Mercedes Benz GL550
Mercedes Benz GL550
Mercedes Benz GL550
2008 Mercedes Benz GL550
Here's the latest version of Mercedes-Benz’s , the GL, topping the manufacturer’s All Terrains SUV line up. Providing room for 7 people and almost 6 meters long, the Mercedes GL is a beast that combines elegance and luxury. Our Japanese test vehicle was the GL550 while Europe will have to do with the GL500 or GL420 CDI.
2008 Mercedes Benz GL550
Design: Among Mercedes latest creations, the GL has to be one of the most consensual. Despite huge proportions, it offers a great design, balanced between elegance and sportiness. Its harmonious lines happen to be purer than those of its little brother ML, and manages to stay away from the « hot dog design » of an Audi Q7. On a side note, there is no analogy between the GL and the G class which remains in the lineup.
2008 Mercedes Benz GL550
Interior: One of Mercedes most impressive interiors and one of the best you can find on the market in that category of cars. The quality feel is tremendous, and the use of leather and wood simply makes you forget that you’re sitting in a big, four wheel drive machine. Moreover, there's an awful lot of space in there whether you sit in the front or rear and when we mean rear, even the « 3rd row passengers » have plenty of room for their legs. This 3rd row can be activated electrically off the car floor by simply pressing one button. If this isn't enough, even with the 3rd row of seats, there still is plenty of room for bags and luggage. Drop it back to 5 seats and the boot is so big that you could move a house into it.The GL500 is a mechanical beast, the GL550 is a monster. Considering that it only takes 6 seconds for such a heavy vehicle to reach 100kmh is just staggering. Unfortunately, the GL550 tends to behave like a dragster, super fast in the straights and not so happy in the corners. When you keep it under criminal speeds, it's a very safe and easy to drive SUV, it simply doesn’t like to be taken for a rally car. Off-road, the GL550 feels at home and that’s impressive for such a high luxury 4x4, especially if you opt for the pneumatic suspensions, allowing you to set the ground clearance up.
