Skip to main content

ads1

First Drive: 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI


Previews

Now that we have the cleaner, ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is unleashing a wave of diesel models. Analysts predict that diesels will make up nine percent of the U.S. market in 2013—up from just two percent in ’05—and many automakers are promising diesel models in the near-future. Mercedes reports that about 15 percent of its M-class SUV customers are opting for the diesel ML320 model since it went on sale in October of 2006.

Mercedes’ 215-hp, 398 lb-ft 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel is teemed with the seven-speed automatic transmission and is now available in four models including the E-class sedan as well as the R-, M-, and GL-class sport-utes. But, the diesel option in the large, seven-passenger GL makes the most sense. Why? In the other three cases, a V-6 gasoline engine is the base option, with the diesel costing an extra $1000. While you may think that’s not much money for a 30- to 40-percent boost in fuel economy, it will still take tens of thousands of miles to make back that initial investment.

In the comparison-test-winning GL-class, however, the GL320 diesel is actually the cheapest in the lineup, the only other choice is the GL450 with a 335-hp 4.7-liter V-8. Starting at $53,175, the diesel GL actually saves $2500 as well as boosting fuel economy ratings by 40 percent—from 14/18 city/highway to 20/25. Don’t worry; there are almost no downsides to the diesel GL, it will still tow 7500 pounds, same as a GL450 and more than the 403-hp Escalade. Okay, so the diesel won’t shoot to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds like the GL450, but who needs to their large, people-hauling SUV to hustle like that anyway? We figure the GL320 will do the 60-mph deed in around nine seconds, but it’s certainly not hurting for power. There’s always a strong pull from the torquey diesel engine—well past legal speeds, we assure you—even though the diesel’s constant moan under acceleration isn’t nearly as exhilarating as the V-8’s. Once up to speed, however, the engine noise fades to nothing, making the GL320 a serene and superb highway cruiser.

We averaged 24 mpg over a 160-mile mix of city and highway roads, and even with frequent excursions to the 4600-rpm redline it seemed hard to ever dip below 20 mpg—not bad for a 5500-pound beast that will hold seven adults comfortably. That’s a 33-percent improvement over the 18 mpg that the GL450 in our comparison test managed while it was beating out all of its peers, including the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, and Infiniti QX56.


Interior and Availability

The rest of the class-leading traits of the GL-class ute remain: an elegant and expensive-looking stitched-leather interior, responsive steering, comfortable seats, unflappable chassis responses even over less-than-perfect roads, and best-in-class space in the third-row seat. From a driver’s perspective, the biggest downside is a squishy brake pedal that plagues every GL SUV—diesel or not. As with every GL, Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is included on the GL320 (a full-time 50-50-split setup).

But a bigger downside is that, like the rest of Mercedes-Benz’s diesel lineup, the GL320 will temporarily be available in only 45 states, as it does not meet emissions regulations in the five strictest states. By the 2009 model year, however, Mercedes will implement a urea-injection system to clean things up, and promises that those cleaner diesels will be able to be sold nationwide.

What more do you want? The best-in-class GL is cheaper as a diesel and saves on gas, yielding a range of over 600 miles (good luck finding a hybrid that’s less expensive than its gas counterpart). The real question is can your kids hold it that long? Can you? Opt for the GL320, and Mercedes will give you $2500 to find out.

source: caranddriver.com

Comments

Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Popular posts from this blog

Next NSXext revealed at Detroit show

Honda’s next supercar will not be mid-engined if this show-stealing concept coupe is anything to go by, writes Dave Moore. To get cut-through among the dozen-plus concept coupes on display at Detroit last week, you really did have to come up with something special. It seemed that just about everybody had something close-coupled and muscular on display, but Honda’s US luxury arm, Acura, managed to attract most attention with what it messily labels its Advanced Sports Car Concept , or ASCC for short. While Honda will not confirm that the ASCC is a replacement for the much- loved but slow-selling NSX , it has put on record that the front-engined show car marks a preview of the design direction for that car’s successor. It is expected that the Tokyo Motor Show in October this year will mark the production debut of the actual NSX replacement. The concept is designed to incorporate a powerful front- mounted, V-10 engine and a new high-performance, rear- wheel-drive based version of the H...

NAIAS Detroit 2007: Volkswagen continues BLUETEC offensive

Volkswagen is presenting the Concept Tiguan SUV study at the North American International Auto Show. In the first half of next year the series version of the “Touareg’s little brother” will be debuting in the US. The Tiguan is being advanced as a significant component in Volkswagen’s model range in order to expand the market position in the US. Moreover, Volkswagen expects additional US growth starting in 2008 from the market launch of the cleanest TDI of all times. The introduction of the Turbodiesel direct injection engine equipped with a NOx secondary treatment system is taking place as part of the BLUETEC offensive in the latest Jetta– the most successful car in America from a German manufacturer. European injection technologies are increasingly convincing US customers: In 2006 Volkswagen of America had sales 4.9 percent above the previous year. This corresponds to 235,140 vehicles sold in the US. The positive signs for 2007 include the Eos being offered for the first time over an ...

2007 Alpine Imprint RLS Demo Car based on Mercedes-Benz R500

Making Its Mark: The IMPRINT RLS The birth of the IMPRINT RLS marks the beginning of a new sonic era. While the exterior flaunts a sleek, elegant, one-of-a-kind style, the interior also houses the core Alpine IMPRINT sound technology – making its mark as the absolute show-stopping vehicle for 2007. The IMPRINT RLS by birthright started off as a Mercedes Benz R500 , and was slowly morphed into a car that transcends all laws of space and time. This futuristic concept-like car was brought to life by Alpine’s Advanced Application R&D team, Steve Brown, Gary Bell, Brent Davison with the help of Alpine Canada’s Glen Swackhamer and Rino Odorico. Breathing life into the RLS required a complete dismantling, relocating, building, and reinforcing experiment. Extreme modifications include gas and brake pedal relocation to allow the car to be driven from either front seat. To continue Alpine tradition of unconventional door and seat combinations, the IMPRINT RLS features a unique rotating assem...