Category: Large 4x4s 
Price Range: £67,485 to £67,485
Road presence, performance, Mercedes image
Absolutely huge exterior, but cabin not that roomy; M-Class is better-looking
Only consider the GL if you absolutely have to have seven seats and off-roading capability - or want to make a big statement. The R-Class and M-Class are more practical options and cost thousands less.
Meet the largest ever Merc SUV. Don't be misled by the photos, which suggest a vehicle not that much larger than Mercedes' ML-class. Although the GL-Class shares much of its underpinnings with the ML- and R-Class SUVs, it's by far the biggest of the three: a huge 308mm longer, 25mm taller and more than 300kg heavier than the ML. It's even significantly longer than the full-sized Range Rover, as well as the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and so on.
While the GL is no wider than the ML, its bulk in the flesh is truly impressive (or offensive, depending on the observer's point of view). In the crucially important US market, the GL's size will mean that Mercedes can offer an upmarket alternative to behemoths such as the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. In Europe, it's likely to remain a minority-interest taste - but in its defence, it is easier to drive and more talented all-round than the Hummer H2, which has found a certain niche.
Engines on offer are the 3.0-litre V6 diesel (GL 320 CDI), a 306bhp V8 diesel (GL 420 CDI) and a 388bhp 5.5-litre petrol V8 (GL 500). Also 'under consideration' for the UK is a 340bhp 4.6-litre V8 (GL 450).
Specification for the UK include Airmatic suspension and the Offroad Pro package, which includes locking differentials and a low-range gearbox (these are options elsewhere in the world). A seven-seater layout, however, with an extra third row of folding seats, is an optional extra at around £1,200.
