Mercedes-Benz GLS (2013-2019) Review and Prices

The GLS comes with plenty of adjustment for the front seat and steering wheel so you’ll have no problem getting comfy – even if you’re very tall. The driver’s seat even comes with a handy memory feature so you can quickly find your ideal driving position after someone’s fiddled with the settings.

You get lumbar support as standard to help reduce back ache on long journeys and high-spec Designo Line and AMG GLS 63 models come with massage seats with a ventilation function – perfect for keeping your backside cool on hot days.

Space in the second row is almost as generous as is the front. There’s enough leg and headroom for six-foot-tall passengers to stretch out and the seats even come with a heating function. You can’t slide the seats forwards or backwards but you can recline them slightly to make travelling in the back even more relaxing.

The central seat isn’t quite as wide or as soft as the outer two but there’s still more than enough shoulder room to carry three adults side-by-side and loads of space for your middle passenger’s feet.

The middle seats come with an electric folding feature which, combined with the huge rear door openings, makes it easy to jump in the rearmost seats. At the press of a button the headrests and seats flip down and the whole middle row slides forward. You’ll have to flip the middle seats back up manually once your passengers are safely seated in the back, however.

The rearmost seats aren’t quite as comfortable as those in the front two rows and you can’t get them with heating features but there’s significantly more space for two adults than you’ll find in the back of the Audi Q7. The GLS’ huge windows and standard panoramic glass roof make its back seats feel a touch more spacious than in the Audi, too.

The GLS’ cabin might be absolutely massive, but it doesn’t come with any particularly clever cubby holes to keep it looking tidy. Sure, the glovebox is big enough to hold a 1.5-litre bottle and the front door bins are similarly spacious but it’s easy to lose small items in the awkwardly angled storage tray under the dashboard and there’s no wireless charging pad for your phone.

On the plus side, you get a pair of temperature-controlled cupholders in the front – to keep your cappuccino hot and iced frappe chilled – and a folding rear armrest with a second set of cupholders. There’s even a pair of armrests and cupholders for the rearmost seats.

The GLS can carry 295 litres of luggage with all seven seats in place – that’s as much as a small family car can manage and exactly the same as the Audi Q7. It’s just big enough for a baby stroller and a few small soft bags but a set of golf clubs will be a tight squeeze.

Need to carry fewer passengers and more luggage? The third row flips down electrically in a two-way (50:50) split to reveal a flat load area with enough room for 680 litres of luggage. It’s not quite as spacious as the 770-litre Q7 or 909-litre Range Rover but it’s easily big enough for two sets of golf clubs or enough camping gear for a family week away.

If that’s still not enough, don’t worry. The middle row also flips down – electrically, of course – in a two-way split so you can carry some very long luggage and a passenger in the back at once.

With all its rear seats folded down the GLS’ boot capacity grows to a whopping 2,300 litres – that’s easily big enough to carry a few bikes with their wheels attached. There’s 270 litres more space than the Range Rover and a colossal 432 litres more than in the Volvo XC90.

Unfortunately, the middle seats don’t fold completely flat and the ramped floor can make it tricky to push heavy boxes right up behind the front seats. There isn’t any handy underfloor storage – thanks to the standard-fit space-saver spare wheel – but you do get some sturdy tether points and a few shopping hooks to stop your groceries rolling around.