It is big, butch, looks absolutely imposing and has all the trademark luxuries one expects of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. The new GL is a perfect example of Grand Luxury
UNOFFICIALLY, MERCEDES-BENZ ARE KNOWN for being the best when it comes to automotive luxury. There is absolutely no fault that you can find in the luxury Mercedes-Benz cars are loaded with and the new GL 350 CDI is no exception to this rule. Mercedes got the GL to India in 2010 with a heavy price-tag of Rs 90 lakh. However, they realised that shaving a few lakhs 
off this price would most certainly boost the sales of this mammoth SUV. So the price-tag now reads a more affordable (for the super-rich at least) Rs 77.5 lakh (ex-Delhi). How did Merc do this? Well, it was simple; they upgraded their facility at Chakan, near Pune, and started assembling the GL locally, making it more affordable to a lot more people than before. But that’s not all. They went ahead and launched the 2013 model in India very soon after it was launched elsewhere in the world, because the first-generation model that we got was a four-year-old version.
The new-generation GL looks stunning. The first thing that hits you the moment you look at this SUV is its sheer size. I know SUVs are meant to be big, but a five-metre-long, 1.8-metre tall and almost two-meter wide SUV is truly intimidating, even for the toughest of people. I was quite overwhelmed by this mammoth SUV. But, honestly, it looks great. Mercedes-Benz’s new 
design language suits the GL quite well. The bold and modern front end with intricately carved out headlamps and the jaw-dropping grille adorned by the iconic three-pointed star look inspiring. And the GL we got for the test had the AMG Exterior Sports package, which gave it a more aggressive and dominating stance. The muscular lines all over the GL give it a rugged look while maintaining the classiness of the exterior. The flared wheel-arches and the giant 21-inch AMG five spoke star pattern rims shod with 40 profile tyres simply take the styling of this SUV to a whole new level. Mercedes-Benz’s new exterior design language makes the GL look more youthful.
I would not say the same for the interior, though. Mercedes-Benz have done a great job with the interior quality and fit-andfinish, but the design and the look of the interior are rather understated. The best part of the whole deal is that you get a cabin that is filled to the brim with animal hide. And it’s not just any hide, Mercedes-Benz have used some of the finest leather available for the GL’s interior.
There is one thing, however, which you will appreciate about the GL’s cabin and that is the enormous amount of leg-, head- and knee-room that you get. The fully electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats are among the best chairs in the business today and the second row of seats offer plenty of room for a comfortable long drive or that long and slow drive to your corporate head office. Even the space in the third row is not disappointing. An average adult can fit in there without staring directly at his/her knees. And to keep everyone cool and happy there are individual a-c controls in the second row and vents in the third row.
Talking about happiness, I must say that this Mercedes is loaded with gadgets that will put a big smile on your face. The best feature that will be appreciated by many in India is the 360-degree camera view that helps you park the car without hitting anyone or anything. It also has the Park Assist feature that will steer the car itself into an empty parking space with you 
just controlling the brakes and the throttle. It also features dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a multimedia system, a navigation system, vehicle information display, Bluetooth, USB and iPhone and iPad connectivity. The instrument panel has two easy-to-read dials for the RPM and vehicle speed. The 4.8-inch digital display between the two dials reads out a ton of information. The centre console dominated by the big infotainment screen, which, unfortunately, is not touch-operated. Overall, the gadgetry and huge interior space can let one overlook the minimalistic interior design.
By now you must be wondering about the drive of this beastly SUV. So here it is. The GL 350 CDI is powered by a 2,987-cc V6 diesel motor that produces 258 PS of power and a massive 619 Nm of turning force. All of this power and torque are transferred to all the four wheels via a 7G Tronic auto box that is a bit slow when it comes to down shifts. But the upshifts are 
pretty smooth and you hardly feel them. The V6 diesel motor is a smooth unit that, at times, doesn’t feel like an oil-burner at all. And when you rev it, you don’t hear a truck; you hear a proper V6 making a sweet sound. But the thing that amazed us the most was the quick acceleration of the GL. Naught to 100 km/h in just 8.7 seconds, which is pretty amazing for a car that weighs two-and-a-half tonnes and is almost two metres tall. The roll-on timings were also quite strong: the GL 350 CDI managed to go from 40 to 100 km/h in just 7.23 seconds.
However, the one aspect that impressed me the most was the way all of this happens. The V6 motor of the new GL is the same unit that powered the previous generation SUV, but Mercedes-Benz have modified it a bit for extra power and torque. Refinement and smoothness become evident the moment you press the throttle. The 3.0-litre V6 delivers the power in a 
civilised manner, be it the highway or the city. The enormous amount of torque can get you out of any situation, no matter where you are. The GL’s engine was truly a surprise for me, for I had not anticipated it to be as good as it was in terms of performance, smoothness and refinement.
The driving dynamics of this massive Merc are also quite good if not perfect. On smooth, straight roads, the GL is effortless to drive, because its superior road holding and composure lend it a good ride quality. The Airmatic air suspension has two modes – ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. In ‘Comfort’ it swallows all the bumps, undulations and potholes with ease, but the ride tends to become a bit soft.
In ‘Sport’ the suspension firms up, but you also feel the unevenness of the road quite literally. Another big thing that haunts the GL is body-roll, which becomes evident the moment you tackle a few corners in quick succession. Such body-roll will force you to slow down and take it easy. However, I liked its steering. At city speeds it stays nice and light, allowing you to easily manoeuvre through traffic and at highway speeds it weighs up nicely and supplies the driver with plenty of feedback and feel.
On the road the GL is quite civilised, it is only in the corners that you have to be a little careful, but if you plan to take your GL to the countryside for a fun session of mud-plugging, then be my guest. It is an absolute star when it comes to playing in the mud. The best part is that you can raise the suspension further to create greater ground clearance and go over rocks or even small mountains. The GL is a very potent off-roader and the smart 4Matic four-wheeldrive system ensures that you don’t get stuck, well, most of the times. I had a lot of fun while tackling a trail made by a tractor where the GL got stuck in really thick slush. However, it was free in no time thanks to the excellent 4Matic system. Going over rocks, into deep puddles, through slush 
and even climbing the side of a mountain, the GL had no problems at all. It went through almost every kind of offroad surface without getting stuck (well, just once). Earlier I was doubtful about the GL’s off-road capabilities, but its air suspension, increased ground clearance, huge wheels and powerful and torquey V6 motor changed my mind completely. The GL may not be so good in the corners, but when you take it off the road, it becomes a completely different animal. You can cross any kind of terrain with ease in the GL while still being in a comfortable and quiet cabin.
In the end I would say that spending Rs 77.5 lakh on a luxury SUV that can conquer mountains and go through rivers is not really a bad idea. In fact, it is a brilliant idea. You get a lot SUV
for that money. The Mercedes-Benz GL 350 CDI is loaded to the brim with stuff like automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, air suspension, four-wheel-drive system, huge cabin space, a lot of leather, an array of gadgets, powerful and torquey engine and a not so bad 7.75 km per litre from a vehicle that weighs 2.5 tonnes. You also get a whole lot of technology for that price and the luxury of Mercedes-Benz.
Spending Rs 77.5 lakh on a luxury SUV that can conquer mountains and go through rivers is not really a bad idea. In fact, it is a brilliant idea
Story: Ravi Chandnani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
