Mercedes GLS 450d SUV tow test

If you’ve ever wondered how the other half live, I can tell you now that the Mercedes GLS 450d is the land-based equivalent of flying in style, right down to its Airmatic suspension. With legroom galore, and tech to die for, it cuddles and coddles you like few other vehicles.

The adaptive cruise control adjusts to corners. Lane assist will change lanes for you. The navigation system has augmented reality, with arrows indicating the direction. The seats give you a massage if you ask them nicely. Cupholders are heated and cooled. The headrests have little cushions. 

Mercedes itself dubs the 450d the ‘S Class of SUVs’ as it’s essentially the marque’s apex AWD seven-seater – unless you count the V8 Maybach and AMG variants that share the platform. Certainly, it’s jumbo-sized, standing 1.8m on the optional 23in wheels and spanning 5.2m in length and 2.03m in girth. 

Weight is a hefty 2700kg, yet the GLS feels neither heavy nor overly large from behind the wheel. Its secret weapon is a 3lt twin-turbo, straight six-cylinder diesel serving 270kW of power and 750Nm of determined torque.

When angry, the 450d clocks 0 to 100 in 6.1 seconds, leaving hot hatches looking lukewarm. A 48V mild hybrid gives it a further tickle while helping the nine-speed transmission to shift imperceptibly. 

The claimed fuel burn of 7.9lt/100km is surprisingly good, as is the silky smoothness of power delivery. In fact, the highest compliment you can pay this motor is that it sounds and responds like a petrol engine. Yet it pulls like a freight train, barely noticing the 2.65t Whittley I towed. 

Merc’s optional Trailer Manoeuvring Assist package will appeal to those whose reversing skills are lacking. Drawing on several camera angles, it automatically steers the trailer to your touchscreen commands.

Equally, backing up to the hitch is aided by the reversing camera and 360-degree view. The air suspension, which works brilliantly on the open road, also comes in handy when attaching the trailer as you can raise the ball to the required height. 

Gripes, I have but two. One is that the towbar pack costs $2900. Second, the front tyres are 285/40s and the rear 325/35s, so you can’t rotate them to extend lifespan. 

Then again, that’s how first-class folk like to roll -  if you can afford the $189,100 price tag, let alone the $210K as tested, then you’ll presumably not even blink. 

Honestly, it’s just a pleasure to both drive and arrive in a GLS 450d.

• Engine: 3lt 6-cyl 48V mild hybrid diesel
• Power: 270kW
• Torque: 750Nm
• Transmission: 9-speed automatic
• Fuel economy: 7.8lt/100km
  

• A FULL REVIEW OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 450d RAN IN THE OCT-NOV (40.5) ISSUE OF CLUB MARINE MAGAZINE. 
  
  
• VISIT MERCEDES BENZ AUSTRALIA FOR MORE INFORMATION.