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The 2017 Mercedes GLS-Class: Three rows of luxury and plenty of tech (pictures)

Replacing the outgoing GL-Class, the 2017 GLS-Class sports an updated appearance and a vastly improved interior. It's ready to compete against the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and the Lexus GX.

Andrew Krok
Cars are Andrew's jam, as is strawberry. After spending years as a regular ol' car fanatic, he started working his way through the echelons of the automotive industry, starting out as social-media director of a small European-focused garage outside of Chicago. From there, he moved to the editorial side, penning several written features in Total 911 Magazine before becoming a full-time auto writer, first for a local Chicago outlet and then for CNET Cars.
Andrew Krok
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
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A new naming structure

The 2017 GLS-Class replaces the model formerly known as the GL-Class, to bring the car in line with Mercedes' new naming structure.

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Mercedes' largest crossover

From here on out, all crossovers will begin with GL-, and the third letter will refer to the vehicle's size. Given that the S-Class is the brand's largest sedan, the GLS will be the automaker's largest crossover.

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All-wheel drive is standard

No matter what model you choose, your GLS-Class will come standard with Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

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Top of the line

The range-topping model, seen here, is the Mercedes-AMG GLS63. It's powered by a 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder engine, good for 577 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque.

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Plenty of torque

Those with an eye for efficiency can opt for the GLS350d, which uses a 3.0-liter diesel engine to maximize efficiency. It might be low on power, with just 255 hp, but it's packing an impressive 457 pound-feet of torque.

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Six and eight cylinder engines

In-between the diesel and AMG variants lie the GLS450 and the GLS550. The GLS450 sports a gasoline-powered six-cylinder engine, and those on the hunt for a bit more thrust can look to the GLS550's 4.7-liter eight-cylinder.

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A better interior

Mercedes went all-out improving the GLS' interior. The most notable update is the COMAND infotainment screen, which is no longer tucked inside a shroud in the dashboard. It sports the same floating-tablet aesthetic seen on other new M-B vehicles.

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Bringing a premium feeling inside the car

Other changes to the interior include a revised center console, a new instrument panel and a three-spoke steering wheel that feels a bit more premium than the outgoing car's four-spoke unit.

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The COMAND infotainment system

Buyers can opt for an 8-inch COMAND infotainment screen with a touchpad and navigation capability. Online services (including automatic emergency calling, breakdown assistance and diagnostic data sent to a buyer's smartphone) are free for the first five years.

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Three rows of seating

All GLS-Class variants come standard with three rows of seating. The back two rows can fold down for some serious cargo capacity.

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Options for off-roading

Off-road enthusiasts can pick up the Off-Road Engineering package, which includes a low-range gearbox and a locking center differential.

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Crossing water

The GLS-Class' standard air suspension can be configured to provide a ride height in excess of 12 inches. In that mode, the vehicle can ford nearly 24 inches of standing water.

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Adaptive damping

Mercedes' air suspension also gains adaptive damping, and it's standard for all drivetrain variants.

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Active Curve System option

Another bit of optional equipment is Active Curve System, which can alter roll-bar stiffness for reduced body roll in turns.

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Magic Vision Control wiper arm assembly

If you like fancy windshield wipers, the optional Magic Vision Control puts the wiper-fluid nozzles inside the wiper arm assembly. Instead of fluid spraying wildly in every direction, it looks like your wipers are clearing the windshield without any liquid whatsoever.

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Detecting driver drowsiness

Buyers will find plenty of standard safety equipment in the GLS-Class, including forward collision warning, automatic braking and an attention assistant that monitors driveline inputs to detect driver drowsiness.

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Adaptive cruise control

If you'd rather let computers do the brunt of the work, the Driver Assistance Package includes Distronic Plus, which allows adaptive cruise control functionality from 0 mph up to a chosen top speed. It will start and stop moving without any driver input.

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Plenty of airbags

If you do end up in a collision, you'll have plenty of airbags to absorb any forces at play, including two-stage front airbags, front knee airbags, and window airbags across all three rows.

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A more aggressively appearing option

You can outfit the GLS550 with an optional Sport package, which gives the car a more aggressive appearance without requiring you to spend the coin for the full-on AMG treatment. Upgrades include unique front and rear bumpers, side running boards and 21-inch AMG alloy wheels.

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More information still to come

While drivetrain configurations and power outputs are all finalized, Mercedes-Benz has yet to release any information regarding fuel economy, performance, or price. To give you an idea, though, the least-expensive GL-Class ran buyers about $65,000.

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Orders begin this holiday

US buyers can order the 2017 GLS-Class starting in December, and deliveries will take place in late March.

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International availability not yet announced

Mercedes-Benz has not yet announced order or delivery data for the UK or Australia.

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Behind the wheel

The interior has been improved for the GLS-Class over last year's model.

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