2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS

As one of the pioneers of the grand luxury SUV experiment, the Mercedes-Benz GLS is luxury writ large. Its SUV flagship GLS translates the experience of the iconic S-Class into SUV form. It has the top-notch interior quality and satisfying driving manners you’d expect from the brand, plus the convenience of 3-row seating and adventurous off-road capabilities. In other words, the GLS is exactly what you want when shopping for a Mercedes-Benz family hauler.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of large luxury SUVs, including the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Refreshed styling and updated engines, resulting from last year’s improvements, mean the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS still feels fresh. The cabin will now have a fingerprint sensor and a range of Manufaktur Signature design upgrades are available.

The new Manufaktur Signature Interior Package ($12,250 on GLS 450, $10,600 on GLS 580) adds microfiber headrest cushions embroidered with the Mercedes star logo, illuminated door sills, custom lettering on wood trim, high-pile floormats, Nappa leather upholstery elements. This new package requires the addition of the Pinnacle trim and the Executive Rear Seat Package.

Other new Manufaktur Signature design elements include the paint colors Cote d’Azur Light Metallic Blue and Silicon Grey and upholstery in Yacht Blue, Truffle Brown, and Carmine Red.

The GLS is priced similarly to its closest competitor, the BMW X7, but a bit less than the Lexus LX. The entry-level GLS is substantially more affordable than the long-wheelbase Land Rover Range Rover. The Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator were once bigger and less pricey than the GLS, but with updates for 2025, they remain bigger than the GLS but the price gap is negligible.

Before buying a GLS, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what others are paying for similar vehicles. Mercedes-Benz GLS resale value is about average for the segment.

The driving character for the Mercedes-Benz GLS is exactly what you’d expect of a large luxury SUV. It’s stately, comfortable, and poised, especially in GLS 450 form, powered by a potent yet refined inline 6-cylinder. The GLS 580’s twin-turbocharged V8 power adds a significant dose of athleticism and attitude.

In its default mode, the GLS is smooth and relaxing. The Dynamic Select drive mode selector and standard adaptive air suspension offer three other modes for an even greater breadth of ability: Comfort, Sport, and Off-Road. Each one makes a noticeable difference in the character of this luxury SUV.

Fuel Economy

The 2025 GLS 450 gets 21 mpg combined (19 city/24 highway), and the GLS 580 gets 16 mpg combined (14 city/19 highway). Those gas mileage numbers are competitive with the BMW X7 (22 mpg combined) and Land Rover Range Rover LWB (18 mpg combined).

Mercedes-Benz’s flagship GLS SUV has a top-tier luxury interior. Its cabin only grows richer and more luxurious with 2025’s updated upholstery color selection and new Manufaktur Signature Interior Package. We love how customizable the GLS is, with many colors and styles of leather and trim options like natural grain ash wood, aluminum, and carbon fiber.

The GLS gets a 3-row, 7-seat configuration standard. An optional second-row captain’s chair setup cuts seating down to six but improves third-row access and increases second-row space. The most luxurious rear-seat experience comes with either the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus or the new Manufaktur Signature Interior Package, which requires the former. This configuration adds heated, ventilated, massaging seats, a wireless device charger, and an MBUX infotainment tablet for second-row passengers.

Third-row seating in the GLS is best reserved for smaller occupants. We found it a bit snug for taller passengers. The GLS offers 34.6 inches of third-row legroom, however, so it’s not overly tight. By comparison, the BMW X7’s third row has 33.3 inches of legroom, while the Land Rover Range Rover LWB has 35.8 inches of legroom.

Cargo room is very good in the GLS with its 17.4 cu. ft of space behind the third row, being notably larger than the BMW X7’s 12.8 cu. ft. Comparing total cargo space, the GLS has 84.7 cu. ft. to the X7’s 90.4 cu. ft.

Large and rugged yet refined and elegant, the Mercedes-Benz GLS’s commanding presence is undeniable. Last year’s mild retouching to the bumpers, wheels, and lights keep the look current.

In addition to the Manufaktur Signature paint colors joining the lineup for 2025, there are additional paint changes coming as of January 2025 production. Emerald Green Metallic will no longer be available, and an additional two Manufaktur Signature colors will be offered: Ireland Mid Green Metallic and Mystic Blue Metallic.

Potent engines
The GLS has a standard 375-horsepower turbocharged 6-cylinder and an even stronger V8 option making 510 hp.

MBUX infotainment system
This system integrates a customizable digital gauge cluster and a user-friendly infotainment system in one sleek display. It also responds to “Hey, Mercedes” voice prompts and we found that it handles natural-language cues surprisingly well.

Luxurious seating
The GLS has comfortable 3-row seating, and the second row can get supremely luxurious with the new Manufaktur Signature Interior Package, which includes the Executive Rear Seat Package Plus with massaging seats, an MBUX tablet, and much more in the back.

Burmester audio system
The GLS comes standard with a Burmester 13-speaker audio system. It’s more than sufficient for most drivers, but well-heeled audiophiles will prefer the optional 26-speaker Burmester 3D audio system.

Driver Assistance Package Plus
This option package does what its name implies by adding features we think should be standard, like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, blind-spot assist, active lane-change assist, and much more.

Off-Road Engineering Package
This option package improves the GLS’s off-road chops with skid plates and a unique suspension tuning that can add an extra 1.2 inches of ground clearance.

Although the Mercedes-AMG GLS and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS offer even more powerful versions of the GLS, the standard GLS is more than up to the task. In base GLS 450 form, the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder under the hood makes 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

The top-spec standard GLS, the GLS 580, gets a 510-hp, 538-lb-ft 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-60-mph time of 4.7 seconds.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is covered by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and powertrain warranty. That matches the BMW X7 and Land Rover Range Rover, but the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator both have longer powertrain warranties.

Safety

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS hasn’t been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).