2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC
My last long-term
vehicle was the Volkswagen Passat TDI, Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year. To
continue the best of the best theme, I begrudgingly pried myself out of the
frugal and efficient Passat and stepped up, figuratively and literally, into
our new gigantic and luxurious Sport/Utility of the Year, the 2013
Mercedes-Benz GL350. Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room. Our
diesel-powered GL bases at $63,305,
but was delivered carrying an as tested price of $88,615. Before you light the torches and sharpen your pitchforks, you might want to consider that's only $1000 more than a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum. It's also 2 grand cheaper than a fully loaded Lexus LX. It's hard to call a nearly $90,000 SUV a value, but if you're getting a better-equipped, superior vehicle and you save a few bucks, why not?
As you would expect
from the price, our GL is brimming with amenities. The front seats are heated,
ventilated, and equipped with massagers. The second row has its own rear seat
entertainment system and power folding seats to make the third row easy to
access. On the driving front, our family truckster is equipped with air
suspension, adjustable damping, and active anti-roll bars. Although these sound
like the sorts of things that are more useful on a sports car, a three-row SUV
will constantly be seeing a variation between one and seven passengers, and on-
and off-road travel,
making it the ideal candidate for adjustable suspension. Since this is one of the largest vehicles we've ever had in our long-term fleet, we're thrilled it's equipped with the Parking Assist Package.
_____________________________
At just
$1290, this option is impossible to pass up. Mercedes' Surround View is
currently the best system on the market, and of all the luxuries on the SUV,
this one might get the most use. With a 1-year-old, a full date book of family
visits, and some vacations of our own, we plan on a busy 12 months for our SUV
of the Year. The gargantuan size may take some adjustment, but I have a feeling
the opulence will make things a bit easier.
|
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC
|
|
|
BASE PRICE
|
$63,305
|
|
PRICE AS TESTED
|
$88,615
|
|
DRIVETRAIN
|
Front engine, AWD, 7-pass, 4-door SUV
|
|
ENGINE
|
3.0L/240-hp/455-lb-ft turbodiesel
DOHC 24-valve V-6
|
|
TRANSMISSION
|
7-speed automatic
|
|
CURB WEIGHT (DIST F/R)
|
5777 lb (50/50%)
|
|
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT
|
201.6 x 78.0 x 72.8
|
|
0-60 MPH
|
7.6 sec
|
|
QUARTER MILE
|
15.9 sec @ 84.8 mph
|
|
EPA CITY/HWY /COMB FUEL ECON
|
19/26/22 mpg
|
|
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY
|
201/147 kW-hrs/100 miles
|
|
CO2 EMISSIONS
|
1.03 lb/mile
|
|
LATERAL ACCELERATION
|
0.78 g (avg)
|
|
MT FIGURE EIGHT
|
28.3 sec @ 0.59 g (avg.)
|
