Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 2016
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Benz’s naming changes largely make sense, unlike those of Infiniti. (We’re supposed to be the experts and we still use the Japanese luxury brand’s old designations to refer to its vehicles.) Benz’s logic comes courtesy of aligning its SUVs with its core sedan lineup, so the GLK became the GLC (C-class), the ML became the GLE (E-class), and the GL became this model, the GLS (S-class). (The A-class-aligned GLA-class launched under the new naming convention.)
The top-spec non-AMG model is the GLS550, and according to one Mercedes display we saw at the launch event, it is “lavishly motorized” thanks to a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 putting out 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. From behind the wheel, this engine is sufficient in the same way that a gas-powered blender is. Yes, it’s fun, but you rarely have a chance to use the available power. The lower-cost V-6s once again are the sweet spots of the lineup, and the diesel-powered GLS350d even gets a small power bump over its predecessor.
The biggest changes concern the big SUV’s mechanicals. All three non-AMG models now come with a new nine-speed automatic, which sports a wide, 9.17:1 ratio spread. In most driving modes (which number five or six depending on equipment), the transmission starts in second gear for smooth, cushy throttle tip-in; only Sport mode engages the shortest ratio. In the interest of efficiency, Benz engineers spent the last five years optimizing the four-planetary-gearset gearbox. It uses two pumps to generate the hydraulic pressure required for operation, with a mechanical pump working while the engine is turning and a second electric pump adding pressure when needed. The latter also allows for quick re-ignition during engine stop-start operation.
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The top-spec non-AMG model is the GLS550, and according to one Mercedes display we saw at the launch event, it is “lavishly motorized” thanks to a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 putting out 449 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. From behind the wheel, this engine is sufficient in the same way that a gas-powered blender is. Yes, it’s fun, but you rarely have a chance to use the available power. The lower-cost V-6s once again are the sweet spots of the lineup, and the diesel-powered GLS350d even gets a small power bump over its predecessor.
The biggest changes concern the big SUV’s mechanicals. All three non-AMG models now come with a new nine-speed automatic, which sports a wide, 9.17:1 ratio spread. In most driving modes (which number five or six depending on equipment), the transmission starts in second gear for smooth, cushy throttle tip-in; only Sport mode engages the shortest ratio. In the interest of efficiency, Benz engineers spent the last five years optimizing the four-planetary-gearset gearbox. It uses two pumps to generate the hydraulic pressure required for operation, with a mechanical pump working while the engine is turning and a second electric pump adding pressure when needed. The latter also allows for quick re-ignition during engine stop-start operation.
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