Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class


The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, formerly Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, is a full-size luxury SUV produced by Mercedes-Benz since 2006. It is a three-row, seven-passenger vehicle positioned above the GLE-Class, and is the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz SUV line.
The GLS shares the same unibody architecture with the GLE-Class. Most GLS-Class vehicles are assembled at the Mercedes plant in Alabama, except for a small number of early 2007 production vehicles which were manufactured in Germany. The first generation model was manufactured between 2006 and 2012 and was replaced in 2012 by the new generation GL-Class.
From 2016 with the release of the facelifted second generation model, the GL-Class was renamed to GLS-Class as per the revised nomenclature adopted by Mercedes. Under this scheme, SUVs use the base name "GL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. The "G" is for geländewagen and alludes the long-running G-Class. This is followed by the letter "L" that acts as a linkage with the letter "S", the SUV equivalent to the S-Class.

First generation (X164; 2006–2012)

The X164 GL-Class debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. It was released along the same time as the similarly sized Audi Q7, and was the first full-size, 7-seater SUV produced by a German automaker. The range of engines consist of V8 petrol engines, and turbocharged V6 and V8 diesel engines. All models are available only in all-wheel drive configuration. Its main competitors are the Range Rover, Cadillac Escalade, and Lincoln Navigator.

Second generation (X166; 2013-2019)

The X166 GL-Class went on sale on September 2012. Models feature efficiency improvements via the addition of an engine start stop system, drive by wire steering, and new turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. The second generation model also introduced a high performance GL63 AMG variant, powered by the hand-built M157 engine. Following a 2016 facelift it was renamed the GLS-Class, to correspond with the new Mercedes-Benz naming scheme. The model update also featured minor exterior and interior design changes and performance improvements.

Third generation (X167; 2020–)

The third generation model debuted at the 2019 New York International Auto Show. The engine options at the launch are 3.0-litre turbo inline six and 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, both petrol with EQ Boost electric motors, and 2.9-litre twin-turbo diesel inline six in two different outputs. A first SUV version of Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC model was released in late 2019.
The wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer and nearly an inch wider. It will use the same architecture as the latest GLE with MBUX and dual 12.3-inch screens as well as E-Active Body Control and car-to-X communication. The exterior has also been redesigned with sleeker headlamps and taillamps.

Sales figures

The following are the sales figures for the GL-Class since 2006:
YearEU salesUS sales
20063,00718,776
20078,02726,396
20084,22723,328
20092,87115,012
20102,24919,943
20112,50825,139
20121,57326,042
20134,82929,912
20144,18726,597
20153,75327,707
20165,36130,442
20174,53732,248
20183,53421,973
Total50,663323,515