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One of the most intriguing vehicles we have ever tested is the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV. Very few vehicles offer as much as this vehicle does. It is like four vehicles in one. Here are our impressions of how well it accomplishes so many missions.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - What Is It?
The GLS is a three-row SUV. The AMG part of the name refers to Mercedes-Benz’s internal performance “tuning” company. The GLS’s 63 refers to a very special engine the vehicle has. Unlike most SUVs, which pick a role they primarily play from the list of family vehicles, high-performance racetrack vehicles, off-roaders, and utility vehicles, the GLS63 wants to be all four in one.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - What powers It?
The GLS63 has a “hand-crafted” V8 engine displacing four liters with two turbochargers. It produces a whopping 627 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a geared automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and the GLS features multi-mode all-wheel drive.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - How Much Does It Cost?
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV we tested had a cost inclusive of Destination and Delivery, but before dealer added costs of $155,200. This price included about $10K in options like special wheels, heated armrests, and special acoustic insulation.
2024 Mercedes-GLS63 SUV - How Does It Drive?
The GKS63 doesn’t drive in just one way. You can use it in Comfort mode and cruise around town like a boss, picking up your Trader Joe's dinner and maybe the kids at their activities. In this role, it is superb. The GLS63 is a great daily driver. Ours had winter tires, and the weather was snowy and icy every day we had the GLS63. It was unstoppable, and it felt glued to the road.
You can also opt for various racetrack modes. We are not joking. There are things like lap timers and dedicated racetrack settings for the engine and suspension, and Mercedes-AMG seems serious about these things. The drivetrain certainly seems capable of a track day. Our only question is, “why?”
The third way the GLS63 can be used is off-road. We actually took it off-pavement a bit, and it ended well. This vehicle is so big that it does not lend itself to New England-style off-roading. We did employ the downhill assist on a steep, slippery, unpaved trail, and we found it useful. The challenge for this vehicle off-road is tires. They are crazy-low profile, super wide, super tall tires with almost no sidewall. That is not going to end well off-road. So, we limited our adventure time to some snowy unpaved dirt road surfaces.
The last way the GLS63 can be used is as a utility vehicle. It almost seems a shame to use such a lovely luxury vehicle in such a way. Would you use it to haul bulky trash to the transfer station? One puncture could cost thousands in tire repairs.
The GLS is certainly capable of pulling trailers and hauling big things in its cargo area. There is even a cool temporary spare. We didn’t dare do any utility-type activities in this gem. Maybe owners will see it from a different perspective.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - MPG & Carbon Footprint
The GLS63 requires Premium fuel and has a combined EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 16 MPG. The 10-year projected cost of gas for the GLS63 is around $41,000. It earns a 5/10 smog rating and a 3/10 carbon rating from the EPA.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - Infotainment and Interior
Where the GLS63 really stands apart from any other large SUV we have tested is its luxury interior. Everything is finely crafted. The Burmester audio is crisp, clear, and punchy. The infotainment system was easy to operate, high-tech, and also incorporated Android Auto wirelessly and perfectly.
The features were amazing. For example, at night, if you have an item on the passenger seat next to you and you reach for it, the GLS63 illuminates a spotlight in that specific area. When you move your hand back, it goes off. There are many different massage functions for the seats. The armrests on the door and center console are heated.
The GLS63 also had the single best-ever voice-activated controls we have experienced. We were looking for the heated steering wheel and could not find it, so we asked the GLS63 to “turn on the heated steering wheel.” The vehicle replied, “I’m sorry, this vehicle is not equipped with a heated steering wheel.” When we wanted to check our tire pressure as temps dropped below 10F, we asked the GLS63, “What is the tire Pressure?” The vehicle replied along the lines of, “Let me list the tire pressures for you: Front right 44psi, Front left 44psi…,” etc.
The most unusual item was the multi-function steering wheel. We have never seen a wheel that could do so much. In seven days of testing, we played with it every time we were parked and still never learned all of its cool tricks. Our favorite steering wheel button was the one that changed the exhaust from "low grumble" to "Hey neighbors, are you up yet?"
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - Competitors
One vehicle we have tested, which we thought of a lot while in the GLS63, was the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. Both have more power than any large SUV can ever put to use. Both are very comfortable and capable daily drivers. Both have spare tires and a lot of nifty features. An equivalent Durango is priced at around $115,000.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 SUV - Conclusion
If you want one vehicle that can do it all, cruise on over to your Mercedes-AMG dealer today. You will not be disappointed.
John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.
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