2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Review
With a 23-mpg diesel version now available in all 50 states, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a more viable option for SUV-needing families — though the appeal of a $60,000-plus four-wheeler seems limited in today's economy. Even if you are in the market, the GL remains a debatable choice: stylish on the outside and elegant within, but hamstrung by spotty reliability and a drivetrain as indecisive as the North Carolina electorate.
Still, that's more praise than I can give last year's model, whose review serves as the basis for this update; its dated navigation system was onerous to sort through, but it's been vastly improved for 2009. The SUV also gets more high-tech safety features, though they might just be gilding the lily on a model that already had nine standard airbags and an electronic stability system.
Trim levels include the diesel GL320 Bluetec and gasoline GL450 and GL550; click here to compare them or here to compare the whole group to its '08 equivalents. I drove a 2009 GL320 Bluetec, and I've also driven a 2008 GL550.
See also:
Adjusting the head restraint height(second and third row of seats)
Outer seat head restraints in the second row of
seats
Outer seat head restraints in the third row of seats
► If the head restraint is fully lowered,
it is
necessary to press release ...
More power, lower consumption: the engines
An improvement of up to 31 per cent has been achieved in fuel consumption and
all Mercedes-Benz C-Class launch models will feature the ECO start/stop function
as standard. All the engine variants ...
Resetting to factory settings
For safety reasons, the Daytime Running
Lamps function in the Lighting submenu is
only reset when the engine is switched off.
► Press
on the steering wheel
to select the Settings menu.
...