Driven: Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG

Since 2006, the GL-Class has been Mercedes-Benz’s definitive answer to the Range Rover Vogue, but its styling and design was quickly outdated after Mercedes-Benz started to update their designs in 2010. Also for this X164 model, we didn’t see an AMG counterpart, which meant the M156 AMG 6.2L motor never made an appearance, which is a shame seeing as the M156 engine is more-or-less a thing of the past now and it doesn’t seem we’ll be seeing a N/A AMG Engine in the future either!

Well now after 7 years, they have absolutely re-engineered and designed the new X166 Second Generation GL from top to bottom. The upside: it looks much bigger, the interior quality has been updated to a more luxurious standard, and the exterior design is finally very eye catching indeed.

Hmm, so what about AMG? Well, we are pleased to report that there is finally a GL63 AMG, and guess what? We’ve driven it! Let’s break it down for you:

PERFORMANCE

 As with most AMG’s today, the GL63 AMG features AMG’s M157 5.5L twin-turbocharged motor which produces 557 bhp and a massive 760Nm torque. With all this power, it catapults the GL63 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. For a car this big and heavy, can you imagine what that must feel like? Push hard enough and it’ll hit its limited top speed of 155 mph in no time what so ever. Even at the limiter, this car still wants to go faster!

So what sort of transmission must cope with all the beastly power that lurks beneath the hood of the GL63? Well, no other but the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC, which if anything else would not of been good enough. The transmission is absolutely snappy in its gear changes, it makes a great sound on the upshifts too!

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There were three settings: ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’, we tended to leave it in Sport for the best combination of power and comfort. However, when you just want to haul along, in Comfort it feels like an ordinary GL350.

Although the car is quite heavy, it does handle particularly well around corners for its size, but then again, it’s not a car to rip around the Nurburgring and thrash some lap times, because this car is a City destroyer, this car will rip through the city at lightning fast speeds and do the same off-road. Yes, you guessed it, unlike the ML63 AMG, this AMG model can handle quite some tough terrain!

EXTERIOR

The exterior. Hmm, there’s only one thing to say about it! It’s absolutely humongous, you’ll feel like an ant next to this car, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, from inside it feels like an ML, but from the outside, this thing makes double-decker buses feel like they aren’t welcome. Okay, maybe it’s not THAT big but it is still a pretty huge car, especially compared to something like a Range Rover Vogue, BMW X5, Audi Q7. This is just one of the few cars in the world that will give you that superior presence on the road.

In terms of design, the new GL is a huge step up from its predecessor. The previous model was a quite bland and boring, it didn’t really give you a reason to turn your head, but its successor is a whole new story.

A chunkier front grille, diffuser and a more sportier bumper gives the GL63 credentials its rivals just can’t handle. With a chunkier grille, comes a chunkier badge which lets everyone on the road know you mean business. The side of the GL63 features 2 lines, one going across the side and the other just highlighting over the rear wheel arch. These lines give the GL63  a wider and muscly stance, but the rear wheel arch line in general really makes the GL63 look like it’s on steroids.

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The headlights and taillights are great on the road, and in terms of safety, probably one of the safest lighting systems around. On a more cosmetic approach, the lights are probably one of the greatest things about this car, in day-light, the LED’s are eye-catching and at night time, you will anticipate this car coming in the distance just to see what it is.

Those huge 21″ AMG rims finish off the job, adding the last piece of the jigsaw to create a good looking SUV.

INTERIOR

The interior has undergone a total overhaul, it is a much better place to be than its predecessor. The new Designo range of leathers feel great on the skin, the colours are rich and you won’t be able to find one part of the car where Mercedes-Benz have tried to cut cost because frankly, they haven’t. It feels very high-end inside, probably not as luxurious as a Range Rover, but then again the Range Rover is just trying too hard to be a Bentley. The Mercedes GL however, is very focused. There’s not much to tell you spent the extra premium to go for the GL63 but it still feels quite special.

At night time the cabin comes alive, ambient lighting cocoons the whole cabin with luminous light which somehow makes you feel relaxed. On a long journey, you will not be disappointed.

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Mercedes-Benz are really spot on with their audience, and with the GL, it’s no exception. The GL has 7-seats that can electronically fold making it more practical than ever. Another surprising this is when you have all the seats up, there’s still decent boot space in the rear.

A slight let-down is that this AMG model doesn’t feature the same sort of seats the E63 AMG, the whole feeling of the lumbar’s moving in to squeeze you round a bend makes you more comfortable to throw it around a corner.

VERDICT

The GL63 is a great car, even though its expensive price tag of £90K lets it down and as tested the one we drove was £112K. The upshot is that for the money, you’re buying a car that can perform, be a comfortable cruiser, a practical car and a ‘move over, slow driver’ car when you want it to. One of the best SUV’s around,  we enjoyed our time with it.

Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG – 4.5/5.