2020 Mercedes Benz GLS Class Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a large, full-sized SUV. This is a luxury vehicle through and through. It offers all of the comfort, quality and amenities that consumers have come to expect from a Mercedes-Benz. Still, the GLS-Class provides a lot of practical benefits as a daily driver. It has a spacious and comfortable interior with plenty of room for both people and cargo.

What's New for 2020?

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class received a major overhaul for this year's model. The exterior design has been completely redone. The new GLS-Class is bigger than before with a roomier interior. The 2020 models will have all-new power-train options. A new all-wheel drive system makes the GLS-Class a better performer than the previous models. SUV capabilities such as towing and off-road performance have been improved as well.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLS Class – The Pros

1. Ample Room for Cargo

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a huge vehicle with plenty of storage room. There are three rows of seats in this beast, but these can be configured to provide numerous storage options. The base cargo area comes in at around 17.4 cubic-feet of space. This can be increase all the way up to 84.7 cubic feet. There are very few vehicles on the road that can compete with these numbers.

2. Plenty of Space for Passengers

Not only can the GLS-Class carry tons of cargo, but it's a great people hauler too. There are three rows of seats in this massive SUV. The plush seats can easily accommodate seven average-sized adults. The vehicle's four doors provide easy access to all three rows.

3. Powerful Engine Choices

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class offers two power-train options. The base engine is an inline six cylinder model. It's a 3.0-liter, turbocharged hybrid that's paired with an electric motor. Large SUV's are known to be gas guzzlers, but Mercedes-Benz has taken some steps here to alleviate this issue. The hybrid technology brings the fuel economy to a more manageable level.

The six cylinder engine produces 362 horsepower. Mercedes-Benz also offers a 4.0-liter, V-8 hybrid option. This choice raises the horsepower up to 483. The V-8 also cranks out a whopping 516 pounds-feet of torque. Both engines provide impressive acceleration and towing capabilities.

4. Great Performance and Handling

The powerful engine choices provide impressive acceleration for such a large vehicle. The GLS-Class weighs in at a hefty 5,594 pounds. Even at this weight, the I-6 engine manages to go from 0 to 60 miles-per-hour in just 5.9 seconds. Models equipped with a V-8 can get up to 60 in just 5.2 seconds. This vehicle has an electronically-limited top speed of 130 miles-per-hour. These numbers are some of the best in this class of vehicle.

Ride quality inside of the GLS-Class is smooth and quiet. Steering is tight and accurate. The air-suspension system makes for a nice ride on or off the road. All-wheel drive makes for excellent handling in almost any conditions. For a large SUV, the GLS-Class feels agile even around sharp curves.

5. A Good Amount of Standard Safety Features

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class comes loaded with some nice safety features. All trim levels will receive a surround-view camera. This makes moving in reverse a whole lot safer and easier. Driver-assist systems such as a forward-collision warning and automatic braking are standard. Lane-keeping assist and lane-change assist are on tap here as well.

Automatic-park assist makes it more manageable to park this large vehicle. A distance indicator helps drivers to maintain the proper distance from the vehicle in front of them. A driving-condition monitor provides a wealth of handy information to the driver at a glance. The entire frame of the GLS-Class SUV was designed to mitigate potential injuries in the event of an accident.

6. The Comfortable and Stylish Interior

The craftsmanship and quality of materials in the interior offered by Mercedes-Benz is unrivaled. The interior is filled with premium materials. All three rows of seats are power adjustable. The front row gets heated seats as a standard feature. This can be added to the second and third tow.

Ventilation and massage features are available for all three rows of seats. The interior is extremely quiet with little-to-no audible road and engine noise. Five-zone climate control keeps things nice and comfortable on the inside of the GLS-Class SUV.

7. An Impressive Infotainment System

New this year is the GLS-Class MBUX infotainment system. This represents some of the best voice-recognition technology to ever make its way into a vehicle. Drivers can control a number of things with casual and natural voice commands. Some things can even be adjusted via hand gestures.

Passengers in the back rows can even make adjustments to the infotainment system. This is thanks to a 7-inch, Android-based tablet that's included for use with the MBUX system. A huge multi-media screen gives drivers access to an excellent sound system and handy navigation system.

8. The Ability to Tow

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is more than just a luxury vehicle for a lot of passengers and cargo. It also offers some impressive utility features. It can tow just as well as any other luxury SUV on the road. When outfitted with the proper equipment, the GLS-Class can tow up to 7,700 pounds. Combined with the interior space and excellent ride quality, this makes the GLS a fantastic vehicle for long road trips.

9. A Luxury Vehicle That Goes Anywhere

It may seem strange to consider off-roading in an expensive luxury vehicle, but the GLS-Class certainly can if needed. The high ground clearance and air-suspension system make it an ideal off-road performer. Standard all-wheel drive also adds to the overall performance in this category. The two engine choices provide plenty of power and torque to get the SUV over some rough terrain.

10. The Quality and Luxury of a Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is a brand that is known for its quality and luxury. The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is no exception to this rule. It offers the best in high-grade materials and excellent craftsmanship. The fit and finish is perfection both inside and on the outside of the vehicle. Previous models offered a reliable vehicle with a good track record for longevity. The new 2020 models should provide the same.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLS Class – The Cons

1. The MBUX System isn't Very Intuitive

The MBUX is a fantastic, high-tech system. It's one of the better infotainment systems found on any SUV. Unfortunately, the controls are a bit tricky to learn. It may take awhile for drivers to get everything down. Nothing is as intuitive as it should perhaps be. Still, once the controls are learned, the system provides one of the best experiences of any infotainment system available in 2020.

2. The Cost isn't Cheap

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class doesn't come cheap. Any full-sized luxury SUV will come at a high price, but the Mercedes-Benz is on the higher end of the spectrum. There are cheaper alternatives. Still, the alternatives won't offer the same level of quality or the luxury appointments found on the Mercedes. The GLS-Class also offers much better performance than most of the competition.

3. Thin Standard Tires

This may seem like a bit of a nitpick, but the stock tires are on the thin side. They're also equipped on a set of very large wheels. This leads to less than optimal performance. That's not to say that the performance is bad. It's certainly not, but it could be just a little bit better with a tire upgrade.

4. There are Better Off-Road Alternatives

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is a very capable off-road performer. It's not the best in its class though. If off-road fun is a priority, it may not be the best choice. Drivers would be hard pressed, however, to find such a great balance between off-road performance and everyday driving comfort.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class faces competition from a number of other SUVs. Two of its biggest rivals are the 2020 Lincoln Navigator and the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover. Both the Navigator and the Range Rover offer a more aggressive, sportier exterior. The GLS-Class gives off a more elegant, classy vibe. Which is better is simply a matter of taste.

The Lincoln Navigator has a more powerful 6-cylinder engine that beats out the Mercedes-Benz I-6. The GLS V-8 comes out on top when it comes to horsepower, though. Overall, the GLS-Class provides a smoother, more refined ride. It provides better steering and handling and a more comfortable interior as well.

The Range Rover easily beats out the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class when it comes to off-road performance. The GLS-Class beats out the Range Rover in overall quality, comfort and luxury appointments. This comparison is also one of the rare times when the GLS-Class comes in at a much lower price point than its competition. This makes the Mercedes-Benz a much better value.

Conclusion

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is an excellent full-sized SUV. It gives drivers all of the comfort and luxury one could want from a vehicle in this class. It also is quite capable when it comes to towing and off-road performance. There is a ton of interior space for passengers or cargo. Last of all, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class offers great performance and downright impressive acceleration for such a large vehicle. When it comes to luxury SUVs, it doesn't get much better than the 2020 GLS-Class.