The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 will arrive with minor updates majorly in the standard and optional features section. Hence, it will continue to be offered in a single trim level only. The price for the upcoming model will be higher at $77,200 and will get the same powertrain option as the current model. The SUV comes fully loaded right from the assembly line with some ultra-premium features such as Heated and ventilated front seats, Burmester audio system with surround-sound output, nine USB ports, and a 360-degree camera system among other features. The heated and ventilated front seats along with 20-inch wheels will be standard offerings on the 2022 GLS 450. 

Two standard and impressive security features that will be offered with the upcoming model are parking damage detection and an enhanced alarm system.

Some of the new optional features for the 2022 model year are electric rear side-window sunshades, Driver Assistance Plus Package, and Active Stop-and-Go Assist. Some of the existing optional packages and features include a panoramic sunroof, an Acoustic Comfort package for better noise insulation inside the cabin, and a rapid heating system for front seats.

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The SUV is available in a single and well-equipped trim only and opting for additional packages might not make good sense. But you can opt for the swanky new features that are going to be available for the 2022 model such as the Driver Assistance Plus Package.

Release Date

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is expected to hit the showrooms by the last quarter of 2021.

Brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW are known to make some brilliant powertrains that rank among the best in the segment. Gone are the days where full-size German SUVs were powered by mammoth V8 or V12 motors. Mercedes-Benz’s all-new EQ Boost tech has been a proven one and the GLS 450 gets the tech as well. The upcoming model of the SUV will retain the powertrain from the outgoing model hence all the stats are going to be similar too. The outgoing model is powered by a hybrid powertrain that combines a 3.0-liter M 256 E30 DEH LA G R turbocharged I-6 motor and a 48-volt Mercedes Integral Starter Generator to offer the power and performance of big displacement engines while delivering impressive fuel economy too. The electric motor is housed in the transmission unit’s bell housing and develops 21 horsepower which allows for a smooth automatic start-stop operation whenever possible. The powertrain whips out an impressive 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of maximum torque. 

The refinement levels of the powertrain are right on-point and offer just the right amount of sophisticated feel from the powertrain that you’d expect from a premium and luxury German SUV. The vehicle also has an impressive towing capacity of 7,700 lbs too which makes it quite a practical vehicle as well. The 0-60mph sprint time of 5.9 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.3 seconds are praiseworthy as compared to the rivals having bigger and more powerful engines.

The BMW X7 gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 motor like the GLS 450 but lacks a hybrid system. It is quicker than the GLS 450 by 0.1 seconds while doing the 0-60mph sprint but has a slower quarter-mile time of 15-seconds. Unfortunately, it has a lower tow rating of 5,400 lbs, making it the least practical offering from a towing capacity perspective. The Cadillac Escalade still comes with the old-school and huge 6.2-liter V8, delivering a mammoth 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Even with all those muscles under its hood, its performance is just almost equivalent to what the GLS 450 offers with its way smaller but intelligent hybrid powertrain. The Infiniti QX80 also gets a sizable 5.6-liter motor under its hood and has the highest towing capacity here but has the slowest acceleration times.

Since the 2022 GLS 450 will retain the same powertrain from the outgoing vehicle, the fuel economy ratings are expected to be similar too. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 returns an overwhelming 20mpg of city mileage considering its sheer size and all those heft. The highway mileage is rated at 24mpg while the combined mileage stands at 21mpg. The SUV comes fitted with a sizable 23.8 gallons gas tank and combined with the impressive fuel economy ratings, it offers some of the best driving range numbers in the segment too.

The 2021 BMW X7 also delivers almost identical fuel economy numbers to the GLS 450 but gets a small 21.9-gallon gas tank resulting in some disappointing driving range figures. Also, its low towing capacity makes things go south for some prospective buyers as well. The Cadillac Escalade with its humongous 6.2-liter V8 under its hood returns comparatively poor fuel economy ratings of 15 MPG as compared to its brilliant German counterparts but the Escalade has been a favorite of the rich buyers for quite some time now and its takers never mind the exorbitant gas mileage ratings that come with the Escalade. The Infiniti QX80 has the least city mileage rating among the rivals here and identical highway and combined mileage ratings to the Cadillac Escalade. It comes with a huge 26-gallon gas tank which mildly makes up for the disappointing fuel economy by offering some acceptable driving range figures.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 will see no major interior redesign apart from a few additions of standard and optional features. Hence the cabin will remain the same as the current model. The interior is one of the main highlights of the SUV and it is more luxurious than the master bedroom of a middle-class house. The main highlight of the cabin is the intriguing dashboard design which is dominated by a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment display. The steering wheel gets the new retro-modern design the brand has adopted for most of its high-end vehicles now.

The controls are minimal and mostly integrated within the infotainment screen. The rest of the buttons are well within the reach of the driver. The center stack is thick and doubles up as an armrest for both the driver and the front passenger and has storage space underneath as well. Every exposed surface is covered either in two-tone leather, brushed metal, or wood inserts, oozing opulence from every angle. The front seats are extremely comfortable and the standard heating/ventilation system for the upcoming model will take the comfort levels to another level. The second-row seats are superbly comfortable too while the third-row seats lack shoulder room and legroom, making them suitable for kids only. The cargo capacity behind the third row is decent at 17.4 cu-ft.

The BMW X7 has an even more spacious cabin as compared to the GLS 450 and naturally offers more headroom but only for the front seat occupants. The second-row seats are superbly comfortable too with premium quality leather seats and electronic adjustments. The Third-row seats are smaller than the GLS 450’s third-row seats and are suitable for small children and luggage items. The overall interior design oozes opulence but the design language is less complicated than the GLS 450’s design. Step inside the Cadillac Escalade and you’ll be greeted with acres of space and an ultra-modern dashboard design that is at par with the chic German vehicles’ interior designs. Owing to the tall roof of the SUV, the headroom on offer is more than adequate and its third-row seats are perhaps the most spacious and practical ones in the segment. The design language is sleek and minimalistic with a driver-focused dashboard design. It also gets the largest trunk in comparison that has a total volume of 25.5 cu.-ft. The Infiniti QX80’s interior follows a different design approach as compared to the rivals here. It is more spacious than the GLS 450 and its cabin feels wider than average. The dashboard follows a rough and tough design theme and the infotainment screen is not so accessible from the driver’s seat. The overall comfort levels and features are at par with the rivals here and can be considered as a cheaper alternative to the GLS 450.

Some interior features are:

• 14-way power front heated & ventilated leather front seats
• Quad-zone automatic climate control
• Wood trim on the center console, door, and dash 
• Color-adjustable ambient lighting & footwell lights
• Dual 12.3-inch screens (infotainment & driver's display)

How intuitive is the infotainment system?

The infotainment system is the latest MBUX system and it comes with a huge 12.3-inch touchscreen display. One of its standout features is the augmented reality display for the maps and the impressive turn-by-turn navigation system.

Some of the standard features include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. All three rows get USB-C ports amounting to a total of 9 while a standard wireless charging pad is placed in the center stack just at the front of the cupholders. 

Some standout infotainment features of the infotainment system are:

• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• MBUX interior assistant
• Wireless charging pad 
• 13-speaker premium Burmester audio system
• 26-speaker Burmester audio system with 3D surround sound technology(optional)

The exterior design of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is expected to remain the same as the vehicle’s other aspects. The outgoing model has an easy-going yet muscular design language that gives the SUV a character and excellent road presence. The front grille wears a mildly aggressive look with a two-part design nicely flanked by the LED headlamp units. The front bumper gets silver and subtle chrome inserts, giving off an elegant appeal.

The hood gets sculpted design to enhance the overall muscular appeal of the vehicle. The side profile is neat with rounded corners and plastic cladding under the wheel arches for a more SUV-ish appeal. The standard 20-inch wheels with blacked-out accents and a five-spoke design look cool and are exactly of the right proportions for the size of the wheel-wells. The rear-end gets a handsome design too with all-LED taillights and a faux skid-plate design on the rear bumper. The ground clearance on offer is decent at 7.9-inches but it restricts its off-roading capabilities.

The BMW X7 is the heaviest and the beefiest vehicle among the rivals here. The SUV looks outrageous with its sheer dimensions and has a commendable ground clearance too. The front end of the vehicle gets a heavily polarizing design owing to the brand’s new kidney grille design but apart from that, the SUV oozes elegance and masculinity. The Cadillac Escalade has always been quite flashy and dramatic when it came to exterior design and styling. The all-new design of the SUV gives it even more road presence than before and the boxy and chunky design language makes it unmistakably American. The front fascia attracts the most attention with a bold design consisting of the huge grille and the sleek yet powerful headlamp units. The Infiniti QX80 is one of the best-looking vehicles in the segment and its styling provides it with an immense road presence. It is also almost as big as the Escalade with beefy exterior dimensions and has an excellent ground clearance of 9.2-inches.

Some exterior features are:

• Puddle lamps
• LED headlights, DRLs, & taillights
• Rear fog lights
• Aluminum roof rails
• Black fender lip moldings
• 20-inch alloy wheels 
• Black grille with chrome accents
• Chrome window trim
• Dual exhaust with chrome tips

The outgoing Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 never went through any crash tests from the NHTSA and the IIHS owing to its low sales volume and hefty price tag. The SUV is built on a robust platform and implements high-strength alloy steel which resists deformation during a crash. The SUV comes standard with some advanced safety techs including a forward collision mitigation system, Blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, and an automated parking system.

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Active Distance Assist
• Active & Evasive Steering Assist
• Brake Assist w/ Cross-Traffic Alert
• Blind-Spot Monitoring
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Change Assist
• 360-degree Surround-View Camera
• Active Park Assist
• Active Stop-&-Go Assist
• Traffic Sign Assist
• Driver Attention Assist
• PRE-SAFE System with PRE-SAFE Sound

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 vs BMW X7

The BMW X7 is one of the arch-rivals of the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The X7 is huge and is bigger than the GLS 450 and also offers a better cabin space than the latter as well.

On the performance and fuel economy aspect, the X7 matches with the GLS 450 almost evenly too with a supremely luxurious cabin as well. The polarizing design might be a deal-breaker for some, but overall, the X7 is an excellent alternative to the GLS 450.

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 vs Cadillac Escalade

The moment we hear the word Cadillac Escalade, a chunky, boxy, and huge SUV with a mammoth and gas-guzzling V8 under its hood pops up in our mind. And the 2021 Escalade is just the same.

It still comes with a fuel-hungry V8 motor but its design on both inside and outside have evolved to a great extent. The SUV is more spacious than the GLS 450 too but lacks in the performance and fuel economy aspect when compared to the GLS 450.

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 vs Infiniti QX80

The Infiniti QX80 is for those who desire a break from the mainstream vehicles from the German brands. The vehicle is huge, much like the Escalade, and has an immense road presence especially due to its front-end design.

It is more powerful than the GLS 450 but falls short in terms of acceleration times and fuel economy like the Escalade. It is also one of the cheapest vehicles in the segment too.

With the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 on the line, the competition will get tougher. The outgoing GLS 450 has more than adequate to offer along with a handsome list of optional features as well while the upcoming model will also have more features added upon the existing ones. Considering the S Class of the large SUV market, the GLS 450 justifies its price tag with an immaculate cabin, superior build quality, and excellent performance combined with superb fuel economy too.