The new Mercedes-Benz GLS seven-seater SUV is priced from £69,100 and will arrive in showrooms in time for the March plate-change.

The new model replaced the outgoing GL and will be available with three models: the GLS 350d 4MATIC AMG Line, the GLS 350d 4MATIC designo Line and the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC.

Standard specification includes the latest generation of Mercedes’ Comand Online including an eight-inch screen and touchpad; AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping; LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus; leather upholstery; memory front seats; Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system; panoramic electric sunroof; parking package with 360° camera; lane tracking package including Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist; Keyless-GO comfort package; Thermotronic climate control with three zones; three-colour ambient lighting; and heated seats in the front two rows.

The designo Line adds designo nappa leather upholstery with diamond pattern quilting; heated and cooled front seats; a heated steering wheel; four-zone climate control including the third row of seats; temperature-controlled cup holders; and interior air ionisation with filter. Designo models also include Active Curve System, which uses active suspension stabilisers to help reduce the rolling motion of the vehicle in mid- and high-speed bends. It also helps increase axle articulation off-road.

The interior can be further personalised at no extra cost with a choice of five different leather upholstery colours in the AMG Line or two designo Exclusive nappa leather options in the designo Line.

Customers can choose from four wood trim finishes (brown open-pore ash, high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss brown eucalyptus, black poplar) or aluminium trim at no cost, with cost options including black piano lacquer and AMG carbon-fibre with black piano lacquer (combined).

The GLS 350d uses a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which produces 258bhp and 620 Nm of torque, and emits 199 g/km of CO2 (down from 209 g/km).

The 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox is standard.

An optional off-road package for the 350d adds a centre differential lock; low-range gearbox; extra modes for the Dynamic Select system and three additional heights for the suspension, to increase ground clearance to 306 mm and wading depth to up to 600 mm. Also included are underbody protection panels, and an off-road function for the headlights.

The GLS can also be fitted with a 5.5-litre bi-turbo 585bhp V8. Standard features with this engine include a revised AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission with AMG Dynamic Select transmission modes.

The GLS has a boot volume of 295 litres (all seats in place), 680 litres (third-row seats folded) or 2,300 litres (all rear seats folded), in a load compartment that is up to 2124 mm long and with a payload capacity of up to 815 kg.

Driver assistance systems fitted as standard include Collision Prevention Assist Plus; Crosswind Assist; Attention Assist; PRE-SAFE system; Brake Assist BAS; electronic all-wheel drive traction system 4ETS; ESP with Curve Dynamic Assist; cruise control with variable Speedtronic speed limiter and the Steer Control steering assist function.

Mercedes-Benz GLS 2016

GLS 350d AMG Line £69,100
GLS 350d designo £78,095
GLS 63 AMG £102,330