Vehicle Tested
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV GL450 4MATIC 4dr SUV (4.7L V8 Twin-turbo AWD 7-speed Automatic)
Driven On
9/25/2012
Ratings Summary
Expensive, but immensely powerful and expertly built, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is one of the finest SUVs available today.
A
Comfort
The 2013 GL450 is designed to support a luxurious lifestyle and succedes greatly. Virtually no noise or harshness enters the cabin.
| Seating Comfort |
B
|
The GL450's seats are expertly upholstered and supportive with particularly good thigh support. Some drivers may want the seat to tilt further back, however. |
| Ride Comfort |
A
|
Even in sport mode, the GL450 errs on the side of comfort. Virtually no impact harshness to speak of and a well-controlled body make driving this beast easy. |
| Quietness |
A
|
Whisper quiet at any speed, the GL450 does everything it can to not remind you of your surroundings on the road. Exceptional. |
A
Interior
Our test car was equipped with Mercedes' Designo leather interior that offers Bentley quality at about half the price. Truly terrific.
| Ergonomics |
A
|
Mercedes has a knack for putting things where the driver would look for them and the GL is no exception. Controls are easy to use without looking away from the road. |
| Ingress/Egress |
B
|
Shorter drivers may have to hop into the GL450 as this does have a more SUV than crossover driving position. |
| Space/Room |
A
|
The GL is a big SUV with plenty of in-cabin space. Generous hip, leg, head and shoulder room for any body type. |
| Visibility |
A
|
Large mirrors and an exceptional parking/camera system mean the GL is a breeze to drive in any situation. Optional blind-spot monitor. |
| Cargo/Storage |
A
|
With the third-row up, there's ample space in the 2013 GL. Thanks to folding second and third rows, the GL is quite utilitarian. |
B
Performance
Straight line performance out of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is admirable, but dynamics on twisty roads is suspect.
| Acceleration |
A
|
The big 4.7-liter V8 pulls strong and smooth. 60 mph arrives in just over 6 seconds with no stress, strain or roughness. Shifts are fast and smooth. |
| Braking |
B
|
Owing to its off-road capability, the GL450 has a long pedal travel around town. In panic stops there's a firm, reassuring feel and the car is brought down from 60 in only 113 feet. |
| Steering |
B
|
The GL450's steering effort is feather-light and about as accurate as you'd need from something this size/weight. |
| Handling |
C
|
Even for an SUV, the GL450's responsiveness on the street is sub-par. Blame an intrusive stability control system that keeps the vehicle on all fours, but also keeps it slow. |
| Driveability |
A
|
The GL450 is built for daily-driving and highway situations and in those categories it excells. |
| Towing |
B
|
7,500 pounds max capacity, but there's more than enough power to handle that. Air suspension keeps the rig level. $550 gets you the hitch and the wiring. |
| Off-Road |
B
|
An optional on/off road package brings a two-speed transfer case and multi-mode off-road selector into the picture |
B
Value
While not cheap by any means, the GL450 is a high quality vehicle with ample convenience and entertainment features, plus refinement that is worth the price of entry.
| Build Quality (vs. $) |
A
|
When equipped with the Designo package, the GL almost feels like a good deal for the price, offering wood and leather normally seen on vehicles twice the price. |
| Features(vs. $) |
B
|
There are certainly a number of standard features with the GL, but the good stuff is optional. You'll pay extra for iPod, satellite radio, navigation, keyless-entry etc. |
| Cost |
B
|
The GL450 starts at $64,805 and quickly swells to nearly six-figures. For that, however, you get the best large SUV on the road today. |
| MPG |
B
|
The EPA says the GL450 will return 14 mpg city, 19 highway and 16 combined. |
| Warranty |
C
|
The GL450's warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles. |
| Ownership |
C
|
There is no free scheduled maintenance or roadside assistance available. Parts and service, when needed, are not laible to be cheap. |
B
Fun To Drive
Three-row SUVs are rarely fun to drive and this one is no different. The potent V8 keeps it from being dull, however.
| Driving Experience |
A
|
Think of the GL450 not as an SUV but instead more like an S-Class with serious ground clearance and a third row of seating. Not fun in the traditional sense, but a relaxing and rewarding experience. |
| Personality |
B
|
Even with a big price tag and a Mercedes grille, this is still a three-row family SUV. |
