GL350 Blue Tec is still going strong
Our long-term Mercedes-Benz GL350 Bluetec
could use a detailing inside and out after a harsh winter, but there’s no wear
and tear to speak of with the interior after covering 8,352 miles during the
third quarter. Credit our Benz’s great build and material quality, something we
expect from a vehicle wearing an $82K sticker. What’s more surprising is that
after nine months, the staff’s enthusiasm for our diesel-powered SUV hasn’t
waned.
The
Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec is based on a unitary steel platform
“I simply love it. If there’s a
smoother-riding SUV out there than this, show it to me,” wrote an editor. “The
Airmatic suspension works beautifully, and combined with the rock-solid
structure, the thing drives better than any 5,400-pounder has a right to. It
just glides down the road.” But don’t think that a cushy ride means the GL is a
pig in corners because the aforementioned air suspension is capable of firming
up to control things nicely.
Thrust from the turbocharged diesel V6
continues to easily move the big rig down the road with 455 lb ft of twist
available from just 1,600 rpm. Together with the seven-speed automatic, it’s
not only a smooth and potent powertrain, but it’s efficient, too, turning in an
average fuel economy of 22.2 mpg for the quarter to match the EPA-estimated
combined rating. Figure in the 26.4-gallon fuel tank, and the GL boasts serious
range—perfect for road trips.
The
airy cabin shares much with that of the latest M-class
Speaking of road trips, our GL’s schedule
remained packed with them, taking it all over Michigan and to Washington, D.C.,
and back, which explains the bounty of miles on the odometer. It’s on track to
eclipse the 30,000-mile mark by the time it leaves our garage in three months.
Cabin niceties like a Harman/Kardon surround- sound system, a rear
entertainment system, satellite radio and heated seats have kept occupants
happy and comfortable during long hauls.
And if staff requests for the GL’s services
weren’t for road trips, they were for transporting high volumes of stuff. Two
editors moved into new houses and packed the GL to the brim with their worldly
possessions. Others took it on the expected warehouse-store shopping runs or
chauffeured large groups of fans to sporting events and concerts.
Accommodation
is plentiful in the first two rows of seats
On the maintenance front, we visited the
Mercedes dealer not only for the 20,000-mile service that included the typical
oil change with Mobil 1 synthetic oil, tire rotation and general inspection,
but also to replace both the engine and cabin air filters. Being a diesel, the
urea tank was refilled, which added an hour of labor to the work order at $109
per hour, bringing the bill to $600. Getting the urea additive and topping off
the tank ourselves would have saved some money. At the same visit, the dealer
also updated the engine-control software under warranty.
Heading into the final quarter, a few
long-distance jaunts are already earmarked for the GL. We’re sure there will be
more moving of large items and human cargo, too, which we expect our Benz to
keep handling without a hitch. But before that happens, we’re definitely going
to get that detail.
