In-depth reviews

Mercedes GLS review - Reliability and safety

A brilliant safety rating is all but guaranteed, but Mercedes ownership prospects are below average

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Reliability and Safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£108,200 to £181,850
Find your Mercedes GLS
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Mercedes GLS but it has tested the closely related GLE; given that the pair share so much mechanically, it’s reasonable to speculate that the two will perform similarly.

And that’s a good thing: the GLE achieved the maximum five star rating when it was assessed in 2019. It achieved a 91% score in the adult occupant protection category; a rating that puts the Merc two percent ahead of the BMW X5 (a car which shares much with the X7). A child occupant protection score of 90% is excellent; indeed the only car to achieve a higher score in 2019 was Mercedes’s own CLA (it scored 91%). The GLE scored 78% in both the vulnerable road users and safety assist categories.

AMG Line Premium Plus and AMG Line Premium Plus Executive models come as standard with what Mercedes calls the Driving Assistance Package Plus. This includes a host of advanced safety tech, including extra sensors to allow for part-autonomous driving functions for motorway driving. It also adds “PRE-SAFE Impulse Side”, which, using the wide range of external sensors, helps to mitigate damage in side impacts caused by other vehicles by using active seat elements to position the occupants in a manner that reduces the risk of injury.

Meanwhile, smaller bumps can be avoided thanks to the standard 360-degree parking camera and the optional automatic parking function.

Mercedes finished 28th out of 30 manufacturers in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with running costs and overall reliability being key points of concern.

Warranty

Mercedes offers a three year, unlimited mileage warranty with each of its cars. Some manufacturers offer longer warranties now, but this cover is a match for what BMW offers and superior to Audi’s, which is limited to 60,000 miles. It’s also possible to pay extra for an extended warranty.

Servicing

Servicing at a franchised Mercedes dealer can come at a cost. However, it can be made more manageable by the brand’s ServiceCare package: this encompasses two services in two years, three services in three years or four in four years, all for a fixed monthly fee. Service intervals are set at every 15,500 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    GLS 400d 4Matic AMG Line Premium 5dr 9G-Tronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £76,775

Most Economical

  • Name
    GLS 400d 4Matic AMG Line Prem + Exec 5dr 9G-Tronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £93,275

Fastest

  • Name
    Maybach GLS 600 4Matic 5dr 9G-Tronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £167,540

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023