The V8 engine is slowly disappearing. This is most evident in sports cars and supercars but the demise of the V8 is also felt in large, luxury, 3-row SUVs. There’s only about 4 of them left on the market that have the V8 as an option including this 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580. So is this the V8 luxury SUV to get?
Performance
Engine – The GLS is available with a turbocharged inline-6 and two versions of the 4.0L bi-turbo V8. There’s the AMG version with just over 600 hp and the one in this 580 with 510 hp & 538 lb-ft of torque (380 kW & 729 Nm). The GLS is a heavy SUV at 2,655 kg (5,853 lbs) but Mercedes-Benz still claims that it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. This engine has lobs of torque at below 2,000 rpms which means that in everyday driving situations, you’ll hardly ever see the rpm needle go past that mark. It almost feels like a lazy American V8. However, once you put your foot down, it roars into life. It’s just too bad that you can’t really hear it. Not only is the cabin well isolated but the exhaust isn’t meant to shout like the one fitted to the GLS 63 AMG.
The engine is paired with a 48-Volt mild-hybrid system for improved responsiveness, a smoother auto start/stop system, and a little bit for improved fuel economy. This is not the type of hybrid system which will allow the car to drive only on electricity.
Fuel Economy – This 2024 GLS 580 4Matic is rated for 16.6 L/100km (14.2 MPG) in a city and 12.1 L/100km (19.4 MPG) on a highway. While driving on highways, I can confirm that this engine is quite economical for what it is and how much weight it’s having to move. But once I got off the highways and onto city streets, I did notice my average fuel consumption steadily increase. At the end of my week with the luxury SUV, I averaged a respectable 13.2 L/100km (17.8 MPG) with most of my drives taking place on highways.
Unfortunately the GLS 580 does not have an Eco mode. This would allow the engine to momentarily shut off for brief periods whenever throttle is not applied. This in turn allows the car to travel for a little bit further without any loss in speed due to engine braking. But the 48-Volt mild-hybrid system will shut off the engine just before arriving at a complete stop for a little bit of fuel savings.
Transmission – This V8 engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. First and foremost, this is a smooth shifting transmission. Each shift between gears is seamless. However, it has not been tuned like an AMG transmission which means that there is a bit of a delay to a stab of the throttle or while using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Braking – The brakes of the GLS 580 don’t look that big behind the optional 23” wheels but they provide more than enough stopping force. However, when you’re not trying to stop this big SUV in an emergency situation, the brake pedal has a lot of travel and it doesn’t feel as firm as in some other SUVs with a mild-hybrid system.
Handling – Though it doesn’t say AMG on the back, the GLS 580 can take corners at a pretty brisk pace. The standard Airmatic suspension not only provides a smooth ride but it also settles the body quickly after a road undulation. The massive tires provide plenty of grip, or at least they would in the summer. This demo vehicle still had summer tires fitted to it but the weather during the week in which I drove the GLS 580 was cold. Below 7° Celsius, these type of tires get hard and lose their performance. But even so, when the temperatures increased in the afternoons, the SUV drove smoothly through corners. Again, it didn’t feel as enjoyable as the AMG version, but this big luxury SUV showed some athleticism.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – During my week with the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580, I had to ferry around a few of my colleagues in this SUV. The one thing that they could not stop talking about was the ride quality. The SUV doesn’t quite glide over bumps like the Mercedes S-class but it is among the best in the class. The suspension still translates the feel of the road through your fingertips and seat but it doesn’t feel rough at all. It strikes a good balance between comfort and athleticism.
Interior Space – As is to be expected, the front occupants have all the space in the world. The driving position provides a commanding view of the road even when the seat is at its lowest position. My minor complaint has to do with the engine start/stop button that is protruding by my right knee. I can’t help thinking that in the event of an accident, even a small one, my knee is going to slide forward and hit that protruding piece. But otherwise, I have no complaints with headroom or legroom, under normal driving conditions.
The second row can be optioned with three seats or two in the form of captain’s chairs. This car had the former. They are power operated with the left side seats also moving the center seat. The lean angle on these seats doesn’t go too far back but space is extraordinary, particularly for my 6’4” height behind my tall driving position.
The third row is not as commodious as the other two which is to be expected. Children and short adults should be ok but taller individuals will be tight for headroom and legroom. Getting into that row will test your patience. With the 2nd row seats being power operated, it takes a while for the seats to slide forwards. Additionally, when the 2nd row seat slides back, you not only have to hold the button for it to retract but it also does not return to its previous position. So it’ll need to be readjusted all over again.
Behind all rows of seats, the Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 offers 355 L (17.4 cu-ft) of cargo space. With the 3rd row folded, it has 1,210 L (42.7 cu-ft) of cargo volume and with the 2nd & 3rd rows folded, it has 2,400 L (84.7 cu-ft) of cargo space. The 3rd and 2nd rows can be folded and raised electronically and there’s a button in the trunk for lowering the back of the GLS for easier loading or unloading.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The GLS 580 is a quiet luxury SUV to be in. As I mentioned earlier, the cabin is well isolated from exterior noises. Not only does the engine sound muted but noises from other vehicles are kept out. Unfortunately there is a noticeable amount of road noise from the summer tires on highways. But this is most evident on old and porous roads. Over fresh asphalt, it’s whisper quiet.
Additionally, the auto start/stop system is one of the smoothest in the business when it comes to shutting off and starting up the engine. As well, the V8 is smooth with barely any vibrations being felt in the cabin.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – As you would expect, the Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 is not a cheap luxury 3-row SUV. It starts at $140,500 CAD ($116,110 USD) with this particular demo vehicle having about $20,000 CAD ($10,760 USD) in options for an as-tested price of $160,635 CAD ($126,870 USD).
Gadgets – Some of these options included leather upholstery (which doesn’t feel that great to the touch, it’s very coarse), heated, ventilated, & massaging front and 2nd row seats, heated 3rd row seats, hated arm rests and center console, heated & cooled front cup holders, panoramic sunroof, a head up display, an available 5-zone climate control system, Burmester surround sound system, wireless phone charging pad, and soft-close doors to name a few.
The infotainment system is an older iteration of the MBUX interface which supports wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto. It doesn’t have the latest menu design but it’s fairly easy to navigate around once you’ve become used to it. If you drop down the rear center backrest, it will reveal a second wireless phone charging pad along with a tablet. This will not allow you to surf the net or check your emails but it will allow you to control the massage functions of the rear seats, the ambient lighting system and the radio among a few other functions.
Interior Design – The 2024 GLS 580 has not been updated with the latest Mercedes-Benz interior design language which I think is for the better. Sure, it doesn’t have the large infotainment screen on the dashboard but the 12.3” touchscreen is big enough. Also, this SUV retains the wonderful physical toggle switches to control the climate. But this car does receive the new steering wheel which incorporates the tricky to use capacitive touch controls. Otherwise, the rest of this interior looks great and it is simple to use.
Exterior Design – The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 received a small update to the exterior with a new grille which looks … well, like a grill. The taillights have also been tweaked a bit. Otherwise, it remains the same, large SUV that it has been since the introduction of this current generation back in 2019.
Safety – The 2024 GLS 580 comes equipped with a lot of basic safety & driver aids such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot sensors, lane departure warning, and adaptive high beam assist to name a few. It has an available Driver Assistance Package which adds more advanced versions of the standard safety systems such as evasive steering assist, active lane change assist, and route-based speed adaptation among many others.
Warranty – Just like every other Mercedes-Benz vehicle, the 2024 GLS 580 comes with a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty. It also comes with 4 years / unlimited km roadside assistance, 4 year / 80,000 km surface corrosion, and 8 year / 130,000 km warranty for certain emission parts. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For U.S.A. warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 may not be the best value for your money because you can get almost all of the same features in the less expensive GLS 450. But having a powerful V8 in your life is so much more exciting. For its size, the GLS 580 retains a level of athleticism that can only be matched by the BMW X7, however, this GLS also balances comfort in the equation very well.
Thank you to Mercedes-Benz Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Mercedes-Benz.ca
2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 Gallery
