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Used 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Consumer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 GLS-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the GLS-Class since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

It's the road trip king

S. Shows, 07/05/2016
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 9A)
84 of 86 people found this review helpful

Traded in my 2014 GL 450 for the 2017 GLS 550. The GL was the best SUV that I have owned (Range Rover, Navigator, Yukon Denali XL). On the surface the GLS seemed to be very similar, but I have found it to be more comfortable with an even better ride. The seat comfort (in the front) is a step up from the GL. Operating this SUV is a pleasurable experience akin to driving a large automobile. I don't need the third row seats as often as I did (kids are grown), but the rear space is fantastic. I especially like the lockable under floor storage in the rear. The programmable driving modes are a nice feature as is the steering assistant. I also got the off-road package this time with the extra height adjustment and the low-range feature. This gives you some undercarriage protection and low-end torque that the standard 4 matic does not have. The 550 has quite a bit more power than the 450 did. The 9 speed automatic transmission is very smooth. The technology is great however, the ECO engine cutoff is automatically activated even time you start the vehicle, or when changing the driving mode. If you dislike this feature, you have to remember to manually de-activate it every time you start up. The interior has been upgraded a bit, but still needs to be more like the S-Class. Although the new center screen is bright and easy to read. GL's was a bit small. It is more at home on the highway than my Range Rover was and more comfortable. It's too early to tell about the reliability yet, but my previous GL was outstanding in that department. With the cost at around $100k, the GLS 450 is probably a better value. The 550 represents about $20k worth of extra horsepower, leather seating and bells & whistles. If I still had kids to haul around, I would have gotten another 450.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Simply amazing. Test drive it and you will know.

Jlo, 10/24/2017
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 9A)
48 of 51 people found this review helpful

Is this a car or a magic carpet? Truly it’s like an escalator that effortlessly lifts you along. We test drove and put a deposit on an Audi Q7. We didn’t want the stigma of a Mercedes and to hear comments from family or neighbors. My wife just wasn’t in love with the idea of the Q7 and neither was I. It was too small and lacked a spare tire. We finally said the heck with it and test drove the Benz. We knew immediately it was the right car for us and cancelled the Q7 order. I drive a Dodge Durango that is built on the same platform as the GLS. There is no comparison, the interior or the Benz is smaller because the body is made with more high-strength steel. This car is a vault and safety is my highest priority. I’m a cheapskate. But I will spend money for safety. Everything about this car is impeccable. The LED headlights amazing. Air suspension amazing, go off road and it raises the car 5 inches. Put it in sport mode and it keeps the car flat on winding roads. My wife is amazed by this car. She feels confident and assured. The only thing I don’t care for is the electronic interface and that is just a matter of reading the manual. I have no other complaints. It was expensive. But it is worth it to protect my family and to reward my wife for putting up with me. Test drive this car before you buy anything else. It is so easy and fun to drive.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Best Road Trip SUV

CW Kearney , 05/23/2018
updated 11/25/2019
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 9A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

This big SUV drives so easily and you don’t realize how big it is. Comfort and handling are the best. Safety systems work great. The amount of room for seven is great. With third and second row seats down you have a cavern! Have had it for one year and would not want anything but it on a long trip! After several thousand miles, still love this big SUV. Have ordered GLS580.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

great car, except for poor information system

L. G., 09/20/2016
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
38 of 41 people found this review helpful

I have been driving the new GLS 450 for 2 months. I used to drive a Cadillac CTS and this new Truck gives me a similar driving experience (except that I don't want to do a quick/sharp turn) and sometimes it even gives me even more confidence in handling. It is very spacious; I keeps the 3rd row folded during most of time and carried lots of stuff in the truck (e.g. two large palm trees!). The interior is also very good for the price. The only major downside is the information system: if I had it 10 years ago I would probably have liked it lot, but in the year of 2016, this system is way too old fashioned. The information does not even have a TOUCH SCREEN! Instead, it uses a gigantic control knob with technology already invented in the 90's. Furthermore, some of the common controls are hard to find (e.g. turning on/off bluetooth) - one should be able to push a button to do it. If you connect your phone to the car via bluetooth, it can be very very annoying, so does the AirPlay feature, because the car will stop the music for any notification coming from your phone. And only two USB ports? Overall, I still like to drive this car without its old-fashioned information system, but I hope Mercedes can improve it in the next model - after all, if I could just replace that screen with my iPad, it would give me a much better information system already.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

Great Luxury SUV - Dangerous Halogn Lights

VAMSIDHAR POKALA, 01/17/2018
updated 01/19/2021
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
36 of 39 people found this review helpful

I have been using this SUV past 3 years. Here is my experience. Past 3 years enjoyed driving the SUV for all errands, road trips. It is great to drive with family. Driving comfort for long journey is great for all passengers. The SUV is able to maintain a quiet cabin and driving experience is amazing and stress free. Improvements with Apple Car play let us avoid the not so friendly Merc Navigation. Reason for 3 start Review There is no lighting package in this SUV and it was not in my shopping list thought that car will be fine with out fancy headlights. Never imagined my investment went to wrong route. The headlights are so dim that i had to rely on other vehicles bright headlights. Driivng in rain or fog is out of question. I rather take my other vehicle or rent than relying on this vehicle. I ended up into close accidents in bad weather situations. I reported to Mercedes, Dealers, NHA and ended up no luck and the Friendly answer from Merc that you have the lights that is what you have to use. i decided to go for after market and planning to go for alternate. Note- if you are buying without a lighting package, give a second thought. The following features are must to get best out of Mercedes. Driver Assistance Package Lighting Package Improvements needed - No Music Track change option on steering wheel, have to rely on multi-function button. No wireless charging pad or space for keeping phones. Need some space improvements. Access to 3 rd row is not friendly.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

Great ride, but tech lacking for the price point

Mr. Savage, 11/01/2018
updated 02/15/2023
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful

After one year, my review below still applies, and based upon the loaner I received, it equally applies to the 2019 GLS450 as well as my 2018 ride. Overall the GLS450 is the best riding large SUV out there, looks great inside and out. While on paper the horsepower is the same, the V6 does not seem as gutsy as the V8 in the 2013 GL, but it is much quieter when the 9 speed is keeping RMPs down. MPG basically the same as the old V8, which is surprising. For the size of the vehicle, the glove box and center consul are surprisingly small. The new display screen is nice, much larger than the 2013, but why not make it touch screen. The 360 degree cameras are very nice, with the larger display they make maneuvering a breeze. The crazy touch pad over the control knob is clunky at best, and really a waste of effort by their engineers, just use the knob (or, make the screen a touch screen). This thing gets so hot it will burn your hand (when it was 90F the pad was 178F!). Apparently MB engineers do not realise metal to skin conducts pretty fast After two long road trips, a touch screen is must, if KIA has them MB should be embarrassed they do not. The command touch pad is like looking for a lost cursor at 80 MPH. Hoping the 2018 is as reliable as the 2013 GL which went 100K+ with only minor issues. (The car did eat tires, but it could be as much the driver as the wheel and tire package : ) ) After 6 months of ownership, the lack of technology is maddening. USB ports in the console is stupid, the touch pad is an absolute waste of effort make the console bigger and scrap that junk, the auto off is a lot of expense for nothing. I must say if they do not fix this before my next purchase I would most likely not get another MB no matter how solid the ride is. Which I must say is still great.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

the beast on the highway

James, 02/28/2018
updated 09/11/2023
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 63 AMG 4dr SUV AWD (5.5L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful

You have to be able to afford this much fun. Acceleration and braking are impressive. You also get all the interior space you should need. Gas mileage in city is around 11 to 15 mpg and on highway 16 to 19 mpg depending on traffic and weather conditions. Not too terrible for 577 hp. I have no complaints. Now have 41,000 miles. Replaced brake pads and rotors front and back. Not surprising . Replaced after market tires after 28,000 miles. No other issues or complaints.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Love my MB 450

Jay Singh, 09/15/2018
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful

I absolutely love my GL450. It is the most comfortable vehicle I have driven under a $100,00 price tag. I have had it for 3 years and love it just as much today as the day I drove it off the lot. A few things I would point out. Its very very quite in the cabin. The stereo system is a pleasure to listen to. I like mine full blast and enjoy it. The ride quality is amazing. Very soft but has the UMMPH if you put it in sport mode. Its just a push of a button. I like my soft ride and saves on fuel as well. The climate controls are great and nothing to complain of or say much about but the GPS is a pain in the butt to add destinations and so. So we simply use phone apps for that. Reliability and maintenance. Reliability is great. Not once did it not start or had us stranded on a road. Not once. Maintenance is pricey. The dealer always has a good size bill when ever we go in for maintenance. Its not cheap but I knew that before hand and not complaining about it. My 450 has just about 35,000 miles and we will be trading it in for a 2019. Hopefully 2019 will be just as good if not better.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Early days, but love the GLS550

Matt M, 05/22/2018
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 550 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Drives like a quick sedan, super comfortable, great interior and exterior looks. Downside of gas mileage on the 550 and I don’t know about reliability as it’s still early days.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Power, luxury,comfort,and great mpg for a SUV.

Bart Turner, 01/22/2018
updated 01/23/2020
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)
19 of 22 people found this review helpful

Handles like a smaller vehicle. Silky smooth ride in town or on the highway. Update...great mpg. Still solid as a rock. Nimble. Still very happy Update still love it, no problems!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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