Love at third sight / Mercedes-Benz test drives

I first saw this car at the presentation of the new ML generation in Sochi. The second time was last summer in Moscow, when the GL arrived disguised as the R-Class. And now the third meeting, this time full-fledged and without cover-ups.

The reason for such a "family" acquaintance is simple: all three cars are built on the same platform with shared components and units. So they can safely be called blood brothers — brothers in metal, almost twins. By the way, about family ties: these heroes have one parent — the DaimlerChrysler plant in Alabama. And here the question arises: can the new GL surprise us with anything against the backdrop of its siblings?

The Mercedes-Benz GL is a true giant. In terms of size and external solidity, this SUV has almost no rivals. Drivers, noticing this black colossus, immediately become emphatically polite — almost bowing and scraping. And that's understandable: what if the seven-seat cabin holds seven heroes who are not too friendly?

In general, a ride in the GL 450 has a relaxing effect, although, of course, both the interior and the technical content only contribute to this.

Despite its impressive dimensions, the car looks fit and composed. I think the secret lies in the 20-inch wheels with fairly high-profile tires — I've seen versions on simpler wheels, and they no longer had that presence. The abundance of chrome in the trim (Off-Road styling package) also plays a significant role. Chrome generally looks great on a black body. True, when leaving the car in a parking lot, don't forget to lower the body to the lowest position: with a maximum ground clearance of over 30 cm, getting back into the cabin will be difficult. But those centimeters are an excellent aid off-road, especially when crossing a ford or on a muddy country road. True, in that position there is almost no suspension travel left — the car stands like a bar stool. But 307 mm is an extreme case that hardly anyone will use often. There are also two intermediate steps — 227 and 277 mm. And on the highway, as speed increases, the body will lower itself by 15 mm. Standard ground clearance is 197 mm. However, it would be naive to think that off-road the GL has only one trump card. Thanks to the electronic locks of the center and rear cross-axle differentials, this car will easily handle the most difficult sections and comfortably pull its owner out of any predicament. After all, it's a Mercedes-Benz.

Getting behind the wheel of the GL, I immediately caught myself feeling déjà vu. The contours of the dashboard, the steering wheel, the button layout, the multimedia system overloaded with keys, the "heavy" left steering column stalk with a bunch of functions — all this is already familiar from the two brothers. But there are differences: the seats here are not only heated but also ventilated. The car starts with a button, and the chip key can be left in your pocket altogether.

What pleased me most was the operation of the third row of seats. Everything is elementary: press a button — get the result. Two comfortable seats rise from the floor, where people of no more than average height can fit without problems. True, the trunk volume in that case shrinks to a disappointing 200 liters. But if you fold both rear rows, you free up two cubic meters of space — load whatever you want.

The GL is like a small house on wheels. Isolation from the outside bustle is perfected. The air suspension seems specially created for our roads. Moreover, in Moscow you can't appreciate all the delights of the chassis — the surface there is too good. But outside the city, the GL's comfort conquers instantly.

The suspension has three operating modes — comfort, normal, and sport. In each of them, the car literally floats above the road. Except that in "sport" it sometimes shakes a bit. But the chassis becomes more energy-intensive and better copes with irregularities, more effectively damping vibrations of unsprung masses. And in comfort mode, sometimes unpleasant knocks are heard deep in the suspension.

Late at night, I got out onto a new suburban highway to test the car's "autobahn" capabilities. Mercedes-Benz has always been famous for its confidence on a straight line at high speed. Remembering how good the R-Class was in this regard, I expected similar behavior from the GL. But the car surprised me — it proved itself even better.

At first, I even felt a bit uneasy — so zealously did this behemoth pick up speed. I pressed the gas, gripped the steering wheel tighter, and watched out of the corner of my eye as the speedometer needle, driven by the new 340-horsepower V8, rapidly climbed upward. The seven-speed automatic, as if guessing my desire to test the car, shifted gears like seeds. The GL conquered the 160 km/h mark in the blink of an eye! The body settled slightly, and I carefully tried to change lanes. First smoothly, then more boldly. The tight steering wheel allowed this without effort, and the suspension seemed to glue the car to the road. I was amazed at how confidently the big SUV flew along the highway. Neither the high center of gravity, nor the mass, nor the sail effect hindered it. Having finally grown bolder, I pushed the needle past 200 km/h and, taking advantage of the empty highway, several times daringly changed lanes from one extreme lane to the other. The car behaved impeccably.

At the end of that trip, I braked sharply, and the SUV effortlessly performed a trick that few cars of this size can manage. Thanks to the BAS emergency braking system, which brakes the car for the driver and activates the hazard lights.

The desire to hustle in the GL in the city is unlikely to arise — the status isn't right. You can press the gas a couple of times when starting from a traffic light, check the claimed 7.2 seconds to 100 km/h, enjoy the work of the adaptive 7G-Tronic automatic... And, satisfied, continue driving sedately to the deep, rich sound of the audio system. Yes, this car is clearly not for those who like to "work behind the wheel."

The question of whether to expect anything surprising from the GL after meeting its relatives will be answered in the negative. I didn't discover anything new for myself. But I understood an important thing: the GL, which appeared last, absorbed the best features of the ML and R-Class. Comfort, the highest level of finish, spaciousness, excellent off-road and highway qualities. These properties, complemented by an attractive appearance, will undoubtedly lead the Mercedes-Benz GL to success. Although, to be honest, the main guarantee of success is the three-pointed star itself.

Dealers offer only petrol versions: GL450 (340 hp) and GL500 (388 hp). The GL450 in basic trim costs €92,400, the GL500 — €105,900. Standard equipment includes a 7-speed automatic transmission, ESP, ABS, ASR systems, downhill speed regulation (DSR), adaptive damping system (ADS), front, side, and window airbags for driver and front passenger, full electric adjustment of front seats, multi-zone climate control, Artico leather interior trim, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, onboard computer, CD receiver with 8 speakers, rain and low-beam sensors, collision and rollover sensors, 19-inch alloy wheels. The GL500's basic equipment is supplemented with decorative wood trim, bi-xenon swivel headlights, heated second-row seats, parktronic, and an automatic opening and closing system for the tailgate.