Big and potentially economical
Lake Placid, New York - With a number of awards, including Motor Trend's sport utility of the year, under its belt, the GL is seriously headed towards being a very successful product for the Three-Pointed Star outfit. Last fall, I took the GL450 trough its paces and was really impressed with the truck's civility, comfort but not its fuel consumption. How do you address an issue as important as fuel economy? Simple, if you are called DaimlerChrysler and have some of the most sophisticated diesel technology in the World, you drop a diesel engine under the bonnet.
Although there are no immediate plans to bring the GL320 CDI to North America, Mercedes-Benz tempted us with one. I recently tested the ML320 CDI and was utterly impressed with the turbo-diesel 3.0L V6. Its 398 lbs of torque manhandled the ML's 2,200 kg. The GL, weighing in at an extra 200 kg, was also easily manipulated by all this grunt. Not once did the GL feel underpowered.
The petrol-powered GL450 I tested returned an average of close to 17 L per 100 km. The ML consumed 11.5 L per 100 km but had it been driven in "normal" conditions, it would have yielded numbers in the mid-10s. The GL320 CDI would surely only consume a litre more per 100 km. Unless standing very near to the GL while idling, only a very keen ear would notice that a diesel engine was lurking under the hood.
The GL, regardless of the engine, is supremely at ease with any road surface. We took a few pictures of the GL in motion and to set up the shoot, I had to do a U-turn in a snow and frozen dirt covered ditch. The ample ground clearance and smart 4MATIC system had me in and out with no more difficulty than if I was hunting for a parking spot at the local mall. On the road, the GL's ride is unruffled by ruts or bumps. Both steering and brakes obey well to driver input however they do not give up any information in the form of surface communication. To many, this is a sign of utmost luxury.
The beauty of the GL is the incredible level of comfort, opulence and calm that is provided by the lavish interior. This is where the G and the GL differ by a huge margin. Even though both trucks are related, they obviously have very different roots. The GL's cabin provides excellent seats, good ergonomics and insulation.
The GL450 4MATIC's base price is of $76,500.
photo:Mathieu St-Pierre
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| The GL is elegant and supremely comfortable. |
Although there are no immediate plans to bring the GL320 CDI to North America, Mercedes-Benz tempted us with one. I recently tested the ML320 CDI and was utterly impressed with the turbo-diesel 3.0L V6. Its 398 lbs of torque manhandled the ML's 2,200 kg. The GL, weighing in at an extra 200 kg, was also easily manipulated by all this grunt. Not once did the GL feel underpowered.
The petrol-powered GL450 I tested returned an average of close to 17 L per 100 km. The ML consumed 11.5 L per 100 km but had it been driven in "normal" conditions, it would have yielded numbers in the mid-10s. The GL320 CDI would surely only consume a litre more per 100 km. Unless standing very near to the GL while idling, only a very keen ear would notice that a diesel engine was lurking under the hood.
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| The diesel 3.0L V6 is perfectly matched to the GL. |
The beauty of the GL is the incredible level of comfort, opulence and calm that is provided by the lavish interior. This is where the G and the GL differ by a huge margin. Even though both trucks are related, they obviously have very different roots. The GL's cabin provides excellent seats, good ergonomics and insulation.
The GL450 4MATIC's base price is of $76,500.
photo:Mathieu St-Pierre
2007 Mercedes GL-Class GL320 CDI
2007 Mercedes GL-Class GL320 CDI
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