Header: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has recently updated its GLS, having introduced a new look, including a new cabin layout, and an updated engine and suspension. The car is still the large seven-seat SUV the market loves, but the new version places more emphasis on a futuristic look, both inside and outside.
Recognisable details
From the outside, the main change is at the front. The GLS now has a Mercedes star on the bonnet, a detail linked to the brand’s saloon cars. Around it, a large grille with a chrome frame, chrome bars and even built-in lighting. The front bumper has also been reshaped, giving the nose a flatter and more upright look.
At the rear, the tail lamps are connected by a trim strip with a central Mercedes badge, which makes the car look wider. The headlamps and rear lights both have a star-shaped pattern, so the GLS is easily recognisable in traffic or at night. New paint finishes and new wheel designs have been added as well, including 21-inch and 22-inch options. Every GLS also gets a large panoramic roof as standard.
Into the cabin
Inside, the biggest change is the dashboard. The new GLS comes with the MBUX Superscreen, where three 12.3-inch displays fit under one large glass surface. This element makes the inside layout cleaner and more modern than before, an update accompanied by small details: the air vents are now round rather than rectangular, and the steering wheel uses roller-style controls instead of older touch surfaces. Ambient display graphics and background images can also be adjusted, so the cabin can look quite different depending on the settings chosen.
Regarding colours and materials, Mercedes decided to embrace expansion: a new beech brown interior joined the range, alongside wood trims in dark brown birch and walnut, plus a lighter aluminium finish. The standard comfort seats got new stitching and updated graphics, with electric adjustment for the seat cushion depth now being included.
Comfortable cabin suited for long travel
Mercedes also put a lot of emphasis on space, with the GLS now holding seven seats as standard and enjoying three electrically adjustable rows. Even the third row is suitable for adults up to 1.94 metres tall, which shows how much the car’s identity still focuses on comfort and adaptability in long-distance travel. When 7 is too much, the rear seats can be folded flat to increase cargo space.
Continuing this train of thought, rear passengers now have an optional Rear Comfort Package Plus, which adds features such as multi-contour seats, massage, removable rear controls, extra climate functions, blinds and more charging points. Mercedes has also changed the rear entertainment system, replacing the old tablets with removable remote controls and keeping two 11.6-inch screens for passengers in the back.
Mechanics and power
On the mechanical side, all versions have been revised for more power, better response and lower noise. The GLS 580 4MATIC V8 now produces more output than before, while the GLS 450 4MATIC petrol six-cylinder has more torque, which makes it feel stronger in normal driving. The diesel versions, the GLS 350d and GLS 450d, now use an electrically heated catalyst to bring the emissions system up to temperature earlier. Across the range, all engines use an integrated starter generator and a 48-volt electrical system, which supports smoother stop-start operation, short bursts of extra assistance, energy recovery and periods of coasting to save fuel. Furthermore, Mercedes has added extra insulation around the engine bay and body structure to cut engine, road and wind noise.
The GLS still uses AIRMATIC air suspension, and it is also available with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which adjusts the suspension many times per second. Mercedes has also added a cloud-based feature that can prepare the dampers before the GLS reaches a speed bump, using shared vehicle data. While that may sound complicated, the idea is quite simple: the car tries to soften the impact before passengers feel it.
Regarding driver assistance and digital systems, the GLS uses a wide set of cameras, radar sensors and ultrasonic sensors, supported by the Mercedes operating system, MB.OS. Navigation combines Mercedes’ own interface with Google Maps, while ongoing updates keep the software current after the car has been delivered. Parking assistance, a reversing function and upgraded light technology are also all part of the package, while the latest DIGITAL LIGHT system is said to be brighter, lighter and more energy-efficient than before.
The new GLS has sharpened the famous model, bringing a more digital cabin and smoother mechanics. It is the same large Mercedes SUV built around comfort and performance, but it now responds to the wants of today’s modern market.
