Used 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL350 BlueTEC SUV Review & Ratings

When buying an SUV most people want something that meets their needs. Too often this means leaving behind things they might like so that they have what they need. With the GL Class from Mercedes it is possible to meet both wants and needs. This is a class of SUV that allows for the hauling of family and cargo while still providing the luxury that keeps buyers happy. The Mercedes-Benz GL Class GL350 Bluetec SUV is the diesel version of this SUV and ensures that drivers will find it also saves them money on fuel. This combination is appealing and leaves buyers with the simple decision of whether or not they want to invest the amount on the price tag into a vehicle.

What sets the Mercedes-Benz GL Class GL350 Bluetec SUV apart from the competition begins with its build. While most SUVs are truck-based, the GL350 is based on a sedan. This offers a much more comfortable ride for passengers and makes it simpler to handle for the driver. Since it seats seven people, the GL350 is still large and awkward in many ways, but even so it is easier to maneuver than truck based competitors.

Inside the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz GL Class GL350 Bluetec SUV is the luxury and comfort that most people desire and expect when they purchase a Benz. It offers three rows of seating with plenty of head and leg room available. Even the third row can house adults and that is a rarity in SUVs that offer third row seating. The cargo space might not be as large as some of the competition, but it is still plenty big enough for most everything one would want to transport. Like most Mercedes vehicles the cabin is fully stocked with standard features, high quality materials and style.

Driving with the Mercedes-Benz GL Class GL350 Bluetec SUV is a pleasure. This model doesn't accelerate as fast as the others, but it offers plenty of gusto during the drive. Road noise is kept low and the cabin is virtually silent during travel. This SUV has impeccable steering and handling because of its sedan roots. The only downside that one might find is that it is big and bulky. This means that city driving, and most especially parking, may be a bit more difficult.

The Mercedes-Benz GL Class GL350 Bluetec SUV is the diesel version of the GL Class. As such it is powered by a turbocharged 3.0 liter 210 horsepower V6 diesel engine. That is mated with a seven speed automatic and boasts Mercedes well known 4Matic all wheel drive. It takes a bit longer to accelerate and will not hit sixty until a little over nine seconds. The good side is that it is much more fuel efficient. This model gets about 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. That is considered good for a vehicle of this size and with a V6.