Exterior & Styling

Particularly from the rear, the GL's appearance looks a bit like Mercedes' original M-Class — so much so that a passenger walked up to an older M thinking it was the GL. The GL550's 21-inch wheels, oversized grille and rubber-studded running boards give it a look similar to that of Mercedes' AMG performance cars — perhaps that was the intention, given there is no AMG GL-Class — and should secure the car a front-row spot at most valet stands. Lesser models can be dressed to match, albeit with a smaller grille.

Less-expensive GLs have 18- or 19-inch wheels. An optional offroad package raises the air suspension to yield 12 inches of ground clearance, 2 inches higher than a Hummer H2's. The package also includes a two-speed transfer case and locking center and rear differentials.

    See also:

    Limited braking performance on salt treated roads
    WARNING The layer of salt on the brake discs and the brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the braking effect, resulting in a significantly longer braking distance, which could lead to an ...

    Front fog lamps
    Only vehicles with front fog lamps have the fog lamps function. WARNING If you suspect that driving conditions will be foggy, turn the light switch to before you start your journey. Other ...

    Preparing the vehicle
    WARNING The wheel and tire size of the emergency spare wheel/spare wheel may differ to that of the damaged wheel. When using an emergency spare wheel/spare wheel the handling characterist ...