Selwyn Times: October 25, 2016

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SELWYN TIMES Tuesday October 25 2016 35
Driven
Luxury, practicality in big Mercedes SUV
• By Ross Kiddie
PROJECTIONS for New
Zealand’s new car sales
in 2016 and 2017 are mindboggling.
Some analysts are suggesting
that around 140,000 new cars
will be sold here this year, with
up to 150,000 next year.
That’s on the back of a constant
increase in sales since the
global financial crisis ended.
Putting that into context, in
2008 new car sales here peaked
at just 73,400 units.
The manufacturers are generally
happy with the new trend,
and all agree it is the popularity
of the sport utility market which
is driving up demand.
There’s a host of SUVs in our
market, and they cater for all
manner of budgets. If you have
a bit of extra cash to spend and
need a seven-seater, Mercedes-
Benz has the GLS series which
starts at $139,000 and ends
$100,000 above that. In between
there are two other variants listing
at $160,000 and $198,000.
Each variant is determined
by engine size and type. The
test car was the entry-level
variant, and it gets a 3-litre,
turbocharged V6 diesel; for an
extra $21,000 you can get the
same vehicle with a host of extra
AMG bits and increased safety
MERCEDES-BENZ GLS: Caters for seven occupants in comfort.
specification, a 4.7-litre petrol
variant sits above that, while the
range tops out with a 5.5-litre
V8 with full AMG kit.
Even in standard form the
GLS is a pretty smart piece of
machinery, all variants have the
Mercedes-Benz 4Matic fourwheel-drive
system, and have an
in-cabin structure which easily
caters for seven occupants in
comfort.
The GLS is a large SUV, it
stretches nearly 5m and feels
big to drive, I’m not saying it is
awkward, but you sit tall off the
road and it does test the innercity
metered car park. But, saying
that, it does have all of the
park assist features and cameras
which make that mission a lot
easier than it sounds.
And the GLS feels spritely. I
find it amazing how so much
power can be gleaned from
European engines, yet at the
same time they don’t tax our fossil
fuel reserves. The important
figures go something like this
– 190kW and 620Nm of torque
while fuel usage is rated at just
7.6l/100km (37mpg).
With the high torque figure,
and the low area in which it is
developed (1600rpm-2400rpm),
the GLS is quick under acceleration,
it will launch to 100km/h
from a standstill in 7.8sec and
will make a 4.1sec 80km/h to
120km/h highway overtake.
On the subject of fuel usage,
the trip computer was constantly
listing around 9l/100km
(31mpg) during testing time
with 7l/100km (40mpg) available
instantaneously at 100km/h, the
rev counter pointing to a very
lazy 1500rpm.
Not that the engine is lazy, it
works freely and disguises well
the traditional diesel throb.
Power is transferred through a
nine-speed conventional automatic
gearbox, and with the constant
supply of ratios the engine
is kept well within its preferred
power bands. Response to throttle
request is instant and fluid,
there is little gear change detection,
and the engine drive process
is well organised.
Considering the big GLS
weighs in excess of two-tonne,
all of these factors are even more
remarkable. There are also several
drive modes that the driver
can dial in to sustain varying
conditions.
Most are to glean grip on
unsealed surfaces and undulating
terrain, but there’s also
a sport mode for when tight
sealed road challenges are presented.
I took the test car on an
inland route though to Loburn,
and while some of the corners
were a handling test the GLS
responded with much dignity.
I used the sport suspension
settings which were fit for the
purpose, body balance is well
• Price – Mercedes-Benz
GLS 350d, $139,000
• Dimensions – Length,
5130mm; width, 1934mm;
height, 1850mm
• Configuration – V6, fourwheel-drive,
2987cc,
190kW, 620Nm, nine-speed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 7.8sec
• Fuel usage – 7.6l/100km
contained, and the steering
is strongly loaded for turn-in
feedback. The GLS in this form
is fitted with 20in wheels and
tyres which are factored for
on and off-road surfaces. Even
considering the higher grade
models have wheels 21in and
22in respectively, the GLS in
standard form isn’t undertyred,
it feels secure on the road, grip
and stability are well engineered
into the vehicle.
Given its heritage, it’s not surprising
the GLS is a premium
vehicle, it is beautifully built and
exudes comfort. It can also be
optioned to suit buyers’ preference
in terms of family needs
and demands, the option list is
extensive so that all who travel
in the vehicle can do so in style,
and in a fashion where it is far
from a hardship.
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