The big, bad, GL-Class, arguably the biggest car on sale in India takes the notion of ‘bigger is better’ to a new extreme. With space to lug seven around in comfort, the GL-Class is one of the very few options in the premium segment for those who prefer travelling with their family. Introduced first in India in 2010, the new GL-Class has come back as a more premium looking machine, with more features and a lower price tag. Here, in this New GL350 CDI review, we’ll try and figure how much sense does the big SUV makes for a nigh 75 lakh price tag
Words: Amit Chhangani
Images: Amit Chhangani / Yatharth Chauhan / Deepak Dongre
Design
The face of the new GL-Class is defined by the massive twin slat chrome radiator grille bearing the equally big triple pointed star. The big bumper features a wide and aggressively styled central air dam flanked by horizontally laid out string of LED fog lamps sitting over big rectangular sections with honeycomb mesh effect.
The lower portion of the bumper is lined with chrome, and under it you can see a faux diffuser, laden in chrome, again. Big headlamps, somewhat resembling the shape of an eye have wavy DRLs lined above them. With the wide bonnet featuring pronounced, muscular creases and twin air inlets the GL looks like an imposing, intimidating machine front-on. The face of this car is it’s most well designed and daunting bit.
In profile, Mercedes have tried to disguise the sheer length of this behemoth by introducing tight lines – a pair of roof rails, along with angular cuts for the wheel arches lends the GL the much require visual tautness. Our test car came equipped with the AMG body kit, featuring massive 21 inch alloy wheels and special skirts up front and rear. Those wheels further add to the butch appeal of this massive SUV.
The design at the rear is rather simplistic, and doesn’t quite exude the aggression expressed at the front. The rear bumper is designed in a fashion similar to the front unit with a big central opening flanked by two smaller rectangular units topped by slim horizontally placed reflectors. The chrome draped faux diffuser under the front bumper is present here as well. There is a chrome accent, with a diffuser shaped design on the loading lip of the boot too. A trough shaped registration plate recess, topped by a horizontal chrome slat and flanked by angular tail lamps complete the design at the rear.
The new GL Class, with its more than five meters of length needed to obscure its excessive girth to appear ready for action, and so it does, especially from front and in profile. The big glass area suggests a light, airy and comfortable seating for the occupants and the overall stance is that of a big, go-anywhere machine.
Next page for interior / features >>>>
Superlative review and photos. Awesome job! Keep it up and consider… a you tube video review while driving.