2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Playing with the Big Boys

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV is primed to take on the full-size luxury competition with ample space and sophistication.

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The GL-Class, M-Class, and R-Class all share many components under the skin. Powertrains come from Germany, but all three are assembled in the United States, at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Vance, Ala.

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Despite the similar name, the GL-Class does not replace the boxy G-Class SUV, which was originally built for the German army and remains available.

The GL-Class is distinguished from the Mercedes-Benz M-Class on the outside by somewhat different exterior styling; longer length overall; and on the inside, by different trim and equipment, and a third row of seats.

Like the M-Class and the R-Class, the GL-Class is built on a sturdy, reinforced unibody frame instead of a conventional truck-like, ladder-type platform to produce more of a car-like feel. The GL-Class seats up to seven. The second and third row seats can fold into the floor at the push of a button, creating a completely flat load floor for cargo duties.

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Fuel economy, on the other hand, is what the GL320 CDI is all about. It has a 215-hp 3.0-liter diesel V6 that gets 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway, or about 30 percent better mileage than comparable vehicles with the same size gasoline engine.

A new version of the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC comes standard, providing full-time all-wheel drive. It works in conjunction with the vehicle’s electronic traction control system to maintain traction even if three of four wheels completely lose their grip. Power is typically split between the front and rear axles on a 50/50 basis, with the system able to shift torque from front to rear and side to side as needed.

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Low-range gearing is only available as part of an optional Off-Road Package. However, the stock GL-Class is capable of forging mild to moderate trails. Pushing an “Off-Road” button on the center console automatically optimizes settings for the vehicle’s antilock brakes, traction control, transmission, and throttle. A feature called Downhill Speed Regulation engages at the push of a button and acts as a low-speed cruise control system to automatically maintain a prudent velocity during the steepest off-road descents. Hill-Start Assist is on hand to automatically keep the vehicle from rolling backwards when negotiating a sharp incline.

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As Mercedes-Benz buyers have come to expect, a wealth of safety and stability-oriented features are standard, including seat-mounted side airbags for the first and second rows, side-curtain airbags for all outboard passengers, antilock brakes with the company’s Brake Assist feature, and the Mercedes Electronic Stability Program. The latter helps the driver to maintain control during extreme handling maneuvers and is claimed to be able to reduce rollover crashes by as much as 67 percent.