5 Benefits the Mercedes-Benz GLS Provides Families

Having a compelling vehicle that matches Mechanicsburg's atmosphere will make driving throughout the area and beyond a real joy, and for that to be possible, you need to be behind the wheel of the right vehicle. What kind of vehicle might that be? Have you thought about a Mercedes-Benz GLS? The three-row crossover is designed to provide drivers with upscale luxury performance that is perfect for families and for those looking to raise a family in this part of Pennsylvania. Of course, if you want to get your hands on a GLS, you will need to visit the right Mercedes-Benz dealer near Mechanicsburg.

But before you step through our dealership doors, you might be asking what the benefits of going with a GLS model over something else are. What makes the Mercedes-Benz three-row crossover more compelling and engaging for drivers compared to its nearest competitors? And what do you want if you live in the Mechanicsburg area? Well, let's talk about five benefits the Mercedes-Benz GLS offers drivers in the area looking for a worthwhile family SUV.

#1 - GLS 580 Provides Lots of Snappy Performance

The different versions of the GLS provide you with different performance levels. Both the GLS 450 and GLS 580 come with a hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain, but if you enjoy putting the pedal to the metal as you head out of Mechanicsburg and make your way onto I-76, the GLS 580 offers some snappy performance right off the line thanks to its mild hybrid V8 design. The 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 offers a lot more performance than some of its nearest competitors at 510 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque.

Thanks to the integrated hybrid generator, it is able to feed torque to the wheels relatively quickly, creating a very responsive vehicle for off-the-line performance. This gives you a very nice mixture of high-end performance and responsive handling thanks to the 4MATIC® fully variable all-wheel drive system. Not only can you achieve impressive top speeds with the Mercedes-Benz GLS 580, but you also have a lot of great features like the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission and AIRMATIC® suspension for dynamic stability and handling.

But even if high-end performance isn't a big requirement on your shopping list for a family SUV and you feel the GLS 580 is a bit too much for you, the GLS 450 is still a great option. The GLS 450 comes with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine that makes 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque and provides you with an Adaptive Damping System, sport brake system, and Downhill Speed Regulation. So you have a lot of performance features themed around snappy handling, responsive turning, and quick braking. All of these features are great if you're doing quick runs around town and you need an SUV that you can maneuver through the winding streets of Mechanicsburg without the vehicle feeling like it's too much for the more laid-back layout of the town.

#2 - Plenty of Capacity Without Being Unwieldy

Three-row crossover SUVs can sometimes pick up a reputation as being large and unwieldy on the road, as you're giving up handling in place of cargo capacity, but the GLS isn't designed that way at all. Even though it is a large SUV, it's still designed to be very compatible with many of Mechanicsburg's two-lane roads, so taking the main roads from your residence to other towns or nearby cities is quick, natural, and convenient, thanks to the sleek design of the GLS. But it does all of this while still having impressive passenger volume and cargo capacity.

You can seat up to seven passengers, depending on the configuration. So, if you have a small family but you're thinking about expanding, the GLS is very much designed for that scalability. You have three rows with up to 40.3 inches of legroom in the first row, 41.9 inches of legroom in the second row, and 34.6 inches of legroom in the third row. Even if all you have is a small family right now, your family can grow into the GLS. Alternatively, if you already have grown kids or teenagers, the GLS provides you with a lot of spacious room across all three rows for passengers.

Additionally, you have a total cargo volume of 17.4 cu.ft. of space behind the third row, but if you fold down the second and third rows, you can make use of up to 84.7 cu.ft. of space. If you have to move furniture, large electronic devices, fishing equipment, hiking gear, camping tools, or other large items, you can actually fit them comfortably in the GLS for transport. That makes the crossover SUV quite versatile and fairly utilitarian, especially if you plan on doing any towing as well, since it can manage up to 7,700 lbs worth of towing, rivaling any midsize pickup truck on the market.

#3 - Refined Styling for Those Who Want Something Luxurious

Some luxury brands put a lot of effort into trying to stand out from the competition, with super sharp lines, extremely extravagant fenders, gaudy surrounds, or garish accents. However, Mercedes-Benz avoids all of that by having designed the GLS with a refined sense of luxury. So you end up with a vehicle that has very relaxed lines, a modest silhouette, and an approachable stance, all while still sporting key hallmarks of the brand, such as the color scheme and the bold grille with the iconic Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star logo in the center.

On the GLS 450, you have all-season tires encasing five-spoke 21-inch aluminum wheels, while the GLS 580 sports 22-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels. There are slight design differences between the two, with the GLS 450 offering black cladding around the lower side skirts and fenders, while the GLS 580 has a full body-color design for the fenders and a more aerodynamic front end featuring sport-inlets and a vented bumper. Even with the sporty accouterments, the GLS will not look out of place in Mechanicsburg, whether it's heading to the local mart or taking a special someone on a night out on the town.

Inside, you have a lot of great comfort features for long and short drives alike, including heated and ventilated seats, so you and your family can stay warm during the cold seasons and cool during the warm seasons. There are also multicontour massage seats to ensure everyone is comfortably seated. So, for long rides, you probably won't want to leave the vehicle, but for short rides, it's like you never stepped out of bed. The interior is also decked out with a lot of elegant trimming and materials, including Nappa leather upholstery, a heated leather steering wheel with media controls, 64-color ambient LED lighting, and privacy glass so you can see out but no one else can see in.

#4 - MBUX for Improved Accessibility

A great family vehicle isn't just about seating accommodations and comfort; it's also about how well the vehicle can adapt to your tech-rich lifestyle. If you're consistently on the phone, on your laptop, on a tablet, or in remote meetings, having an SUV that can keep you or your family connected becomes extremely important, and that's where the Mercedes-Benz GLS shines. The infotainment stack is powered by the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), and this provides users with a lot of usability and accessibility.

Not only do you have smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which enables you to access your music, playlists, media, and more, but you also have built-in voice commands and digital assistants available. This is powered by a natural voice control system with multiple language recognition. Simply saying "Hey Mercedes" allows you to give the vehicle a number of commands depending on what you want to do.

The keyword activation allows you to quickly access commands and system functions using natural voice responses, such as telling the system you're cold or hot and having the vehicle adjust the climate based on your input. You have access to live traffic information for easy navigation to your destinations, whether near or far, and touchscreen controls in case you don't feel like talking, with a 12.3-inch HD touchscreen and an accompanying 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

#5 - Advanced Safety When Venturing In and Beyond Mechanicsburg

Mechanicsburg isn't known for being frequently congested with traffic, but that doesn't mean safety isn't an important feature to have when venturing around the area or beyond. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has opted for a safety system that accommodates safety not just today but also in the future with a Car-to-X communication suite. With this, the vehicle can pick up and communicate with other vehicles utilizing a central notification system, so you can be informed about potential accidents or hazards before you even get there, using in-dashboard announcements or alerts. This is perfect for when you need to avoid a certain route due to a potential accident or plan for a potential detour due to an alert.

You also have a complete suite of active safety assists that can help you navigate difficult traffic, such as Active Brake Assist, driver alerts, and an LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive Highbeam Assist. There is a unique PRE-SAFE® system that can make adjustments before a collision occurs. For those windy Pennsylvania days, you have Crosswind Assist. So, there are a lot of ways to keep you and your family safe on the road, as the vehicle does a lot of the safety checks for you.

With all of these features, there are a lot of reasons to visit our Mercedes-Benz dealer near Mechanicsburg to invest in a GLS 450 or GLS 580 for the family. It offers great safety features with a lot of awesome assists and alerts so that whether driving near or far from your home, the vehicle is always looking to take care of you on the road. It's one of the many reasons why Mercedes-Benz is so sought after by those who want a practical and safe luxury vehicle for the family.