Mercedes-Benz India has finally launched the all new GLS SUV in India at Rs. 80.40 lakhs ex-showroom, Pune. It is the company’s flagship SUV offering and in Mercedes’ words is the ‘S-Class of SUVs’.
Mercedes-Benz globally revised its model nomenclature last year. Many of their cars were renamed and the variants too went a thorough revision. The M-Class SUV was renamed to GLE and was launched earlier this year in India. The company even launched the GLE Coupe in India which is a sportier coupe version of the GLE SUV. Internationally, the GL-Class was renamed to the GLS, and the German luxury car maker has wasted no time in getting this one to India. The GLS is nothing but a refreshed GL-Class with a new badge. The company says it is as luxurious as the S-Class luxury sedan coupled with the sheer off road ability of the GL-Class combined into one brilliant package.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS gets a revised front end with an updated grille, new bumper and redesigned LED headlights. The silhouette of the car remains the same along with the huge 20-inch wheels which tend to intimidate you. The rear again has undergone minor changes with a new updated taillight cluster and lower section of the rear bumper. On the insides you get a 20.3cm touchscreen COMAND Online system, Artico leather seats, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, triple zone climate control system, memory front seats, 360-degree camera and temperature controlled cupholders.
The near 2.5-ton GLS is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that develops 258 BHP and 620 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic gearbox that takes it to 100 kmph in just 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 222 kmph. The flagship SUV from Mercedes-Benz scores very high on safety too. It gets features like Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Adaptive High-beam Assist Plus, Active Parking Assist, Collision Prevention Assist, Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist, 4-Matic all-wheel drive system with 4ETS, traction control, ESP and ABS with Brake Assist.