the annoying sluggish response of the Turbo Lag when accelerating from a standstill, which is also to the credit of the Mercedes engineers and mechanics.

As usual in Mercedes cars in general, the GLS features high-performance brakes that match the engine's remarkable power and torque. The advanced braking system showed great efficiency in braking the car when necessary, even at high speeds of more than 200 km / h.

Despite its large weight of nearly two and a half tons, the car's driving is very smooth, and provides levels of stability, flexibility and maneuverability with which you forget that you are driving a four-wheel drive vehicle with seven seats.

German engineering precision par excellence

Another feature of the car is that it is equipped with an AIRMATIC air suspension system that allows the car to be lifted off the ground by more than 300 mm, reaching a maximum height of 600 mm, while the operation takes only 54 seconds.

An air suspension system is standard equipment, along with the ADS PLUS adaptive shock absorber system, which provides high levels of comfort and dynamism. The shock absorber system constantly adapts to the driving conditions of each individual wheel, and plays an important role in reducing sway when cornering hard corners, or when severe and sudden pressure on the brakes.

You can choose between the Comfort and Sport driving modes, and when the Sport mode is selected, the vehicle's height is lowered from the ground to reduce wind resistance and enhance stability on the roads. As for the off-road driving mode, it increases the vehicle's ground clearance.

Like the rest of Mercedes' SUVs, the GLS works with the German company's 4-Matic all-wheel drive system. Although it may not be the best in the world, it performs its role efficiently within the integrated engineering mechanical system of the car, and works on distributing torque perfectly to achieve optimal performance with different driving conditions and changing road conditions.

The task of the 4MATIC system is to distribute the torque between the front and rear axles via a center transfer case, which gives the rear axle 60% of the torque, and leaves 40% to the front axle, thus preserving the distinctive rear-wheel drive character.

As for its performance on off-road and sandy (desert) roads, it can be said that it is more than enough for a car of this specifications, with such remarkable performance on paved roads. Thanks to its high torque and great power, this car is able to tow behind it and tow up to 3,500 kg.

Driving Experience

Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah is one of my favorite destinations to try driving in the UAE, as the road up and down is a comprehensive test of the capabilities of the car in general.

The GLS500 deliberately combines the advantages of an SUV and a luxury sedan in terms of comfort, stability and maneuverability. The performance of the car was so remarkable in dealing with up and down curves that I forgot that I was driving a large, heavy, and high-altitude car. The high positive control of the car body reduces vibration and swaying in sharp bends to negligible levels.

Perhaps what impressed me most was how the long, winding road to the top of the mountain looked like a straight highway, thanks to the perfect engineering and the perfect fit and harmony with each other, and in particular the massive engine torque that you find present to its limit as soon as you put your foot on the accelerator.

Another thing that deserves to be commended is the nine-speed automatic gearbox, not only because it is a world-first over 8-speed, but thanks to its high performance and efficiency, and its great harmony with the engine and all-wheel drive system. All of this reduces cabin noise and fuel consumption, as the engine does not have to rev at high speeds in most driving conditions. At a speed of 140 km/h, the engine revolutions do not exceed only 2,000 revolutions.

This is what makes me always say in front of my friends that evaluating cars should not be limited to specifications and numbers only, but should be based on the final result and general performance.

Luxurious interior

The interior has received a large share of updates in the 2017 model of the GLS500, including the dashboard, display and seats, in addition to the storage spaces. And as soon as I entered the interior, I felt luxury all around me, starting from the steering wheel, passing through the center console, and ending with the seats and their features.

I drove the car for a two-and-a-half-hour non-stop journey, yet I didn't feel the slightest fatigue and didn't feel the need to rest on the road, especially since the driver's seat is equipped with a multi-mode back massage system, with seat heating or cooling.

The character of luxury prevails in all the interior details of the cabin, as the front seats come with heating and cooling, while the second row seats are only available with a heating feature, and there is excellent space for head and feet even in the third row of the car, with the ability to fold the second and third rows of seats automatically with the push of a button .

This is in addition to an excellent audio and navigation system, and a digital display screen through which many of the car's exterior and interior settings can be controlled. Despite the improvements in the center display compared to the previous model, it still does not live up to the rest of the car's features. And I think that in the next version, Mercedes needs to modify it so that the screen becomes larger, higher and clearer, with much thinner bezels than it is now.

The storage space is more than enough, especially when the third row of seats is folded, which brings the total interior storage space to 2,300 liters.

Safety and security

And when it comes to safety specifications, then there is nothing wrong with that, as this car is rich in a rich set of high safety and security specifications that make it comparable to the leading Volvo cars in this field. Among these specifications, we mention, for example:

• Blind spot system. • Lane departure alert system. • Lane return system when leaving the lane without driver intervention. • Comprehensive 360-degree camera system. • Forward collision warning and stop when a potential frontal collision is detected. Adaptive cruise control.• Interior front, rear and side airbags.• Front and rear sensors.

Who does the Mercedes GLS500 compete with?

Arguably, the list of GLS500 competitors includes the Audi Q7, Range Rover and BMW X5. Some may add a Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti QX56 and Lexus LX570. In my personal opinion, the Range Rover - despite the absence of the third row of seats in it - is the real competitor to this car, as it is still the highest heel in this category and perhaps the most popular for many. I expect that the all-new version of the GLS500 will be a source of greater concern for Range Rover, which is still at the top of this category in the opinion of the majority.

Bottom line: If Mercedes-Benz succeeds in presenting a completely new version of the GLS that raises its specifications and performance to the level of the current “S-Class” model in its class, it will undoubtedly take it to the top of this class of cars with the same efficiency that took me to the top of the car Jebel Jais during my experience with it.

Identification card

Model: Mercedes GLS500 Engine: 4.6-liter eight-cylinder, power: 455 horsepower, torque: 700 Nm, gearbox: 9 speeds, fuel tank capacity: 100 liters, car price: AED 417 thousand at Emirates Motor Company in Abu Dhabi (price may vary by country and agent)

Test car: Emirates Motor Company - Abu Dhabi