2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Review
Let's face it: If you're smitten by Mercedes' GL-Class full-size SUV, the recent run-up in prices at the pump probably rates somewhere between insignificant and unimportant in your car search. With seating for seven, the GL-Class is a big SUV — and it gulps fuel like one. Even the most efficient version, the GL350 Bluetec diesel we tested, manages just an EPA-estimated 17/21 mpg city/highway. Likely more important to you would be a comfortable ride with commanding views, space for the family and all their stuff, and a level of luxury to justify a $60,000-plus base price.
While the GL350 Bluetec diesel delivers the cushy ride, a combination of limited interior space and some irritating qualities weigh on this already-heavy SUV.
In models where both gas and diesel engines are available, the diesel is typically more expensive. In the GL-Class, however, the diesel GL350 Bluetec, with its $60,950 starting price, is the most affordable trim in the lineup. (Two V-8-powered gas models — the GL450 and GL550 — are more expensive.) Optional features pushed the price of our tester to $72,135. For a side-by-side comparison of the three trims, all of which have all-wheel drive, click here.
See also:
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity and speed rating
1 Tire width
2 Nominal aspect ratio in %
3 Tire code
4 Rim diameter
5 Load bearing index
6 Speed rating
Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Ge ...
Releasing automatically
Your vehicle's electric parking brake is
automatically released if all of the following
conditions are met:
- the engine is running.
- the transmission is in position D or R.
- the seat belt ha ...
Activating the rear view camera
Make sure that the SmartKey is
in position 2 in the ignition lock.
Make sure that the "rear view
camera" function is selected in COMAND (see the separate operating instructions
for ...
