The latest GLS takes a winning formula and refines it even further. The big Benz's refresh made it quicker in our testing, and its improved infotainment system is easier to live with and get the hang of right away. The GLS remains one of the most well-rounded large SUVs on the market, and it's easy to recommend for anyone with the budget.Read full review
If you're in the market for a large three-row luxury SUV, it's hard to go wrong with the highly rated GLS. The GLS is Mercedes' largest SUV, positioned above the smaller GLE. But the brand's most expensive SUV is its popular off-roader: the G-Class (or G-wagen). The GLS is a great choice for large families. It can seat six or seven passengers and provides a commendable amount of cargo space behind the third row. Folding down the third row, though, significantly expands the cargo area. The GLS excels in most categories, including comfort, technology, performance and build quality.
The GLS was refreshed for 2024. Outside, Mercedes updated its look with a redesigned front bumper, grille and taillights. But the biggest changes took place inside with the GLS' tech. In addition to several new standard advanced driver aids, all GLS models get a surround-view camera system, Mercedes' latest infotainment system and augmented video guidance for the navigation system. The base engine in the GLS 450 gets 13 more horsepower, and the GLS 580's V8 gets an additional 27 hp. Mercedes also reworked the features in the 580's Off-Road package. The AMG GLS 63 also packs more standard features such as a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a head-up display, and an air purification and fragrance system.
Competitors to consider
The Mercedes GLS is an excellent choice for a three-row luxury SUV and is one of our favorites. But if your family needs something larger, the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Wagoneer are compelling rivals that provide more cargo space. If luxury, comfort and tech are more of a priority, the BMW X7 and Land Rover Range Rover are worthy alternatives. As for an all-electric option, consider the impressive Rivian R1S. Check out the Edmunds Expert Rating below to get our test team's full review of the GLS' comfort, tech, performance and more.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Reese Counts
Great
8.6
out of 10
We drove the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8.5/10
How does the GLS-Class drive? We tested the GLE 450. This might be the base version but there's little reason to feel like you'd need to upgrade. At our test track, it hustled from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds — that's impressively quick and, for context, about a second quicker than a Cadillac Escalade. Around town, acceleration is smooth and easy. We were also impressed with the GLS' powerful brakes and secure handling. The steering doesn't provide much feel for the road, but its light effort makes the GLS easy to maneuver in a parking lot or in traffic.
Comfort
8.5/10
How comfortable is the GLS-Class? The GLS' front seats are supportive and highly adjustable. You won't have any trouble staying comfortable even after many hours behind the wheel. The heated and ventilated seats work well, and the automatic climate control quickly evens out cabin temperatures.
There's little intrusion from the outside world, with just a bit of road noise on rough pavement. The ride quality is excellent with the optional E-Active Body Control suspension. It's smooth and composed, ironing out most road imperfections without floating or wallowing. Large wheels can hurt ride quality in many SUVs, but our test vehicle with optional 21-inch wheels didn't seem fazed.
Interior
9/10
How’s the interior? The GLS' interior is excellent from almost every perspective. The driving position is upright and commanding, but you always feel comfortably ensconced in the GLS. There's plenty of room in all three rows, and 6-foot-plus adults can fit comfortably in the easy-to-access third row. The large windows help all-around visibility and make passengers in the rear feel less claustrophobic.
The controls are all well placed and easy to reach, but there's a lot of them and the small text means you have to take your eyes off the road until you work up the muscle memory. Separating the seat controls between the door and the infotainment system is a bit frustrating too.
How’s the tech? Mercedes' infotainment system is a marvel and benchmark for the class even if the learning curve is a bit steep. The navigation system in particular is a standout, and the augmented reality overlay and turn-by-turn directions in the instrument cluster and head-up display are compelling reasons to use this system instead of a mapping app from your phone. All three rows have USB-C ports, and a standard wireless charging pad sits in front of the cupholders.
The GLS' advanced driver aids are equally impressive. The adaptive cruise control is among the best we've tested. In traffic, the system maintains a reasonable gap and can slow the GLS down to a complete stop, then start going again when traffic moves.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? ith the seats down, the GLS' cargo area offers up to 84.7 cubic feet of cargo area behind the front seats. Space drops to 17.4 cubes with all the rows upright, which isn't enough to haul luggage for every passenger. Space is decent enough for the class, though the GLS trails the cavernous Navigator, which offers up 103.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.
The second and third row seats fold flat and can be dropped with buttons in the hatch. Small-item storage is great, with lots of pockets, bins and cupholders spread throughout the cabin. The GLS 450 is rated to tow 7,700 pounds when properly equipped, which is certainly sufficient for many small and medium-size trailers.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the GLS 450, which is what we tested, will get 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's impressive for a vehicle this big and capable. On our real-world evaluation route, our test GLS got 21 mpg, indicating the EPA's estimate is realistic. Fuel economy drops substantially with any of the V8-powered GLS models, however.
Value
8/10
Is the GLS-Class a good value? The GLS is expensive to start, and adding a bunch of options further boosts the price. This is pretty typical for luxury SUVs, however, and nothing at this price point can match the GLS' impressive build quality and refinement. Mercedes' warranty is average for the class.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The GLS is everything you want in a three-row luxury SUV. It's stylish without being overwrought, quiet and comfortable on the road, and effortlessly powerful whenever you need it to be.
Which GLS-Class does Edmunds recommend?
The GLS 450 is the way to go because it offers the most bang for your buck. It comes standard with an almost endless amount of standard features, and it costs significantly less than the GLS 580. And if the standard features aren't enough, the GLS 450 can be optioned with most of the features found in the GLS 580. However, if you have a large budget and power is a priority, the GLS 580 and AMG GLS 63 won't disappoint.
The overall sentiment for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is mixed. Owners appreciate the car's comfortable ride and spacious interior. However, many have reported problems with the car's technology and safety features, like jerky transmission and unreliable sensors, which can be frustrating and even alarming. Some owners have also experienced issues with build quality, such as engine warnings and wind noise.
This summary is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews
We purchased a 2024 GLS 450 six months ago. There is wind noise while driving that sounds like a swarm of bees in the headliner, the transmission is very jerky on downshifts (it feels like you have spiked the brake), the check surrounding sensors go off all the time in traffic, the lane assist sees tar strips and old line paint in construction zones and wants to force you into other … lanes or the old non existent roadway, the seat settings and temperature control settings do not stay programmed when you turn off the SUV. All of these items are annoying and some are safety issues. What does Mercedes say? The SUV is performing as engineered, this is Mercedes Quality. This is the most disappointing $105,000 vehicle there is and the dealer is not interested in fixing it.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, so we've included review for other years of the GLS-Class since its last redesign.
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This standard feature is an automatic collision notification system with an SOS emergency call button.
Pre-Safe Sound
When a collision is about to happen, Pre-Safe Sound emits a special tone through the stereo speakers to protect your hearing during the impact.
Active Emergency Stop Assist
When using adaptive cruise control and active lane keeping assistance, this feature can recognize an unresponsive driver and bring the GLS to a safe stop.
FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 GLS-Class both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.6 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2024 GLS-Class gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 26 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the GLS-Class has 17.4 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class:
Redesigned front bumper, grille and taillights
Slightly more hp for the GLS 450 and GLS 580
Updated infotainment system and standard package of driver aids
Part of the third GLS generation introduced for 2020
To determine whether the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the GLS-Class. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the GLS-Class's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 GLS-Class and gave it a 8.6 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2024 GLS-Class gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 26 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 GLS-Class is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
The least-expensive 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $87,000.
Other versions include:
GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $87,000
GLS 580 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $112,000
AMG GLS 63 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) which starts at $145,850
What are the different models of Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
If you're interested in the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, the next question is, which GLS-Class model is right for you? GLS-Class variants include GLS 450 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A), GLS 580 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A), and AMG GLS 63 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A). For a full list of GLS-Class models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more