Why the Mercedes-Benz GLS might be the most advanced car on the market

Mercedes-Benz is fond of calling its GLS the “S-class of SUVs”. But even in a luxury-vehicle market obsessed with high-riding vehicles, that’s more marketing alliteration than customer reality. S-class buyers aren’t generally cross-shopping the marque’s flagship sedan with this supersized seven-seat SUV.

Even the company acknowledges that. “It’s a different customer,” says M-B product communications specialist Ryan Lewis.

“The GLS is for people who want seven seats… You could use this as a permanent seven-seater with the size of that third row. That’s the real drawcard.

“Or sometimes people just want the biggest model, with that level of luxury and comfort.”

So the good news is that the prestige car market hasn’t completely fallen to high-sided vehicles. The image and dignity of a traditional three-box sedan still counts for something.

That said, any hope of luxury sedans maintaining their superiority in terms of on-road presence and technology is long gone.

If real estate is your thing, you cannot argue with the GLS: it’s 5.2 metres long and the massive cabin is indeed capable of carrying seven adults.

Even with every chair in use, it has as much bootspace as an A-class hatchback. In five-seat configuration, it looks like you could actually park an A-class in the back (not quite, but it’s still nearly 900 litres).

If technology is your thing, the case is even more compelling. Considered as a whole package, the GLS might just be the most hi-tech car on the market in NZ.

It has the full MBUX interior interface including the “Hey Mercedes” intelligent voice assistant, an augmented reality sat-nav system that overlays directions onto a camera image from the front of the car, outstanding driver-assistance features including automated lane-changing… you can even have a trick 48-volt-powered suspension system that uses the forward-facing camera to read the road ahead and adjust the response of each wheel individually.

Oh, and the GLS can also lean into corners. You know, like a motorcycle.

Granted, some of this stuff is optional. The augmented sat-nav is an extra $800 (part of the Innovations Package that also includes Interior Assist with gesture control) and the E-Active Body Control with the clever suspension is a whopping $13,000.

Our test vehicle had the former, which was brilliant, but not the latter.

Even without the clever chassis, the GLS is a feel-good machine on the road. The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is part of M-B’s new modular family of engines and it’s a sweet torquing thing. The GLS is not as sprightly as the lighter GLE 400d (of course), but 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds is still pretty swift for a luxury apartment. And it feels effortless.

Sans the intelligent chassis, you do have to mind your cornering attitude in this 2.4-tonne machine, but everything is well-telegraphed and the AWD system provides astonishing traction out of trickier turns.

In terms of ultimate prestige the GLS still must bow to the S-class. But in terms of sheer presence and high technology, it bows to no car… or SUV for that matter.

MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 400d

ENGINE: 3.0L turbo-diesel V6

POWER: 243kW/700Nm

GEARBOX: Nine-speed automatic, AWD

ECONOMY: 7.7l/100km

PRICE: $166,700 (as tested $176,950).

PROS: Incredible package of technology, effortless powertrain.

CONS: Pushing the boundaries of what’s a practical size.