New 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

With two powerful V-8 engine options, a clean diesel and a spacious cabin complete with all the trimmings, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class full-size crossover will have you riding in luxury.

The all-wheel-drive 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class seats seven people across three rows of seats and is available in GL350 Bluetec (diesel), GL450 and GL550 trim levels. Three engine choices are available, including a 210-horsepower, 3.0-liter clean-diesel-powered turbocharged V-6 that is 50-state legal (GL350 Bluetec); 335-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 (GL450); and 382-horsepower, 5.5-liter V-8. Each engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. EPA estimated fuel economy ratings range between 13-17 mpg in the city and 17-23 mpg on the highway.

Competing with Acura MDX and BMW X5, the sporty Mercedes-Benz GL-Class gets minor interior and exterior tweeks for 2010, including a refreshened front and rear fascia, redesigned instrumentation and seats, new headlamps and LED taillights, trapezoidal tailpipes, chrome skid plates and either dual fog lights or LED daytime lights. The GL350 Bluetec offers a standard adaptive air suspension, sunroof, automatic headlights, roof rails and automatic wipers. The GL450 sits on standard 19-inch wheels, the GL350 Bluetech rests on 20-inch wheels and GL550 gets 21-inch wheels.

The interior is comprised of wood and leather materials with heated front seats and features a multimedia system with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND interface, which controls entertainment, climate and navigation settings. The GL350 Bluetec standard offerings include dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning controls, heated eight-way power front seats, third-row power split-folding seatbacks and an eight-speaker stereo with in-dash six-CD changer.

Keyless start and heated/ventilated front seats are standard on the GL550, while a rear DVD entertainment system can be had as an option. A Premium I package, standard on the GL550, adds a power tailgate, power-folding mirrors, a rearview camera, driver memory functions, auto-dimming driver-side and interior mirrors and a hard-drive-based navigation system with voice controls. Inside, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class offers an impressive 83 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity.

As for safety, a new Post-Safe system unlocks the doors and shuts down the engine and fuel system after an accident. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class’ suite of standard safety technologies include side curtain airbags for all three rows, side-impact airbags for first and second rows, antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and Pre-Safe collision-mitigation system, which tightens seatbelts and closes windows prior to impact.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class full-size luxury SUV boasts two V-8 engine options and a clean diesel, plenty of available interior gadgetry, revised interior and exterior styling cues and class-leading interior cargo volume.