Features & Pricing

Excluding the destination charge, the GL320 starts at $53,400, while the GL450 starts at $55,900. Standard features on both include four-wheel drive, faux leather upholstery, a CD player with an auxiliary MP3 jack, dual-zone automatic climate control, a fixed third-row skylight, and heated, power-adjustable front seats. The GL550 hikes the price considerably ($77,375), but it comes stocked with standard features: larger wheels, a moonroof, leather, a backup camera, heated second-row seats, Harman Kardon audio, xenon headlights and a navigation system. Many of those features are optional on lesser trims.

GL550 options include keyless access (it supplements the regular keyless entry) and a rear-seat DVD system. Fully loaded, the GL-Class tops out around $83,000.
GL-Class in the Market

The GL's price spread gives it a wide range of competitors: At the low end it competes with Infiniti and Lincoln, and at the high end there's Lexus and Land Rover. It seems less suited for the higher-tier competition, as its ride quality and control interface stop it short of luxury-SUV perfection, but as an alternative to some of its less-expensive competitors, the GL holds promise. It's elegantly tailored, stylish and roomy, and for some families it could prove a worthy steed. Sales have been steady so far, but whether or not enough folks will be willing to look past the GL's annoyances to make it a success — particularly with $3.50-per-gallon gas — remains uncertain.

    See also:

    Selecting a radio station
    SIRIUS XM satellite radio acts like a normal radio. For more information on satellite radio operation, see the separate operating instructions. Switch on COMAND and select Radio. Press t ...

    Switching the ZONE function on/off
    This function is only available in vehicles for Canada. To switch on: press the button. The indicator lamp in the button lights up. Dual-zone automatic climate control: the temperature se ...

    Automatic drive program
    Drive program E (drive program C on AMG vehicles) is characterized by the following: • the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depre ...