Sitting atop the Mercedes-Benz SUV hierarchy is the spacious and indisputably luxurious GLS-Class. It's all new for 2020 and it has big shoes to fill—we've named the outgoing GLS-Class to our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for three straight years—but our first impressions of this new big Benz are very good.
Pros Tech-rich cabin, spacious in all three rows, refined powertrains.
Cons Anonymous styling, fussy infotainment system, heavily optioned models carry high price tags
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a three-row crossover SUV that redefines luxurious family transport.
Pros Sublime demeanor Posh interior Strong turbocharged engines Impressive dynamics AMG, Maybach editions sure to come
Cons Hefty price Hefty curb weight Hefty fuel consumption Occasional cheap touch
New styling in line with other Mercedes SUVs.Powerful mild hybrid powertrains.Standard adjustable air suspension.All-new third GLS generation launched for 2020.
Pros MBUX infotainment is outstanding Tops in comfort and easily seats adults in all three rows Flexible cargo capacity Responsive powertrains feel like driving a smaller SUV
Cons Not as off-road-worthy as some rugged competitors Somewhat vague steering with large wheels and thin tires MBUX has a steep learning curve
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class ranked #12 in Luxury Midsize SUVs. Currently the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a score of 8.3 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 46 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Lots of powerful engine choices Posh interior Above-average cargo space (in non-coupe models) Lengthy features list
Cons Less athletic than many competitors Coupe has limited cargo space and visibility Finicky engine stop-start system
Performance, plug-in, or pedestrian: there’s a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE for almost every luxury-SUV buyer.
Pros Wide palette of body styles, powertrains, trims GLE Coupe, for the well-to-do contrarian Powertrain choice abounds Composed, quiet ride
Cons AMG = $$$ Not so fuel-efficient Addled infotainment interface Odd feature availability Coupe body costs money, space
The AMG GLE 43 is slightly more powerful, increasing engine output from 362 horsepower to 385 hp. Otherwise, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is unchanged for 2018.
PROS Multiple available powertrains make each model distinct Interior is quiet, upscale and roomy Abundant list of standard safety, tech and luxury features AMG variants are seriously quick
CONS Not many places to store small personal items Punishing ride on AMG models, with little benefit to handling Ride quality with the standard suspension isn't as comfy as we expect Base V6's acceleration is merely adequate
