Test drive Mercedes Benz GL-class X164 since 2009 SUV
A full-wheel drive E-class and updated Mercedes GL managed to season
Shortly before the trip to the presentation of an all-wheel drive Mercedes E-class 4Matic and the updated GL SUV, I thought about global warming and climate changes. Is it a joke of December a month, and in the yard +11! And it was necessary to happen that almost before departure, Moscow was in the power of an extensive snowfall. Ideal conditions for testing! But no, our Boeing has already flew to Krasnodar.
Search for external differences between the usual and all-wheel drive Mercedes E-class is useless. Only the 4matic nameplate can indicate this. But impartial scales will show that E350 4MATIC is 70 kg heavier than E350. The difference in the case of E500 is a little smaller than 50 kg. As for the station wagon with four hosts, it is offered only with a V6 volume of 3.5 liters
There was neither snow nor frosts in the Kuban. So about the search for the nuances in the work of an all-wheel drive transmission of an E-class one could forget. The city has dense traffic. Outside the city, traffic cops of the Krasnodar Territory known for their requirements. And colorful branded posters seemed to mock us, because they were depicted on them E-class 4Matic precisely in the difficult conditions of snowy roads!
There are no changes in the excellent e-class interior. The whole difference is exclusively in the modest Badzhik from below the central console there now written 4Matic instead of the level of configuration. And nothing sticks out into the salon, as, for example, in the Lexus GS350 AWD, a hand-boxing box in a all-wheel drive E-class is made in a single block with an automatic machine 7G-Tronic. This decision made it possible to reduce dimensions and a mass of transmission
Of course, who assumed that winter will sharply prevail in the middle lane. But we were provided with interesting entertainment at an abandoned airfield of one between rally-sprint and Jimkhana. In other words, a set of exercises (various types of snakes, turns, races in boxing and finish by the base). The task is simple to drive as quickly as possible and not to knock down the cones, for which they firmly penalize.
The race in boxing was not easy for him by a powerful acceleration on a straight line. It was necessary not only to stop without knocking out the cones, but also quickly hand over back to another box located with a displacement
First, several training races. The first thing you note despite decent dimensions and mass, E350 4MATIC is quite appropriate even at such events. The stabilization system is not completely turned off, but by pressing the button you can loosen the cloth of the collar. So not too faster, but much more fun!
On the rearrangement, you can feel how the PRE-SAFE preventive safety system works, it pulls up belts tensioners, feeling a dangerous level of lateral accelerations. A similar picture on the snake
And most importantly, all -wheel drive works well, allowing you to open earlier and forgives liberties if you deliberately rock the car on slalom. And the behavior is understandable, predicted. In ordinary modes, the Intersose differential shares torque almost equally, with a slight priority in favor of the rear axle (it accounts for 55 percent). But if necessary, the lock distributes the thrust in the ratios from 30:70 to 70:30.
E500 4MATIC leaves no chance for 350-wing on a straight line. The difference in power is too large 116 horses (388 versus 272). But on a winding road, the E350 will leave his nose to the owner of a heavy V8
Absolutely satisfied, transplanted to a more powerful E500 4Matic. And I fall out of the first snake! That's the number. It would seem that the 500th is only 75 kg heavier than the 350th (1880 kg versus 1805), but all of them fall on the front of the car with a large V8 with a volume of 5.5 liters sharply increases the degree of insufficient rotation.
In general, where the E350 is easily and naturally screwed into the turn, E500 rests and slides the front axle out. By the way, we revealed this nuance in the spring, at the presentation of the rear-wheel drive versions of the E-class. So the presence of a 4Matic system did not affect the nature of the controllability of the five hundredth.
All the all-wheel drive sedans of the E-class were re-outpobs into the winter nokian hakkapeliitta r winter, the softness of the tread and the plus temperature, the sensation of the jokes on the snot was not thanks to the low profile of the tires
Therefore, for the test of arrival for a while, I chose the E350 4Matic, having relying on controllability. And I was not mistaken! Many colleagues on the 388-horsepower E500 either measured the cones, winding their penalty seconds, or simply smeared in corners. And the first place was left for me. Without a single downed cone, the E350 proved to be well done!
The scattered backlight of the E-class interior greatly increases the assessment of its perception. And it looks rich, and the eye is pleasant
On the way back it was already dark, therefore, having changed with my colleague, I plunged into the peaceful comfort of the E-class salon. It only looks angular and cold in the afternoon, and in the evening the unobtrusive embossed interior lighting literally relieves fatigue and raises the mood. I could not even think what test would wait for us the next day.
From the face to distinguish GL500 from the rest of the Mercedes GL versions, it is easiest to have three lamellas on the radiator grille and two -story LED sections in bumpers. By the way, such a design for 500 is proposed only in Russia and the USA (in the States it is called GL550)
In the morning we got a diesel Mercedes GL350 CDI. The name of the model, by the way, is deceptive under the hood hides the famous three -liter turbodiesel, which gives 224 horses and 510 nm of torque. The motor is just enough for a civilian driving, and the fuel consumption is almost half as much as that of the GL500 status. In addition, diesel has always been preferable for off -road.
In the cabin updated Mercedes GL, a new steering wheel and instrument shield. Additional options for the color scheme and decoration materials have also been added. However, there was nothing to improve in GL and there were no complaints even against pre -reform cars. And in the case of an accident in the presence of a Pre-Safe system, the steering wheel and the seat are parted relative to each other. Comfortable head restraints are now equipped with Neck Pro function
From these thoughts a colleague brought me out. Look, what a cool thing in the field! We are going to be photographed. We turn off the asphalt and stop on the gravel strip. Ahead of the earth and grass that was fragmented after rains. We went out for reconnaissance. Will we drive? Let's try. And then the main mistake was made.
Mercedes GL can offer not only an off-road Off-ROD SUBSTIC SPECTION here is a laudatory long-flowing one. But there is nothing to do without toothy tires in such conditions
Instead of driving a suspicious section, they dragged them. And under the grass was clay, in which we got stuck when lifting. Reducing row, blocking the rear differential, air suspension of the entire Arsenal of the Off-Road package, which is part of the GL basic equipment, was crossed out by road winter tires (Nokian Hakkapeliitta R) and our own imprudence.
It was not included in our plans to put Mercedes GL on the belly of Mercedes GL, therefore, quickly realizing all the futility of attempts to get out, drowned the engine and surrendered, well -tapping in the mud. There was no cable in the car, like shovels or rubber boots, so I had to wait for a technician to pull out 2.5 tons of luxury from an insidious trap.
External changes in the restyled machine (at the top) are reduced to enlarged external mirrors, another radiator grill and other bumper design. LED sections are equipped only by cars with bi-xenon headlights. The halogen has two round fish eyes. The basic configuration includes 18-inch wheels, but at least the 21-inch AMG discs with arches expanders will be delivered for the surcharge
So why does this Mercedes serious off -road bonuses? We found out literally an hour later, when we went to the mountains on it. This time driving a gasoline GL500. He confidently rushing on serious upsurges and does not graze on steep ground descents abounding with rally hairpins. In the end, we did not use the blocking and lowering nearby, but if you need to drag a trailer with a boat or house on wheels on a slippery coating, they will come in handy.
At the top: notice changes in the stern Mercedes GL The task is not easy. This is only a slightly changed pattern of lanterns and rear bumper. And the GL500 is divided into 2 segments each of the exhaust pipes.
Below: Mercedes GL itself, in general, is not dirty. But there is one unpleasant nuance door handles get so that it is unrealistic to stay with clean hands
And the air suspension came in handy on the ford. At first, in the success of overcoming the water barrier, there were certain doubts a quick river after the rains gained strength. We stop, wait for a couple of tens of seconds, while the road clearance grows to the maximum 307 mm and, crossing, drive into muddy water. Fortunately, this time all GL confidently coped with the situation.
I was pleased with Mercedes GL and on the asphalt. It seems to be tall and heavy, but it is much easier to go on it than on any frame of an SUV Krena SUV, and in terms of controllability it does not resemble a loaded cart. In terms of dynamics, the GL500 will easily shut up behind the belt and many powerful cars. 6.5 seconds up to hundreds and 240 km/h of maximum speeds serious indicators. But, it is worth admitting that the suspension in Sport regularly transmits all the irregularities of the coating to the fifth point. The rear passengers are especially affected. Therefore, it is better to forget about this button in general and always go in the Comfort position. Fortunately, the driver will not suffer much from this.
Sales of all -wheel drive Mercedes were already starting to bring them on time, just for the season. You can become the owner of the updated Mercedes GL for 3 million 18 thousand rubles for the GL350 CDI diesel. Gasoline versions will be much more expensive than 450 at least 3.626 million, and a powerful GL500 will completely crawl out for 4 million (albeit only 26 thousand).
E-class is logical cheaper. Prices begin with a mark of 2 million 398 thousand rubles for the E350 4MATIC, for 2.75 million the 350th performed by a special series, which includes a fixed set of equipment. And for the flagship E500 4Matic will have to pay 3 million 172 thousand. Expensive? But looking at what is happening today on our roads during snowfall, an additional payment of 158,400 rubles for all -wheel drive no longer seems excessive.
Vadim Gagarin
Photo by the author and company Mercedes-Benz
Source: Auto.mail.ru
