• Room for seven adults
• Huge boot
• All seats move electrically

How much space is there?

The GLS takes up an awful lot of space on the road, but it does means there’s loads of room inside. AMG and Benz models get seven seats as standard, all of which are controlled electrically. Although this is just to pop the third row out of the floor, rows one and two have the usual adjustments you’d expect and many you wouldn’t.

Up front there are no complaints, with tonnes of head and legroom and plenty of space around you. The second row gives you plenty enough head and legroom to properly lounge out in five seat mode Glide the middle bench forwards slightly and it’s possible to get a pair of adults comfortably in the back. This is helped by the tall body and high roofline that stretches the length of the car.

Our only gripe is that the rear infotainment package is just the right height to be touching an Isofix child seat when rear facing in row two. In five seat mode it’s not too big an issue, although we did have to wind the front passenger seat forwards a bit. In seven seat mode, those in front of and behind the seat will have to compromise legroom.

Maybach models are configured differently: there’s no third row of seats as the focus is on making those chauffered in the back even more comfortable. Those seats are set further back than in seven-passenger GLSes and can be reclined further, too. Maybach First Class models have just two very luxurious seats in the back, as the name suggests, that aren’t far removed from the priciest positions in aircraft.

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Boot space and storage

If you need lots of storage, you’re also in luck; the rearmost seats fold flat into the floor, and the seats in the second row fold flat, unlocking a whopping 2,400 litres of storage space – enough to rival some vans. You won’t have to faff to get the seats down, either, as all are electrically adjustable and fold away at the press of a button from the boot of the car. You can also lower the air suspension to make it a little more accessible.

With the third row in place, boot space measures at 355 litres; but folded, a vast 890 litres of space is available. That’s more than either a Range Rover or BMW X7. There’s a generous amount of extra storage space throughout the car too, with big door bins, a large central storage bin beneath the armrest and no less than three USB ports to keep your devices charged.

Not that you’ll want to be doing a tip run in a Maybach GLS, but it’s worth noting that it’s not as practical as its seven-seater siblings. Boot capacity is limited to a still-generous 520 litres, but the rear seats don’t fold over, so there’s no expanding the space for carrying longer loads. 

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Is it easy to park?

There’s no escaping just how big this Mercedes is, though. It doesn’t have a four-wheel steer system like rivals so the turning circle is large. At least the steering is light at parking speeds and quick enough to not require lots of twirling. Its sheer size also means finding somewhere in a tight car park is tricky. You might get it in the space, but opening the long doors can prove more difficult.

The sidewalls are generous even with 23-inch wheels, but even so you fear for your alloys when navigating a drive through. It’s not just its width, of course – don’t be surprised if at least a quarter of your GLS juts out beyond the painted lines of smaller parking bays.

Usefully, all models get a 360 degree camera system and all-round parking sensors as well, so you get a wide range of audible and visual information about what’s round you. Just be aware that if you’re moving to one of these from al Volvo XC90 or Land Rover Discovery you will need to acclimatise yourself with its size rather quickly.

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Safety

• Strong safety credentials in the GLS
• Four Isofix child seat anchors (not Maybach models)
• Plus standard-fit driver assistance pack

Mercedes’ GLS comes with an array of safety equipment, as you’d expect, even in the entry-level GLS 450 d AMG Line Premium Plus specification. Standard features include a Driving Assistance package, parking assistance with a 360-degree camera, an enormous head-up display system and Trailer Manoeuvring Assist.

The Driving Assistance package comprises of:

• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Exit warning function
• Active Braking Assist
• Cornering and Cross-Traffic function
• Congestion emergency braking function
• Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
• Active Speed Limit Assist
• Extended restart function on motorways
• Route-Based Speed Adjustment with end of tailback function
• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Active Steering Assist
• Active Lane Changing Assist
• Active Emergency Stop Assist with SOS function
• Emergency lane function
• Evasive Steering Assist
• Pedestrian warning function near pedestrian crossings
• Pre-Safe Plus
• Traffic Sign Assist
• Active Stop-and-Go Assist
• PRE-SAFE impulse side – moves occupants away from doors just before an imminent side impact.

Euro NCAP is unlikely to put a GLS through its crash-testing programme, but given the related, smaller Mercedes-Benz GLE scored a full five stars, it’s difficult to imagine this wouldn’t achieve the same result.