The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a step larger and roomier than most other luxury crossovers as it has three rows of usable seating, but it does compete directly with a set of vehicles that includes the Audi Q7 and INFINITI QX56, as well as the Cadillac Escalade. Among these, the GL-Class stands out for being less truck-like in look and feel, with a more refined ride. The set of luxury features on offer in the GL-Class is also stronger than most in this class, with some of the same advanced-tech items that wow in Mercedes-Benz' S-Class flagship.
The fuel-efficient, clean-diesel GL350 BlueTec is a major highlight. It manages to get up to 26 mpg yet with little performance penalty.