Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS at a glance

From GL to GLS: the "S-Class of SUVs"

Mercedes first sold a three-row SUV under the GL-Class name: the X164 from 2006 and the X166 from 2012, both assembled mainly in Alabama. When the brand renamed its SUVs in 2015, the facelifted X166 became the GLS, matching the S-Class in the same way that the GLE matches the E-Class. ADAC lists this GLS 166 from 2015 to 2019.

The X167 arrived in 2019 on the same body structure as the GLE, with a wheelbase 58 mm (2.3 in) longer than before. Mercedes uses the phrase "S-Class of SUVs" for it, and the equipment list supports the claim: the optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL active suspension and car-to-X communication were among its features from launch. The full range of Mercedes SUVs and saloons is in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue.

The 2026 GLS: seven electric seats and two rear screens

The second facelift was shown at the end of March 2026 together with the updated GLE. The GLS gets a new front with star motifs in the lights, three 12.3-inch displays across the dashboard and two 11.6-inch screens for the rear passengers. Seven seats are now standard, and all three rows have electric adjustment.

AIRMATIC air suspension now works with cloud-based damper control: the car receives warnings about speed bumps and road hazards through the Mercedes-Benz Cloud and adjusts the damping before it reaches them. A new electric filter cleans the cabin air about every 90 seconds. Every engine has a 48-volt integrated starter-generator with 17 kW (23 PS) and 205 Nm, and the GLS 580 shares the 395 kW (537 PS) V8 of the GLE 580.

GLS engines in 2026

ADAC's data for the German GLS 450 d shows 287 kW (390 PS) of system output with electric boost, a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), 206 g/km of CO2 and a kerb weight of 2,665 kg (5,875 lb). The petrol GLS 450 weighs 2,580 kg and emits 226 g/km. Paul Tan lists the GLS 350 d with 230 kW (313 PS), more than the 210 kW of the GLE 350 d; ADAC had no German data for this version in November 2026. Unlike the GLE, the GLS has no plug-in hybrid.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600

The Maybach version was revealed at Auto Guangzhou in November 2019 as the first SUV of the Mercedes-Maybach brand, a story covered in our history of Maybach. It keeps the 5,205 mm body and the 3,135 mm wheelbase of the pre-2026 GLS but removes the third row. The rear can take two individual seats with a full-length centre console, and with the front passenger seat in its chauffeur position there is up to 1.34 m of rear legroom.

The GLS 600 4MATIC uses the M177 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 410 kW (558 PS) and 730 Nm, plus 16 kW (22 PS) and 250 Nm from the EQ Boost starter-generator. It weighs 2,785 kg (6,140 lb) and reaches 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. AIRMATIC is standard and E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL is optional.

Space, towing and running costs

With seven seats in use, the boot holds 355 litres. Folding the third row gives 1,470 litres to the window line, and with the second row down there are 2,400 litres up to the roof. The GLS is 1,956 mm wide without mirrors and 2,164 mm with them, which matters in narrow European car parks and garages. Braked towing capacity is 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) at a 12 per cent gradient, and the fuel tank holds 90 litres.

Running costs follow the size. The GLS 450 d is the most economical version, at 7.9 l/100 km (29.8 mpg US) on the WLTP cycle, while the GLS 450 petrol uses 9.9 l/100 km (23.8 mpg US). That gives the diesel a range of more than 1,100 km on paper from one 90-litre tank.

GLS rivals and which version to choose

The closest German rival is the BMW X7, which also seats seven in three rows. Buyers who need seven seats but less length can compare other large family cars in our list of the best 7-seater cars.

For most European buyers the GLS 450 d is the sensible choice: 750 Nm, 3.5 tonnes of towing capacity and the lowest consumption in the range, for EUR 118,447 in AMG Line trim in Germany in 2026. The GLS 450 petrol is cheaper to buy at EUR 111,551 (2026) but costs more to run. The GLS 580 suits buyers who want the V8, and the Maybach GLS 600 is the chauffeur-driven option with four seats in place of seven.