Used 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV Consumer Reviews
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7 months later and still Love, Love, Love this car
Rocky Mountains Driver, 07/09/2016
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
29 of 30 people found this review helpful
My first Mercedes Benz . . . I really researched SUV's, looking for that perfect balance of utility, comfort and reliability. I went out of my way to get one with standard tires, the ride is so much better, smoother. It maybe doesn't look very flashy, but then flash was not something I wanted. The seats could be a little more comfortable, they're only ok, they are hard and begin getting uncomfortable after long hours of driving. The pick-up is smooth and immediate, easy to pass. The Distronic cruise control is beyond wonderful, it makes long drives so much more pleasant and easier too. The entertainment system is excellent, very intuitive and the console knob is very convenient and easy to operate. While the bluetooth phone hooks right up without any problem, connecting your music is a little harder and is my only complaint with the entertainment options. Navigation is great. Over the past 10 years I've driven a couple of Escalades (and every year they are little more uncomfortable and missing another bell or whistle), Tahoe (how much stick on plastic pieces can they fit in the interior?), Navigator (why oh why does Ford/Lincoln not get on board with adaptive cruise control in their most luxurious SUV?). The Mercedes beats them all, on all fronts. It's quieter, smoother, more responsive. Cruise control holds as well going downhill as on a flat surface. We don't need the 3rd row of seats and they fold down easily and flat, creating a large cargo area. MB offers great mats and containers built to fit, making optimal use of the area. Body built in America, engine built in Germany. I turned off the lane minder feature, I found the vibration and gentle guide back into my lane aggravating, would probably turn it on if I was driving sleepy, otherwise it's just too sensitive. Overall, great vehicle . . . I hope it continues to exceed my expectations.
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GL Diesel: Great SUV Sluggish Performance
Eddie Brannon, 12/08/2015
updated 06/18/2018
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
36 of 39 people found this review helpful
This is one of the finest SUV's available being beat only by Land Rover Range Rover Diesel which lists for about 25-30k more. The GL's acceleration is sluggish and is much less nimble than my X-5 diesel. The GL offers more space than the BMW and has excellent fuel economy given its size. The premium package excludes adaptive xenon headlights and 3 zone climate control which is ridiculous. The standard halogen lights are anemic at best so it is imperative to order any Mercedes with xenon lamps. Do not purchase a Mercedes without upgraded headlights! Another bad call by the manufacturer was not to include as a standard feature 3 zone climate in a vehicle with a third row. Make certain your GL has 3 zone climate control otherwise you can be certain the third row will be very uncomfortable in summer months or warmer climates. My car included the rear seat entertainment package. The operation of this package is by remote controls so is beyond my four year olds ability rendering it useless. Furthermore the rear monitors can only be operated from the rear seats. Skip this package an I-pad is a much better choice. There is only one USB port in this car. Mercedes seems to lag behind its US competitors in amenities and technology. The car has many attributes and is the most practical SUV currently being marketed. Until something better in its class comes to market this still is a hard car to beat.
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2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class for sale near you
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Best SUV I have ever owned
J F Meyer, 02/20/2017
updated 08/21/2019
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
I have owned many luxury SUV's over the years and my GL550 has been the most all satisfying SUV that I have owned. You can usually find one thing to like about any SUV, but when the product receives high marks in every category of owner satisfaction, I am inclined to believe I have found the best in class for the moment. This is my second GL550, and that should be an indication of my satisfaction, as I also shopped other luxury brands before buying the second GL550. I have every option on my GL550, and that's how I generally order all my new vehicles, as that tends to increase owner satisfaction, but the basic unit is solid and sets a high bar of meeting expectations in this category. I have the upgrade Designo interior in my current GL550, and find this expensive option to be worth every dollar, as the seat comfort on long trips is exceptional to the standard seat. Our Audi A8 has the upgraded Audi interior, and has the most comfortable seats in the industry (pretty much sets the bar for comfort), and the GL550 gets as close as anything to an Audi interior experience. The Mercedes product line is very customizable to personal taste, so I suggest that you pick your salesman carefully, so that you receive a exceptional experience in learning about the product before buying. As a note of caution, I have friends that felt conflicted after taking delivery of their new Mercedes cars, because after a couple weeks of ownership, they learned about what their car did not have, which included many items that they expected to be included, because they were talking too and buying from an inexperienced salesman. I have done a follow-up review of my previous comments shown above, and I still stand by the original comments. This industry segment is becoming crowed with new entries into the luxury segment, but the value of the new entries is questionable when you looking at starting prices that would scare a Billionaire. I am anxiously waiting for the totally redone 2020 Mercedes Benz GLS. I now have forty-thousand miles on my GL, and I have had zero issues. I replaced the original equipment summer-tires with all-season Continental tires and that change actually improved handling, ride, and traction on wet roads. Gone are the days of hydroplaning on wet or slushy roads, I hope. I am now at 70,000 miles and just replaced the brake calipers for the first time. The all-season tires are still better than the original equipment, but they also hydroplane after 20,000 miles. I have to blame the width of the tires for this aggravation. My last set of tires started vibrating at about 18,000 miles, and the mechanic said they have seen this happen on several suv's with wide tires. Their theory is that the suspension is not structurally strong enough to handle the lateral forces being applied to the wide tires, and results in the tires wearing uneven with flat spots about the perimeter of the tire. It was very visible when looking at the tires that the wear pattern was spotty and uneven around the tire. The vehicle itself has been a pleasure to own and I am anxiously waiting for the 2020 GLS release. I am always shopping for my next suv and the market is getting saturated with great suv's. But in the GLS class, there are few brands that offer the same luxury and owner satisfaction in this size vehicle. I am now at 80,000 miles and have just placed an order for the newest 2020 edition GLS 580. Many technology improvements, as well as an array of options to personalize the car. I considered the BMW X7, the SWB full size Range Rover, and the updated 2020 Audi Q7. The SUV field is getting crowded with every brand chasing after SUV customers. My feelings are that Only Ford and Lincoln understand luxury among the US manufacturers, and that is a recent epiphany on their part. GM will never understand luxury. Mercedes has stepped-up significantly, to push more luxury in the GLS model. I am not in favor of a Mercedes/Maybach Luxury SUV, because it will negatively impact and limit how far Mercedes will consider expanding luxury features into the GLS model. How else do you justify the Maybach SUV's price, other than hold back the GLS.
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2016 GL 450
CorSol, 10/07/2017
updated 10/19/2020
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
We have owned this suv for 4 years now. Overall, it is comfortable comfortable, quite, and great to drive. Our only complaint is for 70k the navigation and entertainment system could have been so much better. This is the only shortcoming.
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Don't be fooled by the Mercedes Badge
Carl D, 02/13/2017
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
26 of 32 people found this review helpful
The GL550 is quick, looks good, and is made of high quality materials. My sticker was 95K. I enjoyed the vehicle for about 900 miles., but prior to 5k Miles there was over 6k worth of warranty work that included tires, transmission, window seals, and an HVAC smell that was similar to mold. This was my first Mercedes and my hopes were very high. I knew a lot of folks that had E and S series sedans and they mostly had no issues. If you spend the time to look very closely to consumer complaints and ratings of this vehicle you'll soon find out that the quality is sub-par across the board. Maintenance costs, breakdowns, ongoing known issue that should generate recalls but instead generate TB's (Technical Bulletins) that outline the known issues but give the dealership the "flexibility" to address the fix at their own discretion. Take the time to investigate the customer issues and total cost of ownership and you'll find this is a poor choice. I traded mine in at 19200 miles because I just got fed up with the downtime in the shop and all of the overall issues.
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the best utility vehicle,but not a luxury vehicle
VandyJody, 05/11/2016
updated 11/14/2017
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
17 of 22 people found this review helpful
Well, after the engine stalled on the interstate and a few years weeks work, MB determined it needed all new computers. It turned the engine & transmission into a very impressive operation with about a 2 MPG improvement as well. Still has super Hard seats, mediocre brakes and very odd handling. But, it is a tough vehicle- the best utility vehicle I have ever owned. It will pull a 7500 lb trailer with ease as well as lumber amd anything else you throw in there. But if you want comfort or luxury, don't get this. The most inaccurate auto climate control since 1960 doesn't help. It drives kind of like a 1990's SUV with a 2015 engine amd almost works.
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Great Ride, Poor Engineering and Quality
DGM , 10/31/2019
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
First, our GL550 is fun to drive. It is fast and acceleration is great. The beast is quiet inside displays very little road noise and handles beautifully, even on rough surfaces. This is my wife’s vehicle and after 50,000 miles she is ready to say goodbye. After owning luxury brands for 20 years this was our first and, likely, last “Benz.” The BAD: we have replaced the Continental every 15,000 miles and are on our fourth set. The dealership will not provide any mileage warranty on tires it sells for this vehicle. At just over 30,000, we replaced brakes and at 35,000 spent over $1,000 on the suspension for worn out parts. Interval service cost is about $800 which is annoying. The electronics have had issues (short in rear DVD system) and the interface for this year is primitive, our 2011 Ford truck is far better and more intuitive. Finally, don’t expect great fuel economy for the V8, we average 14 mpg.
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Disappointing a bit - for a Mercedes
Daniel, 08/21/2020
updated 02/24/2023
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought this car with over 60k miles (still less than a 4 year old vehicle then) The smell of leather is very repulsive. The smell of the AC when you turn it on, it equally bad. Oil leaks from the Turbo charger started occurring at 64k miles. Losing power at 72k - result is need for dual turbo chargers replaced at a whopping > $5.2k. I've owned Mercedes Sedans all my life and switching to SUV was disappointing. Maybe I just got a lemon? If I were to do it all over again I would have kept my 2014 Chevy Tahoe.. far more comfortable ride, more space, and fairly low maintenance cost compared to this vehicle.
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Could have been better
E. Lin, 02/20/2020
updated 08/22/2022
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bought my GL450 used coming off a 3-year lease. I traded in my Toyota Sienna minivan and was surprised that the specs say it's a larger footprint than the minivan I traded in (make sure your garage can easily house a minivan!). After about 1.5 years of ownership, I feel I can properly assess the vehicle. As noted, I traded in a minivan and was specifically looking for something with 3 rows. The third row can accommodate 2 adults comfortably but there is a catch. The air vents I used to enjoy in the minivan for that third row was missing in the GL450! Apparently you have to upgrade to a higher package to get any sort of ventilation in that third row! Why anyone would make that an "option" is beyond me. Needless to say, it can get a little hot back there during the summer. With the third row up, you can maybe put about 4 grocery bags side by side back there but there's not a lot of trunk space. The "magic seat" that automatically folds the second row seats is cool but I'm definitely not looking forward to the day the electronics fail. The car drives well and is sporty enough where I don't regret passing over the GL550. Having been a minivan owner before, I guess I was already used to a large vehicle but some who are coming from much smaller cars will need to get used to the size! If I could do it over again, I would probably try to find some way to get the Audi Q7 now that it's based on the Atlas platform. *** 8/21/22 update *** When I bought this as a CPO, I also got the extended warranty. Boy am I glad I did! Had one glitch where the driver side door controls wouldn't work. That means no side mirror adjustments, power windows, and driver power seat adjustments (from memory or manually). The warranty paid for that with maybe 2 months to spare! Car was driveable but the problem was it was stuck on my seat settings and I'm not the primary driver! If you buy a new/used Mercedes, I highly recommend the extended warranty.
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suspension problems
German, 01/04/2021
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Front suspension problems started at just 10000 miles. Worst part is that are not covered by warranty. now should change the front shocks and the cost here in Colombia is over USD$6000..
Mommas dream
A. Caison, 02/12/2019
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about my upgrade! Went from a 2012 GL350 bluetec to the 2016 GL450 4Matic and what an amazing upgrade it’s been! Mom of 3 busy girls!
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Do not buy. Mercedes! Lexis is more reliable.
Jerry , 12/02/2022
updated 06/06/2024
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I’ve had 3 Mercedes and spent $250,000. All 3 were bad! GL 450 engine blew up at 75,000 miles. Mercedes said tough luck and wanted $30,000 to fix it. Second one died at 120,000 miles. Third one died at 65,000 miles. All 3 sold for less than $10,000. I lost over $100,000 In value. Mercedes dealer said again tough luck. Do not buy Mercedes. They just do not make reliable cars for the money.
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