2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450 4MATIC Test: Twin-Turbo V-6 Replaces V-8

INSTRUMENTED EVALUATION
A funny thing is occurring with all the extinct woolly mammoth: Russian scientists want to clone one, using DNA extracted from a corpse. Likewise, full size luxury SUVs may escape the boneyard formerly believed to be their destiny thanks to the intelligent use of science.

We called it a buffalo when one ran through our 40,000-mile long term-evaluation regimen, noting that the group , endangered species-like a steady fall. But sales have rallied powerfully as of late; the GL class is up 33 percent year-over-year throughout the last three months.

Beneath the hood, where our 2013 long-termer placed a huge, 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8, there is now a diminutive 3.0-liter V6. Additionally force fed with some of turbos, it makes an identical 362 hp. It creates only 369 lb-feet of torque where 406 was made by its forerunner, or 10 percent more.

Most Most of the Time, of the Operation
In ordinary driving, the transplant functions just fine, capable of a zero-to-60-mph dashboard of 5.9 seconds, which is indistinguishable to our long term truck's initial run and an unimportant 0.1-second behind the first GL450 we examined in 2013. The newest variant weighs not 254 pounds more than did our choice-load 111 and buffalo less than the first 2013 truck. The mass decrease cancels the V6's torque shortage at start, though autobahn-runners tend to be prone to find the cylinders that are missing . Passing times--acceleration from 30-50 miles per hour and 50-70 miles per hour--are also more, by 0.2 and 0.4 second, although they are still damned fast.

In other regards, the GL450 that is newest is the same old GL450. At 179 feet, the braking distance from 70 mph to your stop is indistinguishable to both preceding evaluations; it is good enough but not owed. We noticed that little retardation is offered by the brake pedal in the initial part of its own journey. Stomping in the test track, this was not an issue, but doing so resulted in a dampening pedal and minimal fade.

The intrusively competitive equilibrium management closes everything down in normal traffic maneuvers, also it inhibited cornering in our preceding evaluations to the 0.73-to-0.77-grams range. The steering stays light and obscure around centre, improving just marginally when the Sport setting is selected by the driver using a games console button. And while the $3700 alternative bundle of the Active Curve system as well as Adaptive Damping keep the ride comfortable and degree, this Mercedes isn't the German SUV aimed at enthusiastic motorists. For that, store the Audi Q7 or the Porsche Cayenne, each of which are smaller. For relaxation and space, the GL class surpasses or equals the Lincoln Navigator as well as the Cadillac Escalade.

As you'd expect, swapping in a V6 to get a V8 empowers the GL to post EPA amounts that are better, enabling without impacting its corporate average fuel economy just as much as it might have Mercedes to sell more of these large trucks. The 2013 version was EPA-rated at 14/19 mpg city / The 2015 version increases 2 and 3 mpg in those metrics, while the combined evaluation soars from 16 to 19 mpg. Right, no gain? Not quick--in a similar short run evaluation of an 2013 GL450, we got just 14 mpg. So perhaps the 2015 variation is in fact several mpg better. Regardless, like we do, using all of the power sometimes, in the event you drive, you will never see the EPA estimate.

Not that buyers in this section attention. The power-mad can get a V8 in the GL550 or the stampeding rogue pachyderm GL63 AMG, and because Mercedes has engineered this volume version to avoid regulatory exterminators the ones two continue to exist. The frugal-minded, if this word could be applied to anyone choosing to pay more than $60,000 (generally considerably more, as we shall find) for transport, can still get the GL350 Bluetec with its turbodiesel V6 and EPA evaluations of 19/26 city/highway and 22 mpg united.

Mercedes sells a bit more than 2000 GL class SUVs in an average month, less than one tenth of the quantities of Honda because of its small CR-V. Yet it is worth the attempt to make sure it stays living mainly because of the gross profits on the options as well as the costs these things order. The GL450 begins at $66,125, but we readily shoved long-termer's cost into the This 2015 example came just short of this, the decal inflated by the $4410 Premium bundle, including material like closeness entrance and start, warmed and cooled front cup holders, auto-dimming and power-folding outside mirrors, COMAND with navigation, as well as other telematics characteristics. The aforementioned Active Curve program adds $ 3700 there is $2800 with Distronic cruise control for the Motorist Support bundle, blind spot assistance, and lane-keeping technologies. (Is it just grey-bearded curmudgeonly boomers who recall when Mercedes Benz's reputation for safety engineering rested in gear that came normal because every customer's life was equally valued?) That is a strong motivator to help keep the mammoths around, even for those who must splice in a few elephant DNA.

20.03.2015
ID:1592

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