2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS Facelift Review: Big in Size, Bigger on Luxury

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is the flagship SUV of the German luxury carmaker, and it has been updated for 2024 with a new design, features, and engines. The GLS facelift is aimed at customers who want a spacious, comfortable, and powerful SUV that can seat up to seven people and handle any terrain with ease.

In this article, we will make the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift review and see how it compares with its rivals in the luxury SUV segment.

Key Takeaways

• The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift has refreshed its exterior and interior design, with reference to the previous model.
• The GLS facelift offers two engine options, a 3.0-litre petrol and a 3.0-litre diesel, both with mild-hybrid technology and all-wheel drive.
• The GLS facelift comes with the latest MBUX infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a ‘Rear Seat Comfort’ package for the rear passengers.
• The GLS facelift competes with the BMW X7, the Volvo XC90, and the Land Rover Discovery in the luxury SUV segment.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift review Design

The 2024 GLS facelift has refreshed its exterior and interior design, with reference to the previous model. The GLS is known for its imposing size and presence, and the facelift enhances that with subtle changes. The grille, headlamps, tail-lamps, bumper, wheels, and color options have been updated to give the GLS a more modern and elegant look. The interior layout, color schemes, materials, and trims have also been revised, with gloss black panels and Maybach-style air vents adding a touch of sophistication.

The GLS facelift measures 5.2 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, 1.82 meters in height, and has a wheelbase of 3.14 meters. It has a large and spacious cabin, with three rows of seats that can accommodate seven people. The second and third rows can be folded down to increase the boot space, which is 355 liters with all seats up and 2,400 liters with all seats down.

The GLS facelift is available in five color options: Obsidian Black, High-tech Silver, Sodalite Blue, Selenite Grey, and Polar White. It also offers three upholstery color choices: black, beige, and brown, all crafted in high-quality faux leather. The GLS facelift rides on 21-inch alloy wheels, which add to its imposing stance.

Performance

The 2024 GLS facelift offers two engine options, a 3.0-litre petrol and a 3.0-litre diesel, both with mild-hybrid technology and all-wheel drive. The petrol engine is the GLS 450, which produces 381 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. The diesel engine is the GLS 450d, which delivers 367 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox, which provides smooth and quick shifts.

The mild-hybrid system consists of an integrated starter generator (ISG), which provides an extra boost of 20 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque when needed. The ISG also helps in improving the fuel efficiency and reducing the emissions of the GLS facelift. The GLS facelift has a claimed mileage of 10.5 kmpl for the petrol variant and 12.8 kmpl for the diesel variant.

The GLS facelift also comes with an air suspension, which adjusts the ride height and damping according to the road conditions and the driving mode. The GLS facelift has seven driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual, Off-road, and Off-road+. The Off-road modes enable the GLS facelift to tackle rough terrain with ease, as it can raise the ground clearance by up to 60 mm and ford through water up to 500 mm deep.

Technology

The 2024 GLS facelift comes with the latest MBUX infotainment system, which features a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system has a user-friendly interface, a fast processor, and a high-resolution display. It also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, and a 13-speaker Burmester sound system. The infotainment system also has new off-road display options, such as the invisible bonnet function, which uses cameras to show what is underneath the car.

The GLS facelift also comes with a touch-operable steering wheel, which has haptic feedback buttons and a fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor allows the driver to access their personal settings, such as the seat position, climate control, and navigation preferences. The steering wheel also has paddle shifters and cruise control buttons.

The GLS facelift also offers a ‘Rear Seat Comfort’ package, which enhances the experience of the rear passengers. The package includes plush head restraints, electric sunblinds, two 11.6-inch entertainment screens, and an additional tablet to control the features. The package also allows the rear passengers to adjust the front seats for more space and comfort.

Competition

The 2024 GLS facelift competes with other luxury SUVs in the segment, such as the BMW X7, the Volvo XC90, and the Land Rover Discovery. Here is a table that compares the price, features, performance, and design of each competitor, and how they differ from the GLS facelift:

SUV	Price (ex-showroom)	Features	Performance	Design
Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift	Rs 1.32 crore – Rs 1.37 crore	MBUX infotainment, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, heated and cooled seats, ‘Rear Seat Comfort’ package, air suspension, ADAS	3.0-litre petrol (381 hp, 500 Nm) or 3.0-litre diesel (367 hp, 700 Nm), mild-hybrid system, 9-speed AT, AWD, 10.5 kmpl (petrol) or 12.8 kmpl (diesel)	Refreshed grille, headlamps, tail-lamps, bumper, wheels, and color options, gloss black panels and Maybach-style air vents, three upholstery color choices, 21-inch alloy wheels
BMW X7	Rs 1.27 crore – Rs 1.69 crore	BMW Live Cockpit Professional, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, heated and cooled seats, panoramic sunroof, air suspension, ADAS	3.0-litre petrol (340 hp, 450 Nm) or 3.0-litre diesel (265 hp, 620 Nm), 8-speed AT, AWD, 10.54 kmpl (petrol) or 13.38 kmpl (diesel)	Large kidney grille, LED headlamps and tail-lamps, chrome accents, wood and leather trims, four upholstery color choices, 20-inch or 21-inch alloy wheels
Volvo XC90	Rs 98.85 lakh – Rs 1.31 crore	Sensus infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, heated and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, air suspension, ADAS	2.0-litre petrol (320 hp, 400 Nm) or 2.0-litre diesel (235 hp, 480 Nm), 8-speed AT, AWD, 10.2 kmpl (petrol) or 17.2 kmpl (diesel)	Thor’s hammer LED headlamps, LED tail-lamps, chrome grille, wood and leather trims, three upholstery color choices, 19-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels

Comfort

The 2024 GLS facelift is designed to provide the utmost comfort and luxury to its occupants, especially the rear passengers. The GLS facelift has a spacious and airy cabin, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for all three rows of seats. The seats are plush and supportive, with electric adjustment, memory function, heating, and cooling features. The third row of seats can also be accessed easily, thanks to the electrically folding second row.

The GLS facelift also has a four-zone automatic climate control system, which maintains the optimal temperature and humidity for each zone. The system also has an air ionization and filtration feature, which purifies the air and removes odors and pollutants. The GLS facelift also has a panoramic sunroof, which adds to the sense of openness and brightness in the cabin.

The GLS facelift also offers a ‘Rear Seat Comfort’ package, which enhances the experience of the rear passengers. The package includes plush head restraints, electric sunblinds, two 11.6-inch entertainment screens, and an additional tablet to control the features. The package also allows the rear passengers to adjust the front seats for more space and comfort.

Safety

The 2024 GLS facelift comes with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which help the driver in various situations and enhance the safety of the vehicle. The ADAS include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, cross traffic assist, park assist, and a 360-degree camera.

The adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and adjusts the speed according to the traffic flow. The lane keeping assist warns the driver if the vehicle drifts out of the lane and gently steers it back. The blind spot assist alerts the driver if there is a vehicle in the blind spot and prevents a collision. The cross traffic assist warns the driver of approaching vehicles or pedestrians when reversing out of a parking spot.

The park assist helps the driver find a suitable parking space and maneuvers the vehicle into it. The 360-degree camera provides a bird’s eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings, making it easier to park and navigate in tight spaces.

The GLS facelift also has other standard safety features, such as nine airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability program (ESP), traction control, hill start assist, hill descent control, and tire pressure monitoring system. The GLS facelift also has a high-strength body structure, which absorbs and distributes the impact forces in case of a collision.

Verdict

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift is a luxury SUV that offers a lot of space, comfort, performance, and technology. It is a refined and elegant vehicle that can seat up to seven people and handle any terrain with ease. It has a refreshed design, a powerful engine, a smooth gearbox, a mild-hybrid system, an air suspension, and a user-friendly infotainment system. It also has a ‘Rear Seat Comfort’ package, which makes the rear passengers feel pampered and relaxed. It also has advanced driver assistance systems, which make the driving safer and easier.

The GLS facelift is not a cheap vehicle, as it costs Rs 1.32 crore for the petrol variant and Rs 1.37 crore for the diesel variant, ex-showroom. It also faces stiff competition from other luxury SUVs, such as the BMW X7, the Volvo XC90, and the Land Rover Discovery, which offer similar features and performance at lower prices. However, the GLS facelift has a unique appeal and charm, as it is the flagship SUV of Mercedes-Benz, and it delivers a premium and luxurious experience that is hard to match.

If you are looking for a big, comfortable, and powerful SUV that can seat up to seven people and handle any terrain with ease, then the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS facelift is a great option for you. However, if you are looking for a more affordable or more agile SUV, then you might want to consider its rivals.

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