Flagship Mercedes GLS SUV Gets Facelift And Premium Elements From Its Maybach Variant

• Mercedes has globally premiered the facelifted GLS and Maybach GLS 600 SUVs.  

• GLS gets mild cosmetic updates alongside revised powertrains and new features. 

• AMG variant with 612PS, 4-litre V8 engine to be available in some markets. 

• Overseas launch in October 2023, India launch expected by early 2024. 

Mercedes has given its flagship luxury SUV a refresh for 2023 which comprises cosmetic and feature updates. The updates received by the full-size, three-row SUV seem minor at first glance, but they work to push the SUV further upmarket.

The new GLS will be first launched in the USA in September, followed by a European launch in October. 

New Mercedes GLS updates 

The GLS SUV’s stern front-end styling continues with relatively small headlights, an upright bonnet and a massive grille. The grille looks more prominent since it’s larger and has four full-width horizontal slats. Lower down, the bumper features cool, modern-looking  body-coloured side air vent surrounds and the lower grille has a wire-mesh cover. 

Over on the sides, the GLS SUV’s silhouette remains familiar, but it looks more minimalist in the pictured de-chromed model, especially in this new alpine grey paint shade. The GLS also gets the sodalite blue metallic paint shade that’s available with the EQS. 

At the rear, the facelift brings along three-element split LED taillights and a full-black lower bumper with dual oval exhaust exits. Overall, the new GLS keeps the overall design familiar but sheds some of its chrome for a more contemporary aesthetic. 

Interior and features 

Inside, the overall layout of the dashboard, instruments and controls is unchanged from before. However, you do get a new three-spoke steering wheel with touch controls, high-output USB ports, an air purifier and an optional “Multi-seat Entertainment System” that adds a pair of rear-facing touchscreens, the “Hey, Mercedes” voice assistant and other infotainment system controls. 

But if you really want a great rear seating experience, few cars in the world offer a better back seat than the GLS SUV’s Maybach version detailed in the next section.  

Maybach GLS also revised 

The ultra-luxurious version of the GLS SUV now looks even more impressive with its revised bumper that gets triangular side vent covers with a Maybach logo pattern. While the standard GLS is on a chrome diet, the GLS simply isn’t, so it still gets shiny lower bumper trim elements at the front and rear. For the first time, the Maybach GLS 600 will be offered with the uber-cool, full-dish chrome Maybach alloy wheels (pictured) that take this SUV’s bling to a whole new level.  

Mercedes has also revised the GLS SUV’s powertrains and they get a slight bump in their outputs. In India we get the GLS 450 petrol and GLS 400d diesel variants; the petrol unit now makes 381PS (+18PS) while the diesel is now called the GLS 450d 4Matic and offers a 367PS (+37PS) output. That said, the Maybach GLS 600 continues with its 4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine making 557PS and 730Nm, the same as before. 

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The facelifted Mercedes GLS is expected to arrive in India by early 2024. It’ll be a rival to the Audi Q8, BMW X7, Range Rover and Volvo XC90.