Under the Hood

Adapted from the engine in the automaker’s S-Class sedan and SL-Class roadster, the all-aluminum, 5.0-liter V-8 in the G500 produces 292 horsepower and 336 pounds-feet of torque. Each engine cylinder uses a three-valve twin-spark setup. An electronically controlled five-speed-automatic transmission sends the power to a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a Low range, which is fully synchronized for shift-on-the-fly operation at up to 15 mph. Mercedes-Benz’s Electronic Stability Program is also installed.

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    Rolling with the engine switched off
    WARNING There is no power assistance for the steering and the brake when the engine is not running. Steering and braking requires significantly more effort and you could lose control of the ...

    Rear fog lamp
    - To switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the engine. - Turn the light switch to or or . If the light switch is set to or , the rear f ...

    Ride & Handling
    The GL has a unibody frame — rare among full-size SUVs — and its four-wheel-independent air suspension swaps traditional coil springs for inflatable air bladders. Its ride height can be varied to ...