Test drive Mercedes Benz GL-class X165 since 2012 SUV

All photos of Mercedes Benz GL class X165 since 2012

Love from a third glance

My first meeting with the new Mercedes-Benz GL SUV was the first nominally, in fact, I was introduced to him more than once.

This first happened at the presentation of the new generation of ML in Sochi. The second time we crossed the last summer in Moscow GL arrived at the meeting under the guise of R-class. And here is the third acquaintance. This time full -time.

The fact is that the mentioned cars are built on a common platform using unified nodes and assemblies. Therefore, they have the right to be called siblings. Brothers in iron. Almost twins. By the way, as soon as we were talking about family ties, it must be mentioned that the parent of the heroes of one Daimlerchrysler enterprise in the American state of Alabama. In the light of this, the question emerges the question of whether the new GL is able to surprise anything against the backdrop of its relatives?

Mercedes-Benz GL is a real giant, as for the size and external representativeness, the new SUV has few competitors. Surrounding this black block, the neighbors in the stream at once become extremely polite. The warning itself, almost grind. That's right. What if seven heroes in the seven-seater salon of the hero Mercedes-Benz? Unfriendly.

In general, riding GL 450 has relaxing properties (of course, of course, they also contribute to the salon and technical filling).

With such impressive dimensions, the car manages to look fit. I venture to assume that the secret of success in 20-inch wheeled wheels with relatively high-profile rubber. I saw cars on wheels simpler, and they no longer had on the ground of our test GL 450. And also a great contribution of a rich decoration chromium (Off-Road styling package). Chrome generally goes very well with black. When leaving the car in the parking lot, do not forget to lower the body to the lower position.

With a maximum clearance of more than 30 cm, the task of returning to the salon may be difficult. However, these centimeters are a good help on off -road. Especially when overcoming a ford or a super -missed country. True, there will be practically no stroke at the suspension. A sort of bar stool. However, 307 mm is an extreme option, which, I am sure, will be rarely. After all, there are two more intermediate steps 227 and 277 mm. And on the highway with an increase in speed, the body will automatically drop by 15 mm. The standard clearance is 197 mm. However, it would be naive to assume that GL has only one trump card on off -road. Thanks to the controlled electronics blocking of the center and rear inter -axis differentials, this car can easily overcome even the most complex sections of the off -road. With comfort will take the owner from any trouble. That's why he, in fact, is Mercedes-Benz.

Sitting at the wheel of GL, I logically ran into a feeling of deja vu. The front panel, the steering wheel, the layout of the control organs, the multimedia system overloaded with the keys, the heavy left steering wheel switch with many functions is all familiar with the two brothers GL 450. However, the chairs here are equipped not only with heating, but also by ventilation. The machine is started by a button, and the chip key can not be removed from the pocket at all.

But most of all I liked to operate with the third number of seats. Everything just pressed the button, got the result. Two comfortable armchairs grow from the floor, in which people no longer higher than average will arise. True, the volume of the trunk in this case will decrease to the offensive 200 liters. But if you remove both the back rows, the space of two cubic meters will be freed. I don't want a load.

GL is like a small house on wheels. Isolation from the bustle of the outside world is brought to the absolute. The suspension with pneumo elements was specially developed for complex Russian roads. Moreover, in Moscow, all the charms of the running crossover will not be possible to evaluate too good the quality of the coating. But outside the capital, the comfort of GL instantly conquers.

The suspension has three operating modes comfortable, normal, sports. Each car floats over the road. Unless in sport it is sometimes shaking. But the chassis becomes more energy-intensive and not only cope with road flaws better, but also more efficiently extinguishes the fluctuations of unsproved masses, no, no, and no, and suspension surrenders in the bowels of unpleasant blows.

Late at night I decided to get out on one of the new suburban highways to personally make sure of the autobahous abilities of the car. After all, Mercedes-Benz is famous for the unshakability in speedy movement in a straight line. Mindful of how the R-class performed well in this discipline, I was ready for similar GL behavior. However, the car presented a real surprise showed itself even better.

At first, I was even a little scared with such enthusiasm, this colossus gained move. Pressing the accelerator pedal and squeezing the steering wheel tightly, I watched the speedometer with a new 340-horsepower V8 out of the corner of my eye, spreading along the spaces of the speedometer. A seven -speed automatic, as if sensing my desire to check the ability of the machine, snapped the transmission like the seeds of the luzal. The mark 160 GL reached in the blink of an eye! The body sat down a little, and I carefully tried to rebuild. At first smoothly, then all the bolder tight steering wheel allowed to do this without tension, the suspension seemed to glue the car to the highway.

I was shocked by how confidently a large SUV flies along the highway. Neither a high center of gravity, nor mass, nor sailing were an obstacle to him. Completely bolder, I drove the arrow for 200 km/h and, taking advantage of the void on the highway, rebuilt several times, including from one extreme row to another. The car behaved highly reliably.

At the end of this trip, I sharply besieged the SUV, and he playfully performed a trick that is complicated for most other machines of this size. Thanks to the Assistance system for emergency braking BAS, which delibes the car for the driver (and it also turns on the alarm).

The desire to nimble on GL in the city will rarely arise. And the status is not the same. You can only drown a couple of times an accelerator when starting from a traffic light, check in fact the declared 7.2 seconds in acceleration to hundreds, rejoice at the intellect of an adaptive machine gun 7G-Tronic and, satisfied, dignily roll on, enjoying the deep juicy sound of the audio system. Yes, this car was clearly not created for work behind the wheel.

When asked whether it is worthwhile to wait for something amazing from GL after meeting with his closest relatives, you should answer negatively. I have not discovered anything new for myself. But I understood an important thing. GL, which appeared the latter, combined the best features of ML and R-classes. Comfortable, the highest level of decoration, spaciousness, extraordinary off -road and highways. These properties, supplemented by captivating external data, will undoubtedly lead Mercedes-Benz GL to success. However, his guarantee of his three -beam star itself.

Dealers offer only gasoline versions GL450 (340 hp) and GL500 (388 hp) cost GL450 in the base is 92,400. For GL500 they ask for 105 900. The basic equipment includes a 7-speed automatic transmission, electronic stabilization system movements (ESP), anti-lock (ABS) and anti-circus (ASR) system, braking system during descent (DSR), adaptive damping system (ADS), front, lateral and window passenger PBs, full electrical control of the front seats, multisonic climate-climate Control, decoration of the ARTICO leather, multifunctional steering wheel with skin decoration, on-board computer, CD-resort and 8 speakers, rain sensor, nearby sensor, collision and overturning sensors, 19 inches alloy wheels. The basic equipment of the GL500 is supplemented by decorative decoration of the cabin with wood, bi-ksenon rotary headlights, heated seats of the second row, parking sensors and an automatic opening/closing system of the rear door.

The list of additional equipment includes a rear view camera, Distronic distance maintenance system, parking heating system, Pre-Safe system, Keyless-Go, Mobile phone, Harman/Kardon audio system, folding a third row of electric power, TV-tuner, multimedia system For rear passengers, 20-inch alloy wheels. You can also choose the color of metallic and various options for the interior decoration.