2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450
April 2006 | - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER



Until now, Mercedes-Benz's lineup included a couple of SUVs and the new R-class crossover, but none of its vehicles accommodated seven passengers-a shortcoming that clearly interfered with the automaker's plan to compete in practically every market niche. (We should see the tri-pointed star on a unicycle soon.)

Enter the three-row GL450. Not surprisingly, it drives almost identically to the M-class on which it is primarily based. The steering is light and smooth; no thumps or crashes mar the ride; and the quiet, comfortable, well-appointed cabin seals out road noise. Air springs are optional on the M-class, but here they're standard equipment, and they help keep body roll to a minimum. Under hard acceleration or braking, however, the GL pitches forward and back like a headbanging teenager. It doesn't help that the brakes take a good jab before they engage.

Very little of the 4.6-liter V-8's rumblings make their way inside this unibody SUV. An estimated 0-to-60-mph time of 7.4 seconds demonstrates the 5249-pound truck's get-up-and-go, but, nevertheless, the GL feels slow-and it certainly won't get any livelier when you ask it to pull 7500 pounds, its maximum tow rating. However, a more powerful variant, the GL550, will be released in about a year if the GL450 sells well. Wisely, Mercedes plans no AMG version.

The GL is a worthy entry in its segment, but it has none of the charisma of the Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes-Benz's own G-class, which it was supposed to supplant. In fact, Mercedes is hedging its bets by keeping the ancient, preternaturally cool Gelandewagen in its lineup for at least four more years. The GL is certainly a comfortable and capable SUV, but there are plenty of those. There's only one G-wagen, though.

The Cadillac Escalade has charisma?

Sure, the GL's no G-wagen but as far as luxury SUV's go it's definitely one of my favourites, and quite possibly the one I'd buy if I was in the market.

Yes it has. It's very ugly, drives like a boat on wheels and burns 10 lt of fuel every 10 km. If that's not a charisma then i don't know what charisma is.

Charisma ! -- No Mercedes has had much charisma for many years -- actually on the whole, very few modern vehicles have much charisma at all IMO -- the last Mercedes with the most charisma was easily the W100.

"Charisma" and Cadillac Escalade definitely does not belong on the same sentence.

What's so charismatic about a gussied-up Chevrolet Tahoe that looks like a pimped-up hearse and is generally driven by tossers?

Does that makes the Cimarron charismatic as well? As far as the entire world knows, the Cimarron was about as charismatic as Eleanor Roosevelt wearing a bikini. It was an epic failure. A total joke of a car that made Cadillac look ridiculous, for trying to cheat young yuppies with a gussied-up economy car.

Or maybe the Catera which was based on (insert sarcastic tone) the most charismatic Opel ever, the Omega. The Catera turned out to be another monumental flop from GM. The Omega wasn't a luxury car and neither was rival for the BMW 3-series.

GM only has one "charismatic" car. The Corvette - Period!

Charisma - ooo, decidely subjective definition of anything automotive. It's so difficult to quantify what constitutes charisma. In the eyes of the aesthetically besotted king of form and design on this forum, Roberto (this said with utmost respect and endearment), the visual appeal stimuli are triggered quite differently compared with the rest of our members.

In my mind, it's not just the form that exudes charisma, it's also how an automobile delivers on its promise. Some cars are unashamedly performance-oriented and exude heaps of charisma without containing an iota of classic styling appeal. These are cars like the magnificent Skyline GT-R 34 or the fabulous Impreza P1.

A Mini Cooper S in two tone white and contrasting paint colour with stripes on the bonnet; that's a whole load of charisma concentrated in one little automobile. Sure, it hasn't got the classic form or ingenious design appeal of the original but it makes up for such shortcomings in other areas such as driver appeal and feel-good factor.

On the other end of the scale, a Carrera GT is another prime example; mediocre looks, oodles of charisma.

As for older cars, a BMW 635csi has charisma, if not as much as a 450 SLC convertible. A Lambo Miura despite some daft looking headlights is smothered in Italian charisma in a way that a Morth just isn't.

What about a Zonda, heck that car's got so much charisma that it's a wonder that we don't have Pagani Zonda eau de toilette or Horatio designer eyewear.

And then of course, one can throw the proverbial and contradictory spanner and ask: "have I mistaken character for charisma"? Or are they one and the same thing?

...oh by the way, as for that Escalade, it's got charisma in about the same way that Mr. T had charisma back in the 80's.

I ain't goin' in no plane sucka foool.

If we had Zonda eau de toilette then Artist would had ordered it in mass quantities and would take his bath in it.

LOL, do you really think so Martin? .........I know sometimes my tastes can be a little eccentric ...but generally I think I'm pretty mainstream ......you are correct though, I do put perhaps too much emphasis on the "visual appeal"

I would entirely agree with this Martin, however, it is still of enormous importance to me personally that I love the way a car looks and feels (it's tactility) -- if I am to be emotionally engaged with any car, it also must stimulate my aesthetic sensibilities.

Well I ceretainly agree with you here that all of these have charisma.


BTW, thanks for the "besotted king" comment ...but I certainly would not claim that title alone -- there are several members here who have a very keen sense of aesthetics and a very good eye for design and beauty.

The GL is nothing more than a big ML. The cabin dimensions are identical to the ML. leg room, shoulder room, etc.

I took the tape measure to both yesterday. from the font door to the rear door along the crease they are exactly the same. Window to window, the same. From center stack to rear seat, the same.

On that note I am surprised at how little room the escalade has considering the girth. The rear seat room in the escalade/yukon/suburban stinks. the expedition/navigator is far superior. I have one of each on the lot now.

The G class is an appealing design .....but it is certainly not entirely suitable for what most current buyers are using it for ......I would guess at least 70% of new G class's never leave the city - OK that statistic means nothing because I made it up ...but the point is, sadly, the G class has become a vanity object.

Can you honestly tell me that Nicole Richie, Britney Spears, or Brad Pitt, would ever drive their G's off-road .....of course not.

The G class was never supposed to be what it has become ......don't get me wrong, I think it's a fantastic vehicle ....and I know many of you share my affection for it ....but there is a major difference here: without wanting to be conceited about it, we are genuine car enthusiasts ....we don't check with our "publicists" first to make sure what we are about to buy is on the Hot rather than the Not list.

The G class is totally Hot right now, but happily that will pass ...and when the gliterati have all sold there G's and moved on to the next "latest thing" ...we will still be obsessed with it.