Mercedes-Benz GL 500 2013 Review

Mercedes-Benz GL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY

Price: $154,900 (MRLP)
?Engine: 4.6-litre eight-cylinder twin turbo-petrol?
Output: 320kW / 700Nm
?Transmission: Seven-speed automatic?
Wheels / Tyres: 21x10.0-inch / 295/40?
Fuel / CO2: 11.5L/100km / 269g/km
Safety: Thirteen airbags / Five-star (EuroNCAP)

Think of the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class as the S-Class of the offroad world. If you’re going to head off the beaten track, you might as well do it in style.

But just how far off the beaten track will Benz’s full-size SUV allow you to go? And do you need shares in an oil company to get there?

Benz’s big seven seater offers 700Nm (between 1800-3500rpm), permanent all-wheel drive grip and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds. When you consider this performance and the fact the petrol-powered GL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY tips the scale at 2445kg, a combined fuel consumption figure of 11.5L/100km shouldn’t surprise... It should amaze!

Compared to its predecessor’s 5.4-litre unit, the new GL 500’s twin-turbo 4.7-litre V8 offers 12 per cent more power, 32 per cent more torque and 18 per cent better fuel economy.

Torque is the key. At 2000rpm, the new engine is developing 40 per cent more torque than that of the outgoing model. Indeed, the new V8 engine is incredibly flexible and suffers from none of the lag sometimes typical of turbocharged engines. Mercedes-Benz has achieved this not only from variable geometry turbocharging, but also by metering precisely the amount of fuel required to each combustion chamber at any given moment via its third-generation Bosch-sourced direct injection system.

To save even more fuel, the calibration of the seven-speed automatic transmission has been revised, while low-friction drive axles, electric power steering, low-rolling resistance tyres and idle stop-start all add their piece. In total, Mercedes-Benz estimates a cruising range of up to 890km for the GL 500 Blue EFFICIENCY.

On test, we managed 12.3L/100km.

On the road, the GL is an astonishingly capable vehicle. The ease at which it irons out hills or overtakes is matched only by its general weildiness. It’s hard to fathom that a two-and-a-half tonne SUV could slice an apex as well as the GL does. The overall balance, comfort and ability on hand is really something else.

Where offroad capability is concerned the GL 500 is a mixed bag. Considering its prowess on the open road, the rough rutted tracks of the Victorian High Country were a considerable challenge, one perhaps many owners will never attempt. More to the point, if you are looking to go further offroad, there’s always the (dearer) G 350 BlueTEC...

The GL 500 rides on AIRMATIC air suspension with adjustable shock absorbers and a load-recognition system. The system can even counter crosswinds and compensate for variances in road surface and camber to improve handling and ride comfort. But with 21-inch alloy wheels and low-profile rubber even the greatest suspension system is thwarted in conditions such as those encountered on test.

Mercedes-Benz have endowed the latest GL-Class with a very rigid bodyshell, up to 600mm wading depth, 306mm of ground clearance, and offroad geometry that, for its considerable 3075mm wheelbase, is quite impressive (33-degrees approach, 23-degrees break-over and 27-degrees departure).

Permanent all-wheel drive is standard and is assisted by Downhill Speed Regulation, though in the conditions we experienced, a simple pull of the left-hand steering wheel paddle to low gear was enough to tackle most situations. Fail to drive within the parameters of the programme and the GL-Class protects itself via engine underrun protection and fibre-reinforced underfloor panelling.

Not only do the fibre panels serve to protect the GL’s underside, but also aid in the suppression of noise. On test the GL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY proved exceptionally quiet allowing a peaceable ambience in which to enjoy conversation, or many options for your favourite driving soundtrack (USB, CD, AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth streaming). There weren’t even any squeaks or rattles to note, just a slightly obscured view through the thick A-pillar.

Excusing the obvious point of low-profile rubber offroad, the only other perceptible niggle we felt affected the GL’s otherwise exemplary performance was that of the brake pedal. As strong as the brakes themselves may be, pedal feel is lacking.

We also felt that given the GL’s aptitude for the great outdoors, a shortcut (preferably a hard button) to disabling the traction control might be a good idea. At one point, albeit in 25cm of fresh snow, the system’s sustained intervention saw a loss of momentum that could have seen us camping the night in sub-zero temperatures. Fortunately the SUV’s sheer inertia kept us moving until such time as we could scroll thorough myriad menu settings to disable the over bearing electronic nannies.

Overall GL 500 BlueEFFICIENCY is an incredibly capable vehicle -- so long as you respect its limits.