Mercedes-Benz GLS Facelift: The S-Class of SUVs Doubles Down

Mercedes-Benz has never been subtle about the role of the GLS. This is not simply its biggest SUV, nor merely the choice for families who have outgrown a GLE. In Stuttgart’s world, the GLS is the S-Class of SUVs, and with this latest facelift Mercedes has chosen not to reinvent that idea, but to reinforce it with more technology, more visual presence and an even greater emphasis on comfort.

The styling changes are deliberate rather than dramatic, but they are enough to give the GLS a stronger sense of occasion. The grille is larger and more ornate, framed in chrome and contour lighting, while the headlamps and tail-lamps now wear a star-themed light signature. Most striking of all is the upright Mercedes star on the bonnet, a detail long associated with the S-Class saloon and one that feels intentionally traditional here. It gives the GLS a sense of old-school prestige that Mercedes clearly believes still matters in this part of the market.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

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Beneath the visual updates sits a more meaningful set of mechanical revisions. The engine range has been overhauled in the name of improved refinement, stronger response and future emissions compliance. At the top of the range, the GLS 580 4MATIC’s V8 now delivers 395kW and 750Nm, while Mercedes says it is more responsive and smoother under partial load. The six-cylinder petrol GLS 450 also gains torque, while the diesel models receive electrically heated catalysts and a number of technical changes aimed at improving both efficiency and drivability. All engines now use integrated starter-generator technology and a 48-volt electrical system, allowing smoother stop-start operation, coasting and mild boost functions.

Mercedes has also put considerable effort into preserving the sort of hush expected of a luxury flagship. Extra sound insulation around the transmission tunnel, bulkhead and engine cover is joined by acoustic foam in parts of the bodyshell, all intended to keep combustion, road and wind noise further from the cabin. In a car like this, such details matter every bit as much as performance figures.

Ride comfort remains one of the GLS’s strongest selling points, and Mercedes is keen to underline that with both E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL and a new cloud-based damper control system. The latter uses shared Car-to-X data to prepare the suspension for bumps before the vehicle reaches them, while E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL can adjust each wheel individually to counteract pitch, roll and squat. The promise is familiar Mercedes territory: the size and height of an SUV with the calm, level composure of something much more road-focused.

Inside, the GLS moves further towards becoming a software-led luxury lounge. The new MBUX Superscreen is standard, spreading three 12.3-inch displays beneath one large glass surface, while MB.OS becomes the digital backbone of the car, enabling over-the-air updates and an increasingly AI-heavy user experience. Rear passengers benefit too, with upgraded entertainment screens, more comfort features and a stronger sense that the GLS is just as happy being chauffeured as driven.

The facelifted GLS does not change the formula so much as intensify it. It is bigger in presence, smarter in operation and even more determined to blur the line between luxury SUV and luxury limousine. Whether that makes it excessive or deeply desirable will depend on your taste, but Mercedes clearly believes the flagship SUV still has room to become even more of an event.