Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 2016 new SUV review
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4Matic is the luxury and performance flagship of the four-model seven-seat GLS-Class line-up.
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4Matic is the luxury and performance flagship of the four-model seven-seat GLS-Class line-up in New Zealand Mercedes-Benz dealerships.
The GLS 63 is one vehicle that proves you can have your cake and eat it too, for it offers all the performance and handling attributes which one expects from Mercedes-AMG, but with the ability to seat seven people, or you can power the second and third row of seats flat and turn it into what must be the world’s fastest load-lugger this side of the E 63 AMG station wagon.
How and why Mercedes-AMG created a large family-sized SUV with the performance attributes of a hot-hatch is beyond my comprehension, but they have done so, and it’s quite a feat.
Mercedes-Benz has aligned its passenger and SUV nomenclature to create greater synergy and understanding of its vehicle lineup, so the GLS-Class SUV is aligned in size and specification to the S-Class, the GLE-Class SUV is now aligned in size to the E-Class, and the GLC-Class SUV is aligned in size to C-Class and so on and so forth.
Alternative options
If the hand-built 430kW/760Nm 5.5-litre direct-injection bi-turbo V8 petrol under the bonnet of the AMG GLS 63 is a bit too loud and powerful for your tastes, Mercedes-Benz offers the milder but no less punchy 335kW/ 700Nm 4.7-litre bi-turbo petrol V8 petrol GLS 500 4Matic. For the frugally-minded buyer, there’s the 190kw/ 620Nm turbodiesel GLS 350d 4Matic.
Every Mercedes-AMG V8 has the signature of the engine builder emblazoned on the engine cover. In this case, a gentleman by the name of Marc-Andre Frias was the craftsman mechanic who put the rip-snorting unit together for our black beast which gobbled premium fuel at an average of 19-litres per 100km during our tenure, a far cry from the quoted 12.7-litres per100km by the manufacturer.
Standard equipment
Where to begin? As you would expect the GLS 63 has an incredibly comprehensive specification that would take too much space to list here but highlighted items include Apple CarPlay, Navigation, Harman Kardon Audio system, Distronic Plus cruise control, blind spot assist, lane-keeping assist, 360 degree camera, front and rear parking sensors and three-zone climate air-conditioning.
In addition, the GLS 63 receives its own instrument cluster, 3-spoke flat-bottomed multifunction steering in leather with microfiber hand grips, AMG sports seats with heating and ventilation, AMG sports pedal cluster, AMG velour floor mats, Black Artico trimmed dashboard and door beltlines, AMG door sills, Dinamica microfibre black roof lining, and temperature controlled cup holders.
The panoramic glass sunroof is also standard fitment, as are the power closing doors, the anti-theft alarm, and the Air Balance air-ionisation system.
As befitting a high-performance vehicle, the GLS 63 comes with AMG sports suspension, high-performance braking system with AMG ventilated and perforated disc brakes, red brake calipers, the AMG driver's package with the speed limiter upgraded to 270km/h, 4Matic all-wheel-drive with 60:40 split, Dynamic select with five modes (individual, slippery, comfort, sport and sport+), and the AMG speed-shift plus 7G-tronic automatic transmission.
The GLS 63 has electrically powered everything, from windows and mirrors to sunroof, to seat adjustment, to steering wheel, the second and third row of seats are also powered allowing you to fold them down at the touch of a button, and the powered opening/closing tailgate offers both an open/ close function as well as a convenient 'close and lock' function.
Optional equipment
Unusually for an AMG car our $238,000 test vehicle came with one optional extra: an upgrade to the AMG multi-spoke alloy 22-inch wheels in black with a silver flange for an additional $500.
Additional extra cost options for the GLS 63 include the night package at $2,900, or the Carbon night package at $6,900, the entertainment package at $2,800, and the Bang and Olufsen BeoSound AMG package at $9,500.
I think the lack of optional packages shows just how generously specified this vehicle is in standard trim, and you’d have to be a real audio nut to want the B & O package because the standard Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround system with 830 watts through 14 speakers is more than adequate.
Monstrous sound
The AMG GLS 63 has the most amazing soundtrack this side of a V8 Supercar, even when in comfort mode at idling speed the black beast on test announced its presence with a melodic cacophony, burbling and cackling down the driveway at 6.30am much to the annoyance of the neighbours.
Engaging Sport mode and Sport + modes creates further snap, crackle, and pop noises from the exhaust system, with blipping on downshifts, that just seems wrong in a more than two-tonne people mover, but is all part of the charm of driving this behemoth.
Daily driver
Driving such a big wagon from the suburbs into the city everyday might become a chore, but at least with the GLS 63 there’s more than enough creature comforts in the cabin to enjoy the journey, and more importantly it has enough cameras and sensors to prevent you curbing those large 22-inch alloy wheel rims, which are not protected by the low profile rubber adorning them.
I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent and comfortable ride quality of the GLS 63 across all types of our local road surfaces, given the car sits on such low profile rubber and has a sports suspension package.
The magic carpet ride quality is provided by Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping, which also offers a leveling function and lowers the GLS 63 at higher speeds for more efficient motorway cruising.
Overall
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a bit like the taste of marmite or vegemite; people will either love it or loathe it. There were times I found myself in both camps, loving the outrageous performance and confident handling, the crazy-loud exhaust note, and the commanding driving position, but loathing the length and width of the car in narrow lanes and car parking buildings. There are very few other SUVs, other than the Audi SQ7 that combine performance and practicality as well as this one from Mercedes-AMG.
Price: $238,500
Note: this was reviewed as a new vehicle
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