2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS

2024 is the X167 mid-cycle facelift year: the volume GLS 450's 3.0L turbo inline-six with 48V EQ Boost rose from 362 to 375 hp. The V8 GLS 580 (510 hp) and AMG GLS 63 extend the range.

The facelifted GLS 450's turbo I6 makes 369 lb-ft; the V8 trims make far more.

Mercedes quotes 5.8 s for the GLS 450 4MATIC — quick for a roughly 5,600-lb three-row SUV and competitive with six-cylinder rivals.

Reviewers consistently describe the turbo I6 with integrated starter-generator as silky, with EQ Boost filling low-rpm response and near-imperceptible stop-start; the V8 580 is effortless.

The 9G-TRONIC nine-speed shifts smoothly and chooses gears sensibly, with occasional part-throttle kickdown hesitation at low speed noted by testers.

Rated to tow 7,700 lbs when properly equipped — strong for a unibody luxury three-row, though below body-on-frame Escalade/Navigator ratings.

4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard on every 2024 GLS, paired with Dynamic Select drive modes and AIRMATIC air suspension; an optional off-road package adds off-road programs and underbody protection.

AIRMATIC can raise ride height and the off-road package adds terrain programs and protection, so light trails are fine, but there is no low range or lockers — it is a road-focused hauler, not a Range Rover or LX rival off-road.

Several distinct gas powertrains (I6 mild-hybrid 450, V8 mild-hybrid 580, AMG GLS 63, Maybach GLS 600), all with 48V assist, but no PHEV, diesel or EV GLS in the US.

The 48V mild-hybrid I6 GLS 450 is EPA-rated at 21 MPG combined, typical for a full-size luxury three-row SUV; the V8 trims are lower.

EPA city rating of 19 MPG for the volume trim.

EPA highway rating of 24 MPG for the volume trim.

EPA does not publish a range for gas vehicles; derived as EPA combined 21 MPG × the 23.8-gallon tank, a long range for the class.

EPA's current annual fuel cost estimate for the GLS 450 is high, driven by both modest economy and the premium-fuel requirement.

Every 2024 GLS requires premium unleaded; there is no regular-fuel or flex-fuel option.

NHTSA has a 2024 GLS SUV AWD entry but no crash rating in it: every overall, frontal, side and rollover field reads 'Not Rated'. Per the framework that is value 0 (never rated), not a borrowed star count.

IIHS has not crash-tested the X167 GLS, so it has no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual crashworthiness results. There are no known structural concerns (it shares the MHA platform with the GLE), but with no published results it can't score higher.

2024 is the X167 facelift year. Mercedes made the Driver Assistance Package standard (DISTRONIC adaptive cruise, Active Steering Assist, lane-change and cross-traffic functions), alongside the already-standard Active Brake Assist with pedestrian detection and Active Blind Spot Assist. That puts the full AEB/ACC/LKA/BSM/RCTA set on the volume GLS 450. Held slightly below the 2025 score because NHTSA's 2024 record still lists lane departure warning as 'Optional', which leaves some ambiguity.

IIHS has published no GLS-specific front crash prevention result. Active Brake Assist shares sensors and software with the GLE and other current Mercedes models, which have rated well, so this score is inferred from those siblings.

Active Blind Spot Assist is standard and can brake one side of the car to stop a lane change. It includes an exit warning for opening doors, and the now-standard Driver Assistance Package adds cross-traffic functions.

Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Steering Assist lane centering come with the Driver Assistance Package, standard for 2024. Reviewers find Mercedes' centering smooth on well-marked highways, with some wander on faded lines.

DISTRONIC Active Distance Assist works across the full speed range with stop-and-go and route-based speed adaptation. Paired with Active Steering Assist it is one of the more refined highway-assist bundles in the class, and it is standard for 2024.

The GLS has no hands-free highway driving: Active Steering Assist needs hands on the wheel, and Mercedes' DRIVE PILOT Level 3 system is limited to the S-Class and EQS sedan. The Escalade (Super Cruise) and Navigator (BlueCruise) both offer hands-free driving.

Revised LED headlights with adaptive high beam are standard on the 2024 facelift, and adaptive MULTIBEAM lighting is available. IIHS has not rated the GLS headlights, so the score stays below the Good-rated band.

The high seating position and large glass give good forward and side sightlines. Thick D-pillars and the third-row headrests create rear blind zones, but the surround-view camera, standard for 2024, makes up for them well.

The second row has two full LATCH positions, there are top tethers in the third row, and the wide rear doors help with installation. The lower anchors sit somewhat deep in the seat bight, and IIHS has not published a LATCH rating for this model.

The 2024 GLS 450 seats seven in a 2-3-2 layout as standard; the optional Executive Rear Seat Package swaps the second-row bench for captain's chairs, dropping capacity to six.

Front headroom is adequate rather than generous. The panoramic moonroof is standard on the 2024 GLS 450, so the with-roof figure is the one buyers get.

Mercedes' published front legroom is modest on paper for a 205-inch SUV. The X167 body is unchanged by the 2024 facelift, and reviewers do not report the front seats feeling cramped.

Second-row headroom is generous thanks to the tall, flat roofline aft of the B-pillar.

The 123.4-inch wheelbase gives near-limousine second-row legroom, a signature GLS strength over the shorter GLE.

The third row has 38.9 in of headroom and 34.6 in of legroom, with power-folding second-row access. Reviewers say adults genuinely fit in all three rows, though it is still tighter than in the body-on-frame Escalade or Navigator.

With the third row folded, the cargo space is middling for a full-size SUV; the GLS trades cargo depth for its exceptional second-row legroom.

The maximum cargo volume is competitive for a unibody three-row SUV but well short of body-on-frame rivals such as the Escalade and Navigator.

Everyday storage is competitive: a deep center console, standard wireless charging, a power-folding third row worked from a cargo-area button, and available heated/cooled cupholders. There is nothing as clever as Rivian's or the Escalade's storage tricks.

The front seats are widely adjustable and supportive, the second row is generous, and active multicontour massage seats are available via the Pinnacle package. The base GLS 450 uses MB-Tex synthetic leather rather than Nappa.

The standard AIRMATIC adaptive air suspension glides over bumps and rough pavement while keeping roll in check. Optional E-Active Body Control further improves body control, making the GLS one of the best-riding three-row SUVs.

Reviewers describe the cabin as whisper-quiet. Laminated side glass and extra insulation come in the optional Acoustic Comfort Package rather than as standard, which holds the score just below the very top.

Multi-zone climate, heated front seats and remote pre-conditioning are standard. Five-zone climate, ventilated and massaging seats, heated rear seats, AIR-BALANCE fragrance and heated armrests are available, but several of these sit in paid packages on a roughly $90K vehicle.

The facelifted 2024 GLS 450 4MATIC starts at about $87,000 plus $1,150 destination. That is far above the $65,000 SUV band ceiling, so it scores 0.

The GLS 450 is the volume trim. Dealer stock usually carries the common comfort and driver-assist packages plus metallic paint, putting a typical delivered price in the low-to-mid $90k range, well above the $68,000 band ceiling.

KBB projects about $10,000 in maintenance plus repairs over five years for the 2024 GLS 580. The GLS 450 shares the AIRMATIC suspension, dealer labor rates and mild-hybrid servicing, so about $9,500 is a fair volume-trim figure with no included scheduled maintenance.

KBB projects a $39,806 residual on the $113,050 GLS 580, about 35% retained. CarEdge-type projections for the GLS 450 run nearer 48%. Either way the GLS is a steep depreciator, typical of a high-priced German flagship SUV with heavy lease volume.

Mercedes-Benz's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles. That is standard for German luxury brands and behind Genesis at 5 years / 60,000 miles.

Mercedes-Benz offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty. The drivetrain is covered only by the 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which is below the 5-year band floor.

The 2024 GLS includes no complimentary scheduled maintenance; prepaid plans are sold separately. Included perks are 24/7 Roadside Assistance for the warranty period and a Mercedes me connect trial, which is thin for a near-$90k SUV and level with the BMW X7.

$94,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (42% retained, or about $39,480) leaves about $54,520 in depreciation. Add the projected $9,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $64,020 in total.

Consumer Reports' verdict is that the 2024 GLS is much less reliable than the average new car. 2024 is the mid-cycle refresh year of the X167 generation, bringing a reworked M256 engine, a revised 48V EQ Boost system and updated MBUX hardware and software, so it carries first-year-of-change risk. MBUX electronics and the air suspension are the problem areas owners report most often.

Mercedes-Benz places mid-pack to lower-mid in the J.D. Power VDS and in Consumer Reports' brand rankings. It ranks above Land Rover but trails Lexus, Lincoln and usually BMW.

The NHTSA feed lists no GLS campaign whose affected model years include 2024. The 2020–2023 X167 years, however, carried a long recall list: two fuel-pump shutdown campaigns, a 48V ground connection that could overheat (fire risk), transmission-software stalling, airbags and the sunroof. The refreshed 2024 shares most of that architecture and has TSBs for MBUX and the air suspension. That is typical activity for the class, with no systemic defect shown for 2024 itself.

The volume GLS 450 4MATIC uses the M256 3.0L turbo inline-6 with a 48V ISG mild-hybrid system. The engine has been in wide service since 2018 with a solid record, and the 9G-Tronic automatic is well proven. The 48V system's recall history, plus the 2020–2023 fuel-pump and TCU-stall campaigns, keep this out of the top band, and the 2024 refresh's revisions to that system are not yet proven.

As Mercedes' flagship SUV, the GLS has some of the richest cabin materials in its class: open-pore wood, metal trim, available Nappa leather and soft-touch surfaces in all three rows. Reviewers rate it alongside the Range Rover and ahead of the Escalade on material quality.

The GLS is built at MBUSI in Tuscaloosa alongside the GLE, and reviewers report tight panel gaps and consistent trim alignment. Scattered owner reports of electronic glitches and minor squeaks in a refresh year keep it below the top of the class.

Mercedes-Benz has one of the densest luxury dealer networks in the US, with roughly 380 dealers and mature service operations. Its J.D. Power service-satisfaction results are competitive within the luxury segment.

Parts are easy to get through the dealer network, but Mercedes repair costs are among the highest in the industry. The air suspension, 48V ISG and MBUX electronics are expensive, and many components are sold only through dealers.

A 12.3-inch central MBUX touchscreen is standard alongside a 12.3-inch driver display. The 2024 facelift brought the latest-generation MBUX.

The new-for-2024 MBUX is quick and graphically rich, but reviewers note a steep learning curve and finicky touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the 2024 GLS 450.

Standard navigation offers augmented-reality guidance, and the natural-language 'Hey Mercedes' assistant controls nav, audio and climate. Cars.com calls the voice commands quirky, so the score sits below the best systems.

A 13-speaker Burmester surround system is standard and the 26-speaker Burmester High-End 3D system is available — strong at both base and premium levels.

A 12.3-inch fully digital driver display is standard, with three selectable layouts new for 2024.

MBUX receives over-the-air infotainment, map and some feature updates, and Mercedes sells post-purchase 'Digital Extras' such as DISTRONIC activation. Whole-vehicle ECU updates on the MRA-based GLS remain more limited than Tesla's or the EQ models'.

The Mercedes me app offers remote start and climate, lock/unlock, locate and geofencing, but advanced services move to a paid subscription after the included trial.

Wireless charging is standard and there are USB-C ports throughout the cabin, with USB ports on the optional captain's chairs. There is no household AC outlet.

Proximity keyless entry, push-button start, a hands-free power liftgate and app remote start are standard. The fingerprint sensor only became standard on every trim for 2025, so the 2024 car has slightly less.

A 360-degree camera is standard alongside parking sensors, and the new-for-2024 'transparent hood' off-road view uses those cameras. Active Parking Assist is available.

A large full-color head-up display is available, but as an option or package item rather than standard on the roughly $88K volume trim.

Large rear doors, 41.9 in of second-row legroom (room for rear-facing seats), power-folding second and third rows and a hands-free liftgate make family logistics easy. The 17.4 cu ft behind the third row is tight for strollers with all seats up.

Active Brake Assist, blind-spot warning and a 360 camera are standard, but adaptive cruise and cross-traffic alert cost extra, and the GLS has no IIHS award or full NHTSA rating to anchor its crash credentials.

Standard air suspension, generous second-row space, an adult-usable third row and available five-zone climate make the GLS an excellent multi-hour family hauler. Luggage space behind the third row is modest at 17.4 cu ft.

The smooth mild-hybrid I6, nine-speed automatic, air suspension and light steering make routine driving relaxed. The 205-inch body and finicky touch controls add some fatigue in dense traffic.

At 19/24 MPG on premium fuel in a ~5,500-lb SUV, plus costly tires and dealer service, the GLS is an expensive commuter, even if about average for full-size luxury gas SUVs.

With a 123.4-in wheelbase, a full-size footprint and a ~41 ft turning circle, the GLS is a handful in tight urban spaces. The standard 360 camera and light steering make it manageable.

It tows 7,700 lb when equipped with the hitch, strong for a unibody luxury SUV, and the 369 lb-ft I6 copes well. Payload is modest and there is no bed — this is a family hauler that tows, not a work tool.

A passenger-car powertrain, air suspension and luxury trim are not built for jobsite abuse. Mercedes' middling dependability record and costly out-of-warranty repairs further limit its suitability for hard use.

It has roof rails, an optional hitch and cargo tie-downs, but no 120V outlet, no washable surfaces and no upfit ecosystem.

A superb highway cruiser: plush air suspension, a whisper-quiet cabin, massage seats available and ~24 MPG highway for 500+ miles of range. Adaptive cruise costs extra on a vehicle this expensive.

Standard 4MATIC, adjustable-height air suspension, the new-for-2024 transparent-hood off-road camera view and a 7,700-lb tow rating make the GLS fine on gravel and with toys. Large wheels and luxury tires limit rough-terrain use.

It offers 84.7 cu ft maximum, power-folding rows that drop flat at a button press, a hands-free liftgate, roof rails and an optional hitch. It trails body-on-frame rivals in outright volume.

Body roll stays in check on curvy roads, and Sport mode firms the air suspension. The handling is secure and composed for a three-row full-size SUV, but the mass and comfort tuning keep it below sportier rivals such as the X7.

The steering is light and precise but short on feedback — a typical Mercedes calibration that favors effortless placement.

Reviews of the X167 GLS describe an easily modulated pedal even when fully loaded. No 2024-specific instrumented braking data was found, so the score is anchored on the current-generation reputation.

The turbo 3.0L inline-six with 48V mild-hybrid assist pairs with a smooth nine-speed automatic; the integrated starter-generator masks stop/start and fills low-rpm torque.

The inherently balanced inline-six is nearly inaudible at cruise and makes a pleasant, distant note under load.

The long 123.4-in wheelbase yields a wide turning diameter near the bottom of the SUV band.

The commanding view, wide power seat and wheel adjustment, and air-suspension-assisted entry are excellent. Finicky touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls and touch-heavy MBUX detract.

It is pleasant and brisk with a willing six, but the GLS is a comfort-first cruiser — competent rather than engaging.

The facelifted 2024 GLS 450 brings a 375-hp mild-hybrid turbo-six, 4MATIC, AIRMATIC air suspension, dual 12.3-inch screens running the latest MBUX, a panoramic roof and standard active safety. That is competitive for the class, but Burmester 3D audio, the full Driver Assistance Package, massaging seats and rear entertainment remain paid options.

S-Class-grade refinement and an adult-usable third row justify part of the premium. But at about $88k to start and $113k for the 580, the GLS is priced level with or above the BMW X7 and well above the Infiniti QX80, while the Escalade bundles more space and equipment at similar money. Fair value, not a bargain.

The lineup is unusually wide for the segment, with a turbo-six GLS 450, V8 GLS 580, AMG GLS 63 and Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, spanning about $88k to $175k. Deep option and MANUFAKTUR personalization lists back it up.

The GLS is an established seller in the full-size luxury three-row class, behind the Escalade on volume and roughly level with the BMW X7. Volume came off its 2023 peak in 2024, the facelift year.

Positioned as 'the S-Class of SUVs' and backed by the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 halo, the GLS sits near the top of the brand's hierarchy. Mercedes-Benz remains one of the strongest luxury automotive brands, though steep depreciation shows the image does not fully carry into resale.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services regularly ran lease support and loyalty/conquest cash on the GLS 450/580. Launch-year facelift units transacted closer to sticker early on, and AMG and Maybach variants stayed near MSRP.

The X167 generation launched for model year 2020, and 2024 is its mid-cycle facelift year, with new fascias and lighting, updated MBUX and a revised mild-hybrid powertrain. That makes it current, if not cutting-edge, with no imminent replacement.

Reviewers consistently praise the GLS for cabin quality, ride comfort, an adult-usable third row and the smooth mild-hybrid six, and US News ranks it near the top of Luxury Large SUVs. It rarely wins comparison tests outright: the X7 is usually the driver's pick and the Escalade wins on presence. It has no 10Best or NACTOY award.