Star Life
Car India|February 2024
The most ostentatious Mercedes-Benz SUV gets new engines and an update that includes, inter alia, style and convenience
Joshua Varghese
Star Life

THE S-CLASS ON STILTS IS HOW MOST people describe the GLS and it is not far from the truth. After all, the GLS' purpose is to bridge the gap between the S-Class' luxury and the practicality of a sport utility vehicle (SUV). We spent some time in the city and on the highway behind the wheel of the latest version of this opulent car. Some things have been left alone (thankfully), while others have changed for the better. Seen in these pictures is the MercedesBenz GLS 450 4MATIC and it is one of the two options that will be replacing the GLS 400 d 4MATIC.

Dimensionally, it would have been identical to its predecessor if it were not for two millimetres; that is how much longer it is than the previous model. The width, height, and wheelbase are alike. Which means it is still a chapel on wheels (gorgeous 21-inch rims with Michelin tyres, if we are being pedantic). The silhouette of the car has been left intact but changes have been made to the fore and aft. A massive grille with horizontal chrome louvres-possibly inspired by the G-Class-adorns the front, sitting regally above a significantly reworked bumper. Mercedes claim that the headlights have been tweaked slightly to match the new look. While there is nothing new about the profiles of this SUV, the tail-lights have been replaced with a fresh design.

Inside, things are largely familiar but Mercedes have found a way to improve an already lavish cabin. Top-quality material with remarkable levels of fit-and-finish has been used to line the dashboard which also exhibits a distinct Maybach flavour. This particular car had the dual-tone interior with a generous spread of beige and piano black. It may be maintenance-intensive but it does a fabulous job of enriching the luxurious character of the car while also complementing its large and airy interior. Closer inspection revealed that the GLS also had a new steering wheel where the scroll buttons were replaced with touch-sensitive ones.

Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Car India.

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Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Car India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.