{"id":36902,"date":"2018-08-04T06:00:48","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T21:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=36902"},"modified":"2019-02-17T11:09:46","modified_gmt":"2019-02-17T02:09:46","slug":"about-benz-gls450","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/about-benz-gls450\/","title":{"rendered":"Sightseeing in LA with the Mercedes-Benz GLS450 \u2013 Impressions on Ride Comfort and Differences from Porsche"},"content":{"rendered":"

Booking a Rental Car with AVIS…<\/h3>\n

After staying in San Francisco, we headed to Los Angeles. We considered driving, but even without traffic, it would take about 5 to 6 hours, so we decided to fly, which took about an hour and a half. By the way, the rental car we got in Los Angeles this time was a Mercedes-Benz GLS450.<\/strong> I had reserved it in advance through AVIS in Japan, but when I went to the counter on the day, they initially said, \u201cYou\u2019re renting a Chevrolet Camaro, right!?\u201d…(This one\u2193)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nSource: Chevrolet Japan Official Site<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo way, I definitely reserved the GLS450, and there are five of us!\u201d<\/strong> After some negotiation, it took about 30 minutes to sort things out. Eventually, they said, \u201cWait a moment. We have one GLS450 available now; I\u2019ll go wash it.\u201d<\/strong> After waiting some more, a soaking wet, un-wiped GLS450 finally arrived (laughs). Well, that was pretty casual service~<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

About the GLS<\/h3>\n

For reference, the lineup of Mercedes-Benz GLS models sold in Japan is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Model<\/td>\nPrice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLS 350 d 4MATIC (Made to order)<\/td>\n\u00a510,910,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLS 350 d 4MATIC Sports<\/td>\n\u00a512,140,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLS 550 4MATIC Sports<\/td>\n\u00a515,300,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC<\/td>\n\u00a519,380,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Being the top-tier SUV model from Mercedes-Benz, the price starts at over 10 million yen. That\u2019s quite something. The GLS450 we rented this time seems to be a model not sold in Japan.<\/strong> It has a 3.0L V6 twin-turbo engine. Our Panamera Turbo has a 4.0L V8 twin-turbo, so although the engine is smaller, the specs are more than sufficient.<\/p>\n

This GLS450, if sold in Japan, would probably cost over 10 million yen, but in the U.S., the price is $69,550. Wow, why is it so cheap!? Apparently, cars are generally cheaper in the U.S., and even the Porsche Panamera Turbo can be purchased for about half the price with the same options. The U.S. is amazing… or maybe Japan is just too expensive. Next, here are the vehicle dimensions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Overall length<\/td>\n201.6 in (5120 mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall height<\/td>\n72.8 in (1849 mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall width<\/td>\n84.3 in (2141 mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Curb weight<\/td>\n5,335 lbs (2419 kg)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Huge! Over 5 meters long, more than 2 meters wide, and weighing about 2.5 tons.<\/strong> In the U.S., it\u2019s just considered a \u201cbig SUV,\u201d but bringing this to Japan would mean it\u2019s really large. In fact, since the width exceeds 2 meters, there are probably very few parking lots or spaces in Japan where it could fit… So, this time I\u2019d like to share impressions of the GLS450 and how its ride differs from Porsche.<\/p>\n

Impressions of the Mercedes-Benz GLS450\u2460<\/h3>\n

I wish I could write from my own driving experience, but unfortunately (again), I didn\u2019t drive much this time…(Even though I went through the trouble of getting an international driver\u2019s license, I chickened out and stuck to the back seat)<\/span> So, I\u2019ll write based on my husband\u2019s opinions.<\/p>\n

\u2460 Handling<\/h4>\n

It has that typical Benz handling. Compared to Porsche, the steering is lighter, which can feel unsettling at first, but unlike ordinary Japanese cars, the more you turn the wheel, the more it turns, and it firmly traces the road surface.<\/strong> The Toyota 4Runner SUV we drove until the day before initially had loose steering, then suddenly became more responsive, but<\/p>\n

its rear didn\u2019t follow well, causing significant residual and rebound sway.(Well, they\u2019re not really comparable in terms of vehicle class, he said)<\/span> This was especially noticeable in tight corners. Compared to that, the Benz turns smoothly and stably without any issues. It definitely shares something in common with the SL.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2192\u3010Next Page\u3011Impressions on Power, Braking, Ride Comfort, and Body Rigidity<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Impressions of the Mercedes-Benz GLS450\u2461\u2013\u2464<\/h3>\n

So, how about power, braking, and ride comfort?<\/p>\n

\u2461 Power<\/h4>\n

The 3.0L V6 twin-turbo engine delivers power that is necessary and sufficient. Acceleration from a stop and uphill acceleration are both ample. However, due to the vehicle\u2019s large size and weight, it didn\u2019t have the same acceleration feel as a Porsche. That said, I haven\u2019t test-driven a Cayenne, so I can\u2019t really compare SUVs, and I imagine the GLS63 would feel quite different.<\/p>\n

By the way, when I asked, \u201cMy brother-in-law used to own a Macan Turbo and said \u2018The Macan\u2019s acceleration is incredible!\u2019 So, is Porsche\u2019s acceleration really that much better?\u201d<\/strong> he replied, \u201cWell, yeah. But the Macan is a compact SUV, and the GLS is big, so it\u2019s hard to compare directly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2462 Brake Control<\/h4>\n

The brakes are easy to control from low to high speeds. Considering the massive 2.5-ton weight, they work very well, stopping the vehicle firmly. The Toyota 4Runner\u2019s braking was tricky; it was unresponsive at first, then suddenly became very sensitive, which was scary. With the GLS, the harder you press, the stronger the brakes respond, so the braking feels proportional to your input. For city driving, the 4Runner might be fine, but if you\u2019re driving on highways or various other roads, the GLS is definitely better.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2463 Ride Comfort<\/h4>\n

The official site states \u201cIt provides optimal ride comfort even on rough roads and off-road. It offers a smooth ride even in the California desert.\u201d<\/strong> Indeed, the ride comfort was good with no complaints. However, since I was seated in the back the whole time, I didn\u2019t feel it was as comfortable as I expected. When driving in Comfort mode, it felt somewhat like riding a bus<\/strong>\u2014smooth but with noticeable sway.<\/p>\n

Switching to Sport mode stiffened the suspension and reduced the sway, making the ride feel better. But that\u2019s a matter of personal preference. I personally prefer \u201cthe dry, firm Porsche ride that grips the road and absorbs shocks crisply,\u201d<\/strong> so that\u2019s probably why I felt this way about the GLS.<\/p>\n

\u2464 Body Rigidity<\/h4>\n

The body rigidity is typical of German cars\u2014solid and sturdy to the point where I thought, \u201cIf I got rear-ended in this, I definitely wouldn\u2019t die\u201d (laughs). Because of that, I felt very safe riding in it the entire time. I once heard from an acquaintance, \u201cMy wife usually drives an SUV with the kids, but just in case of an accident, we chose the GLS because it has a strong body.\u201d<\/strong> Now I understand why.<\/p>\n

These are my impressions of the GLS450, with some comparisons to Porsche. Now I\u2019m even more eager to test-drive the new Cayenne. Maybe I\u2019ll go try one out after returning to Japan (laughs).(By the way, I\u2019ve been to the new Cayenne debut fair before\u2193\u2193)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2192\u3010Reference Article\u3011Visited the New Cayenne Debut Fair! Impressions and Photos of the Actual Vehicle<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Booking a Rental Car with AVIS… After staying in San Francisco, we headed to Los Angeles. We considered driving, but even without traffic, it would take about 5 to 6 hours, so we decided to fly, which took about an hour and a half. By the way, the rental car we got in Los Angeles this time was a Mercedes-Benz GLS450. 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