The Mercedes-Benz GLS enters 2021 with slightly higher prices but otherwise no changes.
The GLS450 now starts at $148,900 before on-road costs, up $1800 from last year’s model. The GLS400d is priced at $153,900 before on-roads, up $1900.
The range is topped by the GLS63 4Matic+, introduced late last year. It’s priced at $255,700 before on-road costs.
The GLS serves as Mercedes-Benz’s rival for the BMW X7. The two sit neck-and-neck in the sales charts, with Mercedes selling 813 examples of the GLS in 2020 and BMW selling 866 of its X7.
BMW doesn’t offer a rival, however, to the decadent Mercedes-Maybach GLS600. You can view the pricing and specifications for that model here.
Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 
Mercedes-AMG GLS63
Pricing
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 4Matic: $148,900 (+$1800)
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS400d 4Matic: $153,900 (+$1900)
- 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 4Matic+: $255,700
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 comes fitted with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine. It produces 270kW of power and 500Nm of torque and includes the company’s EQ Boost mild-hybrid technology.
Next in the range is the GLS400d which is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel inline-six engine and produces 242kW and 700Nm.
The top of the range is a GLS63 AMG with a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which produces 450kW and 850Nm.
All GLS models feature a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS has a combined fuel economy of 9.2L/100km in the GLS450, 7.7L/100km in the GLS400d and 13L/100km in the GLS63 AMG.
All models bar the diesel require 98RON fuel.
Dimensions
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS measures 5207mm long, 2157mm wide and 1838mm tall with a wheelbase of 3135mm.
The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 measures is slightly longer (5243mm) and lower (1836mm).
The GLS has 355L of luggage space, increasing to 890L with the third row folded and 2400L with the second row folded.
All models have a braked towing capacity of 3500kg and an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg.
Servicing and Warranty
Mercedes-Benz offers three-year servicing plans for the GLS, with service intervals of 12 months or 25,000km for the GLS400d and 450 and 12 months or 20,000km for the GLS63 AMG.
The plan costs $2700 in the GLS400d and 450 and $3050 in the GLS63 AMG. Mercedes-Benz also offers four- and five-year plans.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is covered under the company’s five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
Safety
The Mercedes-Benz GLS hasn’t been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP and therefore has no safety rating.
However, the car does have a full range of safety aids fitted as standard. These include:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and junction assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keeping assist
- Front, front-side and curtain airbags
- Driver’s knee airbag
- Driver attention monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Active bonnet
- Evasive steering assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Surround-view camera
Standard Equipment
The GLS450 and GLS400d come standard with the following features:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Seven seats
- Seven USB charging ports
- Wireless phone charging
- Ambient lighting with 64 different colour options
- Chrome and oak wood interior trim
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 13-speaker Burmester 590-watt surround sound system
- Head-up display
- Black leather upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Five-zone climate control air conditioning
- Multi-beam LED headlights
- 21-inch five-spoke titanium grey wheels
- Air suspension
- Aluminium roof rails
- Panoramic sunroof
- AMG exterior appearance package
- Power tailgate
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Automatic stop/start
- Keyless entry and start
For the GLS63 AMG you receive all of the above, plus:
- Adaptive suspension
- Active dynamic engine mounts
- Electronic rear limited-slip differential
- High performance braking system with red painted brake callipers
- 22-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels
- AMG Exclusive Nappa Leather
- Warmth Comfort package including heated seats front and rear and armrests
- MBUX Innovation package
- Heated and cooled cupholders
- AMG Performance steering wheel
- MBUX augmented reality for navigation
- Illuminated AMG door sill panels
- Dashboard and door trims in Nappa leather
- AMG Night package
- AMG selectable performance exhaust system
- Anti-Theft Package
- Tyre pressure monitoring
Option Packages
Below are the optional packages available for the GLS range. Note that some of the packages exclude the 63 AMG as those options come standard on the model.
The Innovation Package (excludes 63 AMG) adds:
- MBUX Interior Assist
- MBUX augmented reality for navigation
- MBUX High infotainment system with AMG performance data
The Night Package adds:
- 22-inch high-gloss black AMG wheels
- Grille, roof rails, window trims, mirrors and front and rear apron in high-gloss black
The Anti-Theft Package (excludes 63 AMG) adds:
- Anti-theft alarm system
- Tow away protection with visual and acoustic warnings
- Interior monitoring systems
The Energising Package Plus (excludes 63 AMG) adds:
- Armrest heating front and rear
- Heated seats for driver and front passenger and outboard rear seats
- Air-Balance package with interior cabin filters
- Ambient interior lighting
- Heated and cooled cupholders
The Off-Road Engineering Package (not available on 63 AMG) adds:
- Selectable low-range gearing
- Inter-axle locking via torque-on-demand clutch
- Hill descent control
- Unique off-road interior control panel
- Underbody guard for entire body
The Entertainment Package adds:
- Dual rear 11.6-inch touchscreens
- TV receiver
- Two sets of wireless headphones
- MBUX High infotainment system
The Rear Seat Comfort Package is only available for the 63 AMG and adds:
- Heated and cooled rear cupholders
- MBUX rear tablet
- Luxury rear head restraints
- Wireless charging for phones in the rear
The Interior Carbon Package is only available on the 63 AMG and adds:
- AMG carbon fibre trim
- AMG performance steering wheel in carbon fibre
The Towbar Package adds trailer coupling with ESP trailer stabilisation.
