The battle for the crown in the luxury SUV space just got a lot more intense. In a segment where the likes of Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lexus LX, and Lincoln Navigator compete for attention and admiration, the Germans just can’t be ignored either. So while Audi tasks its Q8 to lead a frontal assault, the rivalry is often at its most ferocious between the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. It’s tough to pick one over another, tougher still to label one as better than the other. But in its latest version due this fall, the flagship SUV bearing the three-pointed star may well come out all guns blazing.
The luxury car market in the United States (US) is booming. Currently valued at around $110 billion, the segment, which sees vehicles priced between $100,000 and $170,000, is expected to touch $215 billion by 2035, according to Boston Consulting Group. And each SUV, or each flagship SUV more specifically, has a humongous role to play in getting a large chunk of that pie for its respective brand. The margins are high. The stakes are higher. And the level of competition? Highest ever. So how is Mercedes promising to make its three-row SUV better than the best?
The Rise Of The Planet Of Flagship SUVs
The desire for top-end vehicles (TEVs) and the demand for SUV body types have combined to give luxury SUVs a solid edge in the global car market. In the US market specifically, luxury SUV sales have been steadily climbing due to a mix of economic, cultural, and technological factors. And this is true for both new and pre-owned models. A spurt in High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) in the country, coupled with increasing suburbanization — which offers more space — and active lifestyles, has helped make flagship luxury SUVs a practically opulent choice without losing the all-important ‘status symbol’ factor that was previously reserved for regal sedans.
Mercedes-Benz has been quick to acknowledge this trend and has reported an upward trajectory in sales of its TEVs in 2024 as well as 2025. While the company does not provide a model-wise breakup of its sales, it is quite well known that the GLS has always formed an integral part of the company’s TEV portfolio. And from what has already been revealed about the 2027 GLS, Mercedes is taking the fight straight to the BMW camp and beyond.
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Get Set For GLS, The First-Class Alternative To Flying
First launched in the American market as the GL-Class way back in 2006, the model was rechristened as the GLS ten years later. Manufactured for the US market at the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa since 2019, the GLS is everything that the S-Class sedan is. And then some more. Got to go beyond regular roads? No problem.
While the GLS has always sought to marry sheer automotive luxury with superb drive capabilities, the updates for the 2027 model may be the most significant yet. A major midcycle update, the changes come broadly in the form of improved cabin tech, enhanced power, and more features part of the standard package. Visually, there isn’t a massive departure from how the GLS looks at present, but the overall oomph factor does go up.
The Superscreen — three 12.3-inch displays — for instance, is now standard across all trims of the GLS. The infotainment system has been updated, and the app list now includes YouTube, Disney+, and Microsoft Teams. There are also a bunch of gaming apps. The new MB.OS allows for over-the-air updates and Microsoft-powered AI. The optional 11.6-inch screens for middle-row passengers also get integrated MB.OS access.
In terms of fit and finish, the latest GLS gets an updated seat upholstery design with moccasin stitching for that extra bit of luxury feel, while the massage functionalities have been refreshed to take you even closer to the illusion of being in an actual spa. There are additional upholstery colors to choose from, as well as two new trim finishes — Natural Grain Dark Brown Birch Wood and Natural Grain Brown Walnut Wood.
What also promises to be impressive is the AIRMATIC air suspension, which now comes with intelligent damping. The cloud-based damper allows for appropriate damping even before a bumper is actually encountered. There is also an optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL on the GLS 580, which assesses the driving condition 1,000 times each second to suitably adapt the suspension setup. This is made possible by five multi-core processors and 20 sensors.
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Supercar-Like Performance In Seven-Seat Configuration
The M177 Evo 4.0-liter V-8 motor under the hood of the GLS 580 is an updated version. It now gets a flat-plane crankshaft instead of the cross-plane design. And performance figures have gone up with the motor producing 530 horsepower and offering 553 pound-feet of torque. This is an increase of 20 horsepower and 15 pound-feet over the current GLS 580 figures.
2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS Key Specs
|
Engine |
3.0-liter inline-six / 4.0-liter V8 |
|
Power |
375 hp / 530 hp |
|
Torque |
413 lb-ft / 553 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
9-speed automatic |
|
0-60 mph |
5.4 seconds / 4.6 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
130 mph (limited) |
But beyond just numbers, this is a significant move as the flat-plane setup allows for a performance-oriented layout usually found in Ferrari and McLaren models. Out on open stretches, expect peak torque to be available at anywhere between 2,500 RPM and 4,500 RPM, giving the otherwise huge SUV some very serious urgency.
As for the GLS450, it retains its 3.0-liter inline-six with 375 horsepower but now offers an increased torque of 413 pound-feet. The 48-volt hybrid system, all-wheel drive, and nine-speed automatic transmission remain as is on both GLS580 and GLS450. Mercedes also claims the latest GLS will be more agile for the person behind the steering, courtesy of a number of engineering changes and enhancements to the ignition system, exhaust gas after treatment, and cylinder head intake, among others. Is this a claim directed to challenge the BMW X7‘s assertion of being a driver’s car? Time will tell.
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Standing Star Makes A Comeback
As already mentioned, the 2027 GLS design is not a significant departure from the well-liked visual language currently seen on the model. And yet, there are a few updates that will set it apart once the model does officially launch on American shores. For instance, the front bumper has been reworked and now has a black panel connecting the radiator grille and the headlight units. The lights at the front and at the back showcase the Mercedes-Benz star design now. Most significant, perhaps, is the standing Mercedes star on the hood that seeks to pay tribute to the S-Class, and there is also an optional illuminated star that potential customers can choose.
Lighting sure does play a big role in giving a luxury vehicle a generous dose of visual character, but the setup is more about practicality and safety than anything else. As such, Mercedes-Benz asserts that the new-generation Digital Light system on the 2027 GLS makes use of an array of chips and micro-LED technology to increase brightness, improve lighting area, and improve efficiency by consuming 50 percent less energy than the setup on the existing model.
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Big Is Better. Big Is Beautiful. And Now, Big is Outright Brazen
The 2027 GLS is the most significant mid-cycle update that the SUV has ever received. It is obviously big in terms of proportions. It is beautiful to look at from both the outside and inside the cabin. But it is now more brazen than ever before. Brazen in terms of performance, brazen in terms of luxury features, and brazen in terms of the sheer number of tech additions it gets.
2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS Pricing (Starting MSRP)
|
GLS450 |
$90,250 |
|
GLS580 |
$116,150 |
|
AMG GLS63 |
$151,050 |
In a segment where the discerning luxury car buyer is unwilling to compromise anywhere, flagship SUVs often sculpt the brand image and spell out the company’s vision. The BMW X7 may be an extremely popular model and has the near-perfect balance between a confident drive and a well-equipped cabin. But the 2027 GLS is ready and raring to excite Mercedes fans as well as those who swear by the BMW badge. Buckle up because it will surely be a superb contest to watch out for.
Source: Mercedes-Benz, BGC.