Test drive Mercedes Benz GL-class X165 since 2012 SUV
Sweet dreams, or new Mercedes GL
Five minutes after landing in this car, I fell asleep. And this fact must be perceived almost as the highest compliment to the car. And I was fine. And I rode in the new Mercedes-Benz GL.
When at the beginning of the two thousandth rumors appeared that Mercedes-Benz is working to create a new large SUV under the name GL, everyone was sure that the Germans were preparing a replacement for the old G-class, which was created back in the 70s of the last century. However, no one even planned to touch Gelik, and until since he occupies a niche of professional SUVs. GL was originally created by another. If G-class is endurance, cross-country ability and nothing more, then the main thing for GL is the space of the salon, comfort and prestige. And, of course, when creating a second generation GL, it was these factors that were most priority.
The old Mercedes-Benz GL 500 cost about five million in Russia. For comparison, in the USA, the GL 550 version (as called GL 500) is sold for $ 85,300 or approximately 2.75 million rubles. And the GL 350 diesel is estimated at 61,570 bucks or, in terms, about 2 million rubles (in Russia, the old generation GL 350 CDI has recently been sold for 3,270,000 rubles))
The Germans tried as much as they could not spared money for the new GL (especially if we recall that Mercedes-Benz saved well by building three different models on the same platform at once: GL, ML and R-Class). The result of their work was so good that I fell asleep in the baby's sleep. Indeed, on good roads (and the GL test was held in the American state of New Mexico), the passenger does not even understand that he is in the vehicle, the maximum detachment! In this regard, GL cannot be compared even with the first class on the plane there, because you always hear the engine noise, and no one has canceled the air pits yet. And here, even at a very decent speed, only a pleasant rustle of tires comes to you, but somewhere in the distance sometimes a light rumbling of the motor is heard. And then, only when the driver flies the gas pedal. Moreover, noise insulation works, even if you move out of even asphalt. You go along the gravel path, and there is a feeling that there are no stones. And they are. But only in order to understand this, you need to open the window then immediately will hear how they drum on the bottom. In my opinion, by noise insulation now it is the best SUV!
According to the head of the GL-class development department Andreas Zugan, in the US market Mercedes-Benz GL is now the most popular full-size SUV he controls as many as 30% of this segment! And the new model should increase this figure
During a test drive, some of my colleagues thought that the new GL was too hard. Of course, all such estimates are purely subjective, but I am sure that the feeling of stiffness arose just because of ... excessive comfort. Sitting at the wheel of GL, you just don’t feel speeds! It is as if you are soaring over the road, and the collision on a few pits causes only a light shaving of the body (the cars we tested were equipped with a pneumatic suspension, which on Russian cars will be included in the basic package). How, under such conditions, you can’t put a gas pedal under such conditions? And in the end, you fall along the highway at a speed of 100-120, and when you get into the pit it seems to you that oh shook, a hard car. But the speedometer is then marked in miles! And in kilometers this is almost 200 ... If the permitted 30-40 miles/hour to go, then there is no talk of any gesture. Even if you turn on the Sport mode. The latter surprisingly significantly changes the character of the machine, makes the car more assembled and ... well, more tough. In sports, the new GL more clearly repeats the profile of the road, you start to pass more confidently. Although, sitting at the wheel of GL, even if you turn the suspension into Sport mode, you will not want to rush along the mountain paths with headlong, you are not SLR McLaren. The turns of the huge SUV passes with the lazy one, you feel how the body is cracked, although it is quite difficult to bring GL to the face to say an indefinite stabilization system, which is configured in such a way that in the bud to suppress an attempt to demolish or drift.
So far the most powerful GL is the GL 500 model with 435 horses under the hood. But soon sales and GL 63 AMGs should begin. This car will already be prohibitively expensive, albeit very steep 557 horses, 760 N ∙ m. Despite the numbers 63 in the title, the engine here is not at all a volume of 6.3 liter GL 63 AMG has a 5.5-liter V8 with double turbocharging. A 7-speed machine is working with this engine. The dynamic characteristics of GL 63 AMG are impressive: the maximum speed of 250 km/h (limited by electronics), and the set time is 100 km/h only 4.9 s
By the way, electronic security systems in the new GL are more than enough, but almost all of them are standard. Control over the exit from the strip, a system for tracking road signs, monitoring dead zones or cruise control with a system of automatic braking are now quite found and even on the budget models of golf class. But the GL can boast and the electronics itself compensates for the deviation of the machine with a strong side gust of wind or, say, when traveling near the truck. For large machines such as GL, this thing is very relevant.
The wheelbase of the new GL remained unchanged. But in length, the machine increased by 21 mm, reaching 5120 mm. The increase in width was 14 mm, and in a height of 10 mm. Moreover, it did not disappear in vain according to the assurance of the engineers, the car’s salon became a little more spacious, although, given the general GL dimensions, it was extremely difficult to understand the appearance of extra few millimeters
Remember the old 140s Merps? In 1991, they began to be equipped with a primitive (but fantastically progressive for the beginning of the 90s) a system of assistance in parking. It was a kind of antennae that moved from the rear wings and helped the driver in a raspberry jacket navigate in space. The new GL class can be equipped with a much more advanced automatic parking system, which itself is looking for a place and puts a car from a person there only in time to press the brake pedal in time and switching, if necessary, transmission. True, the Mercedes Partyman is taught to install the car only parallel to the sidewalk. But, say, a similar system from Volkswagen (which is currently rightfully the most perfect) is able to park the car and perpendicular. But Merce has something to respond to popular tops Active Parking Assist also includes four video cameras that see everything around and even allow you to look at itself from the air. And also, thanks to cameras, a large GL is able to look around the turns (a rather useful function in a city like Moscow).
If you add the second and third row of seats, then the total volume of the trunk will be 2300 liters.
The new GL makes it clear that it is a premium SUV. And this becomes clear not only for things such as a three-zone climate control, front chairs with a massage function or a DVD player. In the end, this can be obtained on available Koreans. GL differs from most other large SUVs thoroughly the interior decoration, the widespread use of soft plastic, pleasant sensations from pressing on all kinds of keys. And how do you like the trim of the glove compartment cover with a soft cloth or the possibility of cooling or heating (!) Banks in the cup holders? Not in the glove compartment, but in the cup holders. In addition, if desired, GL can be equipped with a Bang & Olufsen musical system. She looks just great (speakers next to side mirrors are generally super). True, it seemed that this music does not sound with the money that they ask for it.
The new Mercedes-Benz GL is equipped not only with the function of cooling cans or mugs in the cup holders, but also with the possibility of heating them!
You sit on the second row of seats and understand that the place here is ... not too much. No, an adult man will take off comfort, but when you look at GL from the side, you feel that you can sit on any chair with your legs extended. It turns out that you can’t, although you will not have a problem where you will put your feet (a curious feature that other manufacturers on the back of the seats in GLs have special recesses for the knees). In addition, this can already be recorded as a drawback, the second row of seats in GL is not adjusted in length, only along the corner of the back of the back. But this blunt, which has long been used in single -collapses, would allow the passengers to solve all problems themselves how to better configure the seats. But on the other hand, you can sit quietly on the third row, and not suffer in anticipation of the end of the trip!
It seemed to me that most GL buyers in Russia choose this car solely because it is very large and expensive. But no. It turns out that many are really interested in her off -road opportunities. And that is why in Russia, most likely, all GL without exception will be sold with the ON & OFFORAD package, which includes a lowering gear in the handout, blocking the rear and interdosseous differentials, plus, there will be an electronic assistant that slows down the skid wheels. And also, thanks to the pneumatic suspension, the GL driver can change the size of the road clearance in the maximum we are talking about 306 mm! In times when the majority of SUVs are rarely more than 200 mm, it is just a fantastic indicator (GL without an off -road package has a maximum clearance of 276 mm). Thanks to such a clearance, GL can overcome fords up to 600 mm deep (!), And the entry angle is 33 degrees. Yes, the old cond G-class will pass further, we will not argue with this, for that he is Gelik. Or argue? You only compare the numbers: the GL road clearance at the maximum of 306 mm, and in G 210 mm, GL is able to overcome 100% rise (45 degrees), and G only 80%, GL has a maximum roll of roll 35 degrees, G 28.4 . So it is still unknown which driver will have to run behind the tractor longer ...
At first glance, it may seem that GL, which does not have a notorious frame, but has a cross -impending carrier, is not created for off -road. But this is completely wrong! The off -road potential of this car is huge. True, when we tried to move off the highway, it is very quickly ... we cut the sidewall of the tires. And they learned that GL does not have a spare wheel instead of it, a standard reptity is laid for the USA and European (compressor + cylinder with special liquid). Thanks to him and the skillful actions of my partner, the puncture was very quickly covered. But it is unlikely that for Russia a similar reptile will be a good solution. Especially considering that GL buyers periodically use the off -road capabilities of the machine. We need a normal reserve!
The most powerful of the civilian will have a GL 500 model, which is now equipped with a 4.6-liter gasoline eight with a boost of 435 hp. And at once 700 N ∙ m (the old version of GL 500 had an unit with a volume of 5.5 l with a capacity of 388 hp and moments of only 530 N ∙ m). This car will cost more than five million (exact prices will be known in the fall), but let such numbers not embarrass you. Mercedes-Benz is sure that it is the GL 500 version that will become the most popular in Russia. And not only because it is the coolest. This car is also going great! Yes, during acceleration it may seem that GL 500 does not fall for all the money. But this, again, the opposite side of the lump of the fort, you better look at the speedometer arrow, which in just 5.4 seconds reaches 100 km/h. At the wheel of GL500 there are no complaints even to the gearbox new 7-speed automatic transmission 7G-Tronic Plus is surprisingly good.
Here it is a family of cars with the letter G. The oldest legendary G-Class this year is 33 years old. But soon we have to look for a new point G. According to rumors, next year Mercedes-Benz will present a crossover based on the new A-class, which will be called GLA or GLG.
From a technical point of view, the new generation of Mercedes-Benz GL is nothing fundamentally new. The model is based on the same platform on which a previous generation car was built. On it, by the way, is ML and an unusual R-class single-collar. The last model did not go with us, but, say, in China it is in great demand by the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, unlike us, quickly unearthed all the advantages of this car
In addition to GL 500, we will also have a diesel version of the GL 350 with a 3.0-liter engine, which produces 258 hp. and 620 N ∙ m. It is such a model that will be the cheapest (if this word can be used at all to Mercedes-Benz GL). Surely, the average modification of the GL 450 with an atmospheric version of a gasoline unit with a volume of 4.6 liters, which is available in the United States (it has 362 overseas horses) will reach Russia.
Compare the geometric patency of the new generation GL and the old Gelandewagen. In numbers, the new model in almost all indicators exceeds the legendary SUV!
Do the new generation Mercedes-Benz GL have disadvantages? This car turned out too ideal. Of course have. And this is not only the inability to adjust the length of the second row of seats or not too convenient the only steering wheel switch (although all the owners of Mercedes-Benz say that you quickly get used to it). If we compare GL with other European large SUVs, then not everyone may like the foliage of this car, someone will be dissatisfied with too gloomy appearance. Although everyone is well aware that the main minus of this car is completely different. The price is what will scare away many buyers. As already mentioned, the exact price list will be declared a little later, but now it is clear that if you do not have free three million, then it is better not to even look at GL. And the price of GL 500, albeit in a special series with some options already included, will be at least five million.
Yes, expensive. But, for comparison, Gelik in the G500 version now costs from 5,150,000 rubles. (But to him to the comfort of GL, like to the moon). Among the comfortable SUVs that differ in good patency, one can distinguish Lexus LX570 and Range Rover SuperchaRged (510 hp). But they also oh, as not cheap more than 4.2 million rubles. Yes, perhaps that’s all. Cars such as Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX56 or Audi Q7, do not reach GL either by premium or off -road abilities. So the future of Mercedes-Benz GL will be cloudless for a long time. And for a long time, passengers of this car will sleep sweetly after a work day.
Denis Smolyanov
Photo by the author and Mercedes-Benz
Source: Auto.mail.ru
