Mercedes-Benz GL-Class review

Overview

The second-generation GL can give an older-luxury buyer substantial space and a premium cabin without a new-car budget. This review selects the UK September 2013 GL350 Blue TEC AMG Sport with 4 MATIC and seven-speed automatic transmission. It is not the older X 164, the petrol GL 63 AMG or a later GLS. RoadMatch has not personally road-tested it. Manufacturer-authored UK documents support the facts, with independent period reviews informing contextual ownership analysis. The attraction is comfortable seven-seat transport, not a sporting claim derived from its trim badge. Large dimensions and expensive components remain central to suitability: a low used purchase price does not make this large luxury SUV cheap to maintain or easy to park.

Exterior and interior

AMG Sport adds conspicuous styling and large wheels, but the cabin and air suspension support a touring-luxury brief rather than establish GL 63 performance. Inspect the running boards, wheel arches and wide body for parking damage, then assess access for the people who will use it. The period UK grade includes heated front seats and Artico upholstery; do not describe every example as full leather or assume optional interior upgrades. Check seat adjustment, climate operation and worn switches throughout all rows. A large, impressive vehicle can feel rewarding without being young or fashionable, but its apparent status should not distract from damaged trim, poor repairs or the practical difficulty of using it in your actual surroundings.

Practicality

The manufacturer lists 295 litres behind the third row, 680 behind the second and 2,300 behind the first. Our comparison uses the seven-seat figure rather than advertise a huge folded-seat number as if all passengers remain aboard. Try luggage for the trips on which every seat is occupied. Test third-row access and comfort, along with every electric folding mechanism and the tailgate. Seven belts do not guarantee that your preferred child-restraint arrangement is straightforward. Garage length, mirror width and door clearance are meaningful constraints on a vehicle of this size. Towing suitability must be checked against the individual approved setup, driver entitlement and payload rather than assumed from the vehicle's substantial appearance.

Driving experience

The diesel GL350's comfort, air suspension and sizeable body are the relevant characteristics. Auto Express's period GL350 review discusses its suitability for UK use; RoadMatch does not claim personal driving impressions. On a safe route assess ride height, damping, steering consistency and braking without treating a Sport setting as proof of a sporting chassis. Large wheels and worn components can change comfort materially, so test the actual car over ordinary surfaces. Check whether you can judge its edges confidently in narrow roads and car parks. A calm luxury seven-seater may suit the buyer well, but a request for a sharp, engaging drive should lead to different evidence-backed options rather than this badge-driven substitute.

Performance

The period UK specification rates the V6 diesel at 258 PS, approximately 254 bhp, with a zero-to-62 mph claim of 7.9 seconds. The GL 63's much stronger petrol figures are not transferred to this trim. Seven-speed automatic operation and all-wheel drive can provide useful everyday progress, but the vehicle's weight and size still demand sensible judgement. Check clean cold starting, consistent shifts and predictable acceleration on a safe demonstration. Tuning or emissions alterations raise mechanical, legal and insurance questions, and should not automatically improve a suitability score. This is a substantial luxury vehicle with adequate pace, not an inexpensive way to acquire the dynamics of a dedicated high-performance SUV.

Fuel economy

The selected UK GL350 has a combined NEDC claim of 35.3 mpg. It is an older laboratory figure, not a promise for short urban trips, towing or fully loaded motorway travel. Our cost illustration uses an assumed 29 mpg as an explicit budgeting input. Diesel may suit regular longer journeys, but the fuel needed to move this large vehicle remains material. Check emissions-zone eligibility for the actual registration instead of relying on Blue TEC terminology alone. A purchaser drawn to the used price should compare an annual running budget, not only fuel economy against the original petrol AMG. Its comfort and space can be valuable, but neither changes the physical cost of moving a large luxury SUV.

Reliability

Our limited-confidence assessment is not a measured failure probability. Request dated servicing and repair invoices, especially for suspension, diesel emissions and gearbox work. Air suspension should be checked through its operating range and after standing, with unexplained settling diagnosed by a competent specialist. Inspect brakes, tyre matching, wheel damage and underbody condition. Test the powered seats, tailgate, parking equipment and all climate functions because luxurious convenience brings additional components. An emissions warning or inconsistent shift deserves investigation before purchase. A specialist inspection and a substantial repair reserve remain prudent even where the engine starts quietly and the cabin looks expensive. Premium reputation does not establish that deferred maintenance has been completed.

Safety

The period UK document lists restraint and assistance provisions, but a directly applicable independent GL assessment has not been verified in this dossier. We do not substitute the smaller ML/GLE's score or invent a current rating. Optional camera and assistance packages must be checked against the actual build, not assumed because the vehicle was expensive when new. Inspect belts, warning lights, sensor areas and evidence of structural repairs, and try intended child seats through all required rows. Large mass and all-wheel drive are not substitutes for correct tyres or maintained brakes. Check current GOV.UK recalls and obtain Mercedes-Benz VIN campaign-completion records before accepting a seller's assurance that the individual car has no outstanding work.

Technology and features

Ordinary cruise control, Parktronic assistance and heated front seats are confirmed for this UK AMG Sport scope. A reversing camera or adaptive-cruise package requires build-specific verification. The original COMA ND system predates the modern phone-mirroring expectations of many buyers, so factory Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not credited here. Demonstrate navigation, audio and your phone's actual connection before purchase. Connected services advertised in the original brochure may not remain available on identical terms. Test the seat folding and parking equipment as practical technology rather than value the screen purely by its size. A supported retrofit may improve connectivity, but workmanship, compatibility and insurance implications should be assessed instead of assuming any aftermarket display is an upgrade.

Running costs

The £14,500–£21,000 estimate dated 14 October 2026 is an editorial planning band rather than a live valuation. At 8,000 miles, assumed 29 mpg and diesel at an assumed £1.55 per litre, fuel is about £1,940. Add £500 as a registration-dependent tax allowance and £1,400–£2,700 for routine servicing, MOT and large-tyre/brake wear to budget roughly £3,800–£5,200. Insurance, depreciation, finance and major repairs are excluded. Air-suspension or diesel-system repairs could add substantially beyond this routine allowance. Check actual tax, emissions-zone charges and personal insurance before purchase. Someone happy to pay for old luxury can make an informed choice, but the matcher should never conceal these obligations behind an affordable sticker price.

Advantages and disadvantages