If the Mercedes S-Class is the boardroom on wheels, the GLS is the entire boardroom building—with valet parking included. This is the 2025 facelift of the third-generation GLS (codename X167), and Mercedes wants you to know it’s not just a car—it’s a full-size American-style luxury SUV, only dipped in Stuttgart sophistication.
Design & Road Presence
The GLS has always been the “S-Class of SUVs,” and with this facelift, it doubles down on that claim. Designed by Balázs Filczer (yes, the same mind behind the G-Wagon), the GLS fuses the elegance of an S-Class with the square-shouldered toughness of the G-Class.
This AMG Line model with Night Package brings extra aggression: AMG-specific apron, large air outlets, side skirts, a black G-Wagon-inspired grille, and dual-flow exhausts. The 21-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Continental EcoContact 6Q rubber give it both style and substance. At 5.2 metres long and 2.1 metres wide, this SUV doesn’t so much arrive as it occupies the postcode.
And yes, it can wade 500 mm of water, climb 100% slopes, and tow 3.5 tonnes—so your luxury villa, horse trailer, or private yacht will feel right at home behind it.
Engines & Performance
India gets two flavours—both 3.0-litre inline-six engines, both with 48V mild hybrid systems (Integrated Starter Generator for extra boost: +20 hp, +200 Nm):
- GLS 450 Petrol – 381 hp, 500 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 6.1 sec
- GLS 450d Diesel – 367 hp, 750 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 6.1 sec
Both are capped at 250 km/h, both use clever Nanoslide cylinder liners (borrowed from F1), and both return respectable fuel efficiency for a 2.8-tonne luxury palace. The diesel here is particularly special—it’s the most powerful diesel in Mercedes history, also used in the S-Class, GLE, G-Class and more.
Paired with the silky 9G-Tronic transmission and 4MATIC AWD, the GLS feels like a heavyweight boxer in a tuxedo—calm, graceful, but capable of flooring you in seconds. Drive modes—Comfort, Eco, Off-Road—let you choose between chauffeur-driven glide and mountain-conquering confidence.
Ride & Handling
The AIRMATIC suspension with Adaptive Damping System is the real magician here. It lowers the car automatically at high speeds, adjusts for load, and offers near-phantom-like comfort on city roads. The all-round level control makes speed bumps disappear, while the magic vision wipers, laminated glass, and Acoustic Comfort Package keep the cabin whisper quiet.
Despite its size, the GLS handles with surprising agility thanks to direct steering, advanced ESP, and the clever suspension. No, it’s not a Porsche Cayenne on twisties—but for its size, it’s remarkably well-balanced.
Interior & Luxury
Step inside, and the GLS reminds you why it’s called the “SUV S-Class.” The cabin is a symphony of brown Artico leather (beige and black optional), piano lacquer gloss trim, and 64-colour ambient lighting. The extra-soft comfort headrests are essentially first-class pillows.
The Widescreen Cockpit and MBUX infotainment (NTG 7) dominate the dash, with 5G connectivity, wireless Android Auto/CarPlay, streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon), voice assistant, Alexa/Google integration, and Transparent Bonnet View.
Rear passengers aren’t neglected either—there’s an MBUX rear-seat entertainment system, HDMI support, wireless tablet control, and electrically tiltable/foldable second and third rows. Boot space ranges from 355L (all rows up) to a cavernous 1470L.
Oh, and sound? A 13-speaker Burmester Surround with Dolby Atmos ensures that even your morning conference call sounds like a Coldplay concert.
Safety & Tech
The GLS throws in everything short of an ejector seat:
- 9 airbags, ABS, ESP, Brake Assist
- Crosswind Assist, Hill Start, Transparent Bonnet Camera
- Attention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Driving Assistance Package
- Guard 360° protection, Tyre pressure monitoring
Plus, the Mercedes Me app lets you lock/unlock doors, start the engine, flash lights, track the car, and even transfer a digital key—because handing over a metal key feels so… 2015.
Variants, Pricing & Maybach
This top-spec GLS 450d 4Matic AMG Line sits at ₹1.43 crore (ex-showroom), while the petrol GLS 450 starts at ₹1.37 crore. But if you want true excess, there’s the Maybach GLS 600—at ₹3.39 crore, it turns the GLS into a private jet on wheels with champagne flutes and massaging thrones.
India has embraced the GLS, with 16,000+ units sold since 2006—and it’s assembled locally in India, USA, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Verdict
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS is not just a luxury SUV—it’s an ecosystem of comfort, tech, and power wrapped in German engineering with American proportions. It blends S-Class luxury, G-Class inspiration, and Maybach aspiration into one mammoth package.
Sure, it’s not the sportiest, and you’ll need a palace driveway to park it—but if you want the closest thing to flying business class on four wheels, this is it.
Final Word: The GLS doesn’t just move people—it moves egos, lifestyles, and legacies.
