2025 Mercedes-Benz GL450

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS is the German automaker’s largest SUV and one of the best three-row SUVs on sale. It received a significant styling update in 2024, so we expect the GLS to return for 2025 relatively unchanged. It’s a great choice for families thanks to its ample cargo space and roomy interior. If you fold down the third row, you’ll get access to an immense rear cargo area. The GLS is a great pick thanks to its stellar comfort and impressive technology, performance and build quality. Mercedes-Benz offers one of the best infotainment systems in the business. The touchscreen is responsive and easy to use, and there are USB-C ports available to charge your devices in all three rows. The advanced driver aids are also impressive. Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and forward collision mitigation are all standard features and work great to help make driving easier and potentially safer. The Mercedes GLS is a large SUV, but if you need something even bigger you could opt for the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator, a pair of truck-based SUVs that are as luxurious as they are capable. Other compelling luxury SUVs include the BMW X7, which is as sporty as it is roomy, and the Land Rover Range Rover, which boasts impressive on- and off-road performance. Read our Expert Rating below for our test team’s full evaluation of the GLS.

The GLS’ interior is excellent from almost every perspective. The driving position is upright and commanding, but you always feel comfortably ensconced in the GLS. There’s plenty of room in all three rows, and 6-foot-plus adults can fit comfortably in the easy-to-access third row. The large windows help all-around visibility and make passengers in the rear feel less claustrophobic. The controls are all well placed and easy to reach, but there’s a lot of them and the small text means you have to take your eyes off the road until you work up the muscle memory. Separating the seat controls between the door and the infotainment system is a bit frustrating too. With the seats down, the GLS’ cargo area offers up to 84.7 cubic feet of cargo area behind the front seats. Space drops to 17.4 cubes with all the rows upright, which isn’t enough to haul luggage for every passenger. Space is decent enough for the class, though the GLS trails the cavernous Navigator, which offers up 103.3 cubic feet behind the front seats. The second and third row seats fold flat and can be dropped with buttons in the hatch. Small-item storage is great, with lots of pockets, bins and cupholders spread throughout the cabin. The GLS 450 is rated to tow 7,700 pounds when properly equipped, which is certainly sufficient for many small and medium-size trailers.