The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 is one of those vehicles that can trigger me into a state of cognitive dissonance. Its jumbo proportions, meager fuel economy, and leather trappings are at odds with my environmentalist and vegan beliefs. But you’ll notice I’m not virtuous enough to refuse to drive it.
A different light was cast upon the GLS 580 during my test week, Jan. 12-19, when you might remember Snohomish County getting hit with a record-breaking arctic blast. It was freezing cold everywhere in the county, but not like the special freezing cold reserved for the area just down the road from Stevens Pass, where the gap winds were blowing to their heart’s content, dropping temperatures to well below zero.
Two things stood between survival and non-survival in the overactive mind of one Sky Valley resident: electricity, and the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 parked in her icy driveway. Had there been a power outage, the Benz could provide shelter and heat. I came to think of it as a 5-star warming hut.
The GLS 580 is rugged as well as luxurious. It has all-wheel drive and an off-road mode in its MBUX multimedia system providing visual gradient, lateral inclination, compass and steering angle information. The standard 360-degree camera has a “transparent hood” function that shows a virtual view under the SUV’s front, enabling the driver to spot obstacles like big rocks and deep potholes sooner and more easily.
For the handful (or fewer) of people who would buy a $113,000 Mercedes-Benz GLS and take it off-roading, there’s an optional Off-Road Engineering Package. It includes an underride guard that works in combination with the SUV’s standard Airmatic suspension to provide an extra 1.2 inches of ground clearance.
The GLS 580 is powered by a hardy twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine generating 510 horsepower and paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its EPA rating is 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined.
Inside the GLS 580 there is an incredibly handsome arrangement of comfort and convenience features, safety system operations, and a profusion of infotainment technology with great visual appeal and not too much complication.
One of the test vehicle’s optional items was a wonderful $4,550 Burmester 3D Surround Sound audio system, causing excitement among audiophiles and consternation among audiologists.
2024 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 580
Base price, including destination charge: $113,150
Price as driven: $124,520
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
