2018 Mercedes-AMG GLS63

Overview

When you’ve got six figures to drop on a luxury item, it can be difficult to choose an extravagance. Allow us to suggest Mercedes-AMG’s hulking GLS63, an SUV with seats for seven and a ferocious twin-turbocharged V-8 under the hood. Yes, it looks almost exactly like the 10Best Trucks and SUVs­-winning Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class on which it is based, but one stomp on the accelerator will drive that other SUV from your mind. The GLS63’s performance comes almost without sacrifice; its cabin is lined in leather and equipped with all the luxury amenities. It’s the perfect chariot for turning daily errands into joy rides.

What's New for 2018?

AMG’s big brute is unchanged for 2018.

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Pricing

Original MSRP:

• GLS63: $126,295

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The GLS63’s sole powertrain consists of an AMG-built 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 that honks out 577 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. The result is a behemoth weighing nearly three tons that’s nonetheless able to hustle to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds as it gulps fuel. The GLS63 isn’t just quick, it’s wicked quick. And while speed is the GLS63’s most impressive and obvious virtue, its taut, responsive suspension gives it surprisingly good handling for such a large vehicle. However, the tall cabin is one clue that you are, indeed, piloting a very large SUV; the accurate but not quick steering is another. Still, there aren’t many seven-passenger vehicles that drive this well.

Fuel Economy

EPA fuel-economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest numbers on current and older vehicles, visit the EPA’s website and select Find & Compare Cars.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With an interior swathed in Nappa leather and a pair of massaging front seats, the GLS63 may be nicer than the inside of most houses. There aren’t many available options here: nearly all the luxury appointments come standard. The few extra-cost items include heated and cooled front cupholders, a rear-seat entertainment system, and power-folding second-row seats. The GLS63’s front seats feel more like armchairs than the thin, bolstered seats in many performance vehicles. Second- and third-row passengers aren’t quite as pampered but may be mollified by the standard rear automatic climate controls. The GLS doesn’t come out on top in any interior-storage metric, but there's a ton of cargo room with the seats folded.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Mercedes’s attractive, logical COMAND infotainment system works well—although the layout of controls is somewhat stymieing—and most features are standard. These include navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio. There’s no auxiliary input jack, but with two USB ports and several 12-volt outlets, there shouldn’t be any shortage of charge points.

Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings

For more information about the Mercedes-AMG GLS63’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty

Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.