Over the past decade, the increasingly popular large-luxury-SUV segment has been dominated by vehicles from American and Japanese automakers. Now, Mercedes has joined the world of the big, the bold and the beautiful with its all-new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which ushers in a new level of luxury, style and performance.

Initially planned to replace the comparatively ancient and crude, yet extremely capable, military-sourced G-Class (a.k.a. the Gelandewagen, which soldiers on), the GL320 CDI, GL450 and GL550 sport-utility vehicles are built at Mercedes' Tuscaloosa, Alabama, plant alongside the midsize M-Class SUV and R-Class luxury wagon.

The big advantage the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has over its smaller midsize brother is its extra length and capacity behind the rear seats. It's about as long as its primary American competition, but with a longer wheelbase and more svelte dimensions. And while most competitors feature a heavier-duty, truck-based body-on-frame design, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class takes the more sophisticated route with a carlike unibody architecture to maximize ride comfort and on-road agility.

What Mercedes has accomplished with its world-class GL-Class remains impressive. We believe the GL-Class is a very viable and possible top choice in the large-luxury-SUV segment. If you're in the market for such a vehicle -- and value on-the-road comfort and manners more than ultimate off-road prowess or tow capacity -- you'll definitely want to look for the three-pointed-star and check out Mercedes' new GL-Class.

Current Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is offered in three variants: the GL320 CDI, GL450 and GL550. The latter features the most powerful engine, a more pronounced front grille and most of the less expensive models' optional features. Other than sporting different engines, the GL320 CDI and GL450 are virtually identical in terms of equipment.

With all GL-Class models, Mercedes has done its research and knows what's expected in this segment. The GL has generous well-appointed seating for up to seven passengers, a roomy cargo hold, supremely capable all-weather performance and the ability to tow the typical myriad lifestyle accessories. Standard niceties include powered and heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-folding third-row seat and a full complement of airbags and advanced safety equipment.

For more frosting on your cake, a navigation system, surround-sound audio, parking assist and more are available, as well as luxury touches like adaptive cruise control, a sunroof and a rear-seat entertainment system. All Mercedes-Benz GLs come with stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, whiplash-reducing front headrests, first- and second-row side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags with an integrated rollover sensor.

Under the GL450's hood is a well-balanced 4.7-liter V8 making 335 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The GL550 features a 5.5-liter V8 that produces 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The most intriguing powertrain option can be found in the GL320 CDI, which is powered by a 3.2-liter turbodiesel V6 good for 215 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. That type of low-end power is well suited for such a large crossover SUV driven primarily in a suburban environment, while it gets better mileage than its two gasoline-fueled counterparts. We suggest taking a close look at the CDI. However, it is not presently sold in California or California-emission states due to strict emission standards.

All GL-Class models come equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. They also all come with air-adjustable suspension and an all-wheel-drive system that requires no driver input -- a wonderful system for the road. For buyers planning to do regular off-roading, we suggest opting for the more advanced, dual-range 4WD system in the Off Road Package available on the GL450 only.

If you're shopping for a top-ranked large luxury SUV that drives "smaller" than most full-size vehicles and can run circles around most of its competition -- both literally and figuratively -- the new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class deserves serious consideration.

Past Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Models

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class was introduced for 2007 in GL450 guise only. The GL550 and GL320 CDI arrived the next year.

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