[samyakmodi]

Some of you might recall that we bought a BMW 630d back in 2020, right in the midst of the pandemic. It has served us well over the years, despite a few hiccups, and now clocks in at around 97,000 km.

However, as my parents are getting older, they've started facing difficulties getting in and out of the 630d. We began considering a new car that could offer the same level of comfort while being more accessible for them. Our requirements were simple yet non-negotiable: comfort that we've grown used to with the 630d, ease of ingress and egress, ample space, and, ideally, the ability to ferry the whole family (including our parents, two kids, their nanny, my wife, and I) when needed. Oh, and it had to be a joy to drive—though that’s purely my preference.

Cars Considered

Toyota Innova Hycross: A fantastic car overall, but the interior quality left us wanting more, and it wasn’t particularly exciting to drive.

Kia Carnival: The new model was on the horizon, but I wasn’t convinced about the brand, especially regarding safety.

BMW X5, X7, and the 740d: Having dealt with the horrors of run-flat tires (RFTs) on the 630d, I wasn’t keen on another BMW. The X5 didn’t offer the rear-seat comfort we were used to, and the X7’s captain seats weren’t ideal for easy access. As for the 740d, while it's ugly on the outside, the interior is stunning. Dad loved it so much that he joked about keeping the doors open just to admire it. It was nearly perfect without the RFTs, but the low seating and poor after-sales experience with Infinity Indore ruled it out.

Range Rover / Land Rover Discovery Sport, Defender, Velar, and Sport: These cars had their appeal, but reliability issues were a dealbreaker. The Discovery Sport had subpar plastics, the Defender struggled on highway manners, the Velar’s rear seats were cramped, and the RR Sport, despite my high hopes, disappointed with its rear seats with poor under-thigh support and a challenging ingress/egress due to the rear wheel arch.

Toyota Vellfire: This was a top contender. The comfort and Toyota’s reliability were hard to beat, but a few issues held me back: 1) It would have been purely chauffeur-driven (not my idea of fun), 2) ₹1.5 crore for a Toyota seemed steep, especially when I wouldn't be able to drive it and 3) Availability was uncertain. The local dealer wasn't even sure whether he would be able to give us the car in the next 6 months also.

Mercedes E/S/GLE/GLS: We had bought an E-Class for our business partner earlier this year, and while he is happy with it, the low seating made it impractical for our needs. The S-Class was fantastic, but again, the seating was too low. The GLE almost fit the bill, but the high floor and low rear seats made it uncomfortable for long rides as it barely gave any under thigh support.

The GLS did not have any wow factor either. But it seemed far more spacious than the competition, ingress/egress were manageable, engine was decent, and seemed to be jack of all trades but king of none!

After much deliberation, we narrowed it down to the GLS 450d.




While the car met our needs, I couldn’t help but feel a bit short-changed by Mercedes. With only five colors to choose from and limited interior/exterior combinations, it felt a bit restrictive. The GLS also came with fewer features than the GLE, which was surprising for a car of this class.

That said, the sales team at Landmark Cars Indore won us over. They never tried to upsell or badmouth other models, and they were transparent about the shortcomings of their cars. They answered my queries patiently, whether it was during the day or late at night. Though Mercedes India could invest more in training their sales team about the cars' features, their grace and professionalism were commendable.

Where the GLS Falls Short

Compared to the GLE:
1. No Heads-up Display
2. No Temperature-controlled Cup Holders
3. No Energizing Package
4. No Air Balance Package

Compared to the BMW 630d:
1. The MBUX system feels basic compared to BMW's iDrive. You can't even switch tire pressure units from kPa to PSI.

2. No Active Brake Assist while reversing or parking (or if it exists, I haven't been brave enough to test it!).

3. Parking sensors don’t alert you when a vehicle gets too close in traffic—could be due to the PPF, but I never had this issue with the 6GT.

4. The sunroof has a flimsy cloth cover instead of a solid one, offering little protection from sunlight.

5. No gesture controls—which I once thought were gimmicky in the 6GT but have since grown to not just appreciate but end up using them almost all the time..

6. I also noticed some quality issues that felt unacceptable for a flagship car. For instance, the sunroof switch feels spongy, like something out of a government contract's lowest bid. The display dimmer knob is absolutely rubbish to use - wonder who approved this quality at Mercedes Benz as it is absolutely horrendous to use.

7. At low speeds, the ride quality is average at it's best, and there’s noticeable body roll (though maybe that’s just my sensitivity to driving an SUV for the first time).

8. The car is also slow to respond to commands, like folding the rear seats—there's always a delay. And while the touchscreen is responsive, rearranging the icons can take several attempts. Heck even the rear net blinds on the windows are slow!

9. The steering wheel controls, all touch-based, are quite irritating, and the new steering wheel design that isn’t available in India looks much better but comes with even more annoying touch controls. And somehow MB forgot to add the next/previous track button on it. Although if you say those words aloud - the car does the job.

10. There are no video tutorials like "how to" - the 6GT has them on board as well as on YouTube. Mercedes should seriously consider having its own "how to" channel on YouTube for its MBUX system as it is not as easy as people claim.

11. You do not have customisable driving mode. You just get 3 modes which MB has decided is good enough for you - Comfort, Eco and off-road. Yet to use off-road and eco and comfort are very close to notice any substantial difference.

What I was expecting from the car
1. They should have given massaging chairs at the least. Maybe not for all seats - but rear shouldn't have been omitted. They missed on the front as well.

2. Their Magic Vision control - a wiper system with the spray nozzles in built.
Considering this is supposed to be their flagship SUV under their brand (not Maybach) omission of these 2 things other than what's missing compared to the GLE is absolute blasphemy!!

When we visited the dealership, they also showed us the Maybach GLS. One feature that stood out was the deployable side step—though it looked odd, it was undeniably comfortable. I was informed that they could retrofit a similar sidestep onto the GLS, but it wouldn’t be an original Mercedes part. They even gave us the option to source it ourselves or get it through them. However, when I asked whether it would affect the warranty, they first assured me it wouldn’t. But when I requested this in writing, they declined. A sidestep would have been a nice addition to this car, but I’m still weighing whether it's worth the potential risks.

Initial Ownership experience :

The car has it's quirks and I am still trying to figure out what is what - but I am quite happy over all with the car. Today experienced Mercedes' pre-safe seatbelt coming in action. A person on a bike decided to "cut across" quite close to the car and immediately the seatbelts tightened up and the car I presume was about to apply emergency brakes! Though I skipped a heartbeat (not in a pleasant way) - I am happy knowing that the car will take care of the occupants inside.

I would have preferred the car showing the side view on the display screen each time I switch on the indicators - which if not entirely wrong is available in the E class. The side view mirrors have a red triangle which glows if someone is in your blind spot - but because of the car's size - it's usually out of your field of vision, especially the left side one.

Few quirks which I find amusing in the car are to do with their ambient lights. Every time you adjust the AC temperature - the corresponding side's ambient lights turn blue/red depending on whether you have reduced the temperature or increased it. The ambient lights flash red whenever you are opening the door and the car detects a vehicle coming up from behind.

The multi beam LED headlight is straight out of a science fiction story. One has to see it to believe it. It can literally cast shadows on the car in front and on the oncoming traffic while totally illuminating everything else around it. Now the 6GT's headlamps feel absolutely "bleh" compared to the merc.
Another quirk which I noticed in the car is - it comes with 2 sun visors on each side!! Not sure how often I would remember to use them though.

When you unlock the car - it projects a nice three pointed star logo on the ground - which to be honest feels cool for no reason.

The car comes with two headphones for the rear entertainment - though I still haven't got around to trying them. But I am assuming they should be good considering how good the Burmester sound system is.

It also has a very clever camera trick called transparent bonnet. This can be accessed via off road settings. What it does it gives you a view of what might be under the bonnet between the front tyres. Cool gimmick - but not sure how usable it would ever be in my use case scenario.

The camera also swivels when you turn the steering while moving forward.




Found a nice easter egg on the windshield - there is Carl Benz's signature.


The cabin is much quieter than the 6GT, and my dad finds it far easier to get in and out. Now, the whole family can travel together, which is a huge plus. And perhaps most importantly, I no longer have to dread every pothole! Despite my cautious driving, the 6GT cost me four cracked alloys. While I am still cautious about going through the potholes, it's a relief to know that the GLS can handle them much better. The moment you press the accelerator, the engine comes to life, and the gear shifts are seamless - all this is done in a very serene way (maybe that's how Mercs usually are). However, if I’m being honest, the 6GT still feels like a more engaging car to drive.

And yes, this car is huge. It might seem intimidating at first glance, but its manoeuvrability is impressive, with a surprisingly manageable turning radius for its size. This car is intimidating for others on the road as well, as people give way when you approach (but that may well be the case for all SUVs). Especially this feeling was amplified when I was driving my polo the other day and people just simply bullied me on the road - or so it seemed.

On the flip side - this car doesn't catch as many eyes as the 6GT does on the road. 4 years in - and still I see people staring at the car at the traffic signals - the GLS doesn't attract that kind of attention.

With barely 600kms done so far - I am still struggling to be comfortable with the car's size. Totally clueless about the width and where the car's length ends so far.

On a side note - MBIL doesn't give much accessories to choose from. Least they can offer is dash cam and mudflaps for their cars. All I could get from them (by paying extra of course) were the rubber mats.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Entsurgeon]

Congratulations Samyak.

Knowing you, I can expect timely updates and in depth analysis of life with the GLS in next years.

Happy and safe motoring.

[visionrider]

Wonderful purchase. On a side note did you try out the Lexus flagship. If yes how would you compare it against the GLS.

[acedriver_9000]

Congratulations Samyak. I remember, you were saying ingress & egress in RR sport is a bit difficult in the rear. GLS is the best family vehicle for long trips. Its like premium & plusher Innova plus fun to drive as well. Feels like a large luxury yacht.

I'm still eyeing RR sport. Want only 5-seater SUVs. Based on your test drives, between X5 & RR sport what do you suggest?

[samyakmodi]

Originally Posted by Entsurgeon

Congratulations Samyak.

Knowing you, I can expect timely updates and in depth analysis of life with the GLS in next years.

Happy and safe motoring.

Thank you so much doc

Originally Posted by visionrider

Wonderful purchase. On a side note did you try out the Lexus flagship. If yes how would you compare it against the GLS.

Honestly the Lexus flagship was way out of my league. At Rs.2.82Cr - Didn't even have the courage to look at it. Add to it there is no Lexus dealership in Indore. It seemed too much of an effort to go and see a car to another city which anyway you do not plan to buy.

Originally Posted by acedriver_9000

Congratulations Samyak. I remember, you were saying ingress & egress in RR sport is a bit difficult in the rear. GLS is the best family vehicle for long trips. It's like premium & plusher Innova plus fun to drive as well. Feels like a large luxury yacht.

I'm still eyeing RR sport. Want only 5-seater SUVs. Based on your test drives, between X5 & RR sport what do you suggest?

Thank you so much buddy. Though RR Sport seems like a very good car - the rear seat ingress/egress was a major deal breaker for us. Honestly I did not take any test drive of any other car as all car's rear seat access was first tested and surprisingly all failed other than the GLS. The GLS also passed because we thought we would be able to install the Maybach's sidestep, which would make it supremely comfortable to get in and out.

My 2 cents on X5 and RR Sport - X5 I believe would be a more reliable car to own and definitely more fun to drive as well. RR Sport would definitely have its gremlins hidden in every nook and cranny but has a far better perception value. I also believe they do have some good wizardry wrapped under the skin - but I am still worried about their reliability. To come to think of it BMW definitely is far more reliable compared to the RR, but in my personal experience the car is as fragile as a piece of glass. (you can read about what all issues I have faced with my 630D)

[samyakmodi]

2000kms update.

It's been just over a month since we have been using the GLS - and contrary to what the initial impressions were - the car has started growing on me.

Here are my few observations
1. The car still shows a 360 degree view even when the side view mirrors are folded in - which surprisingly doesn't happen in the BMW.
2. Had opportunity to sit behind a few times - and honestly the ride is simply sublime! It is far more comfortable than the 6GT.
3. The Burmester audio system is fantastic. Still to figure out how to pair the headphones with the rear entertainment screens though. Seems a bit complicated - but once done should be good.
4. The car though huge - now seems easily manageable - maybe now I have gotten used to the size.
5. The Mercedes Me app is quite good. You can lock/unlock the car without the key, you can roll up/down the windows from anywhere - and it informs you every time someone unlocks/locks the car as well.
6. Inspite of the space inside - fitting 2 6 footers behind each other is not as easy as I imagined it would be.

Over all - I am now learning to appreciate this car more than the initial impressions. Not such a bad buy after all

[beanstalk_230]

Any suggestions on what specific diesel type that you have been using or has been suggested to you? Regular or Xtragreen ?

[samyakmodi]

Originally Posted by beanstalk_230

Any suggestions on what specific diesel type that you have been using or has been suggested to you? Regular or Xtragreen ?

I am so sorry - completely missed your message. I have been not asked anything about specific diesel to be used - I am using the regular one from the regular bunker which I trust.

Update ::

I had sent the car over to the service centre for a software update (which my car needed because of some gremlins) - once I got it back, I noticed there is some rattling coming from the back of the car. Sent it yesterday to get it checked - the corrected it by saying that the rattling was because of non lubricated boot lock. I have no clue what they mean by that - can anyone shed some light on it?
Inspite of the software being updated - the easy access feature (where the seat goes all the way back and steering goes all the way up upon entering the car and exiting it) is still not working somehow - the dealership people say it does, but I have not seen it working most of the times. Also I am still trying to figure out how to connect my phones while seated at the rear seat. Also clueless how to connect the provided headphones to the car.

[abhilashgp]

Originally Posted by samyakmodi

Least they can offer is dash cam and mudflaps for their cars. All I could get from them (by paying extra of course) were the rubber mats.

Mercedes has their dashcams, I have them installed. I also see them available on the Mercedes online store.

[samyakmodi]

Originally Posted by abhilashgp

Mercedes has their dashcams, I have them installed. I also see them available on the Mercedes online store.

unfortunately that wasn't available when I purchased the car. only last week my SA informed that Mercedes is launching the dash cam.

[samyakmodi]

Hi,

I have been facing a particular issue with the GLS450D ever since we got it home. Wanted to understand from other owners or pundits - is this normal?

Well the car has an easy entry and exit feature - which essentially means that the driver seat would slide all the way back and the steering would go up - making entry and exit much more convenient. Unfortunately in my car this feature has not been working. I have enabled it multiple times from the control unit - but still it toggles itself off - of its own.

Another problem I face regularly is - when I hit the memory button for my seat - the seat first goes completely in the front and rises to the maximum height (and it feels like it's trying to crush me) before it goes back to my seat settings. More often than not while going to my seat setting it stops midway and I have to hit the memory button again to make it work again.

Has anyone else been facing this issue with their Mercedes? or am I the chosen one??

[samyakmodi]

Looks like I am the chosen one after all!!

Today the car's AC panel stopped working altogether. You couldn't control the temperature or blower or anything. Only the hazard light switch was working. Although one could control everything via the touchscreen menu.

After the local dealership tried their level best to diagnose it at my residence - they have now decided to take the car to the workshop to look into the matter in depth.

I am totally clueless how these things happen in these cars.
Any pointers??

[samyakmodi]

While the car is still getting diagnosed at the dealership regarding the hiccups I have been facing - the dealership very gracefully provided me with a courtesy car.
For the first 2 days they had given me the EQE SUV - which to be honest gave me quite a few jitters in the first day itself. Requested them to change the car if not too inconvenient - and they have then given me the New E-class. To call it new will be a major understatement as the car they have graciously provided has barely done 100 kms.

Here is my small review on the 2 cars of using them for a short while.

EQE SUV
The over all feel good factor in the car is HUGE!! The interiors were very nice to be honest - but found the new hyper screen a bit tedious to use. Also gives out a lot of glare.
The drive quality is quite good with a very supple suspension and a crazy motor to knock your socks off. Strongly recommend everyone to try this electric vehicle to see what crazy acceleration means!!
Having said that there were a few things I noticed in the car - this car comes equipped with almost everything - massaging chairs, perfume pack, heads up display - you name it. What it doesn't come equipped with is no bells or dongs at 80kmph and 120kmph and surprisingly soft close doors. Also what it severely lacks is sense for Indian traffic.
Twice I was almost at a standstill at signals because the car refused to move inspite of having no one ahead of me. And twice when it moved it almost made me shit my pants because it just simply took off (remember the crazy acceleration??) !!!
Then at one crossing some one on a bike crossed me - maybe 20 feet away and the car simply applied the brakes with all might - and I was almost rear ended by another car coming from behind.
After this I called up the dealership to take away this car and please give me something that I can drive.

The all new E-class
This car seemed like something I can live with without it scaring me every few kms. The car is good. The interiors also are what you would expect at this price point but again the hyper screen was one screen too many for my liking. Since the car was barely 100 kms old -the hyper screen also has the protective plastic on it - which hampers the vision even more than it should while driving.
After using the car for 2 days - I am still struggling to find the right/comfortable driving position for myself and now I have almost given up. This purely might be a "me" problem as I am 6'2 but somehow I felt the steering should have a better travel for taller passengers, there should be an option to push the headrest further back to accommodate the soft cushions they have provided. With my driving position some how there wasn't much space left at the rear - at least compared to the 6GT. But that might be because of the low slung seats. The ride quality over all was acceptable considering this car doesn't come with air suspensions. What Mercedes has provided in this car is something they call 4D music. Though sounds amazing on papers - it somehow failed to impress me with the seat giving out very minor thumps coordinated with the music. The engine seemed OK to drive but has been giving crazy fuel efficiency!! Today I noticed 18.5kmpl on my way to work (my factory is about 45kms away from my place) in eco mode. Impressed!!

With these 2 Mercedes available to me from over 4 days I have a new found appreciation for my 5 year old BMW 630D which has clocked just over 108k kms so far.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by samyakmodi

Looks like I am the chosen one after all!!
I am totally clueless how these things happen in these cars.
Any pointers??

I have heard similar stories locally. Things have gone bad once again with Mercedes' newer models as far as electronics are concerned. Your issues appear to be related to some faults in programming or a control unit gone kaput. I doubt there will be anything mechanically wrong with the air conditioner or the seats.

Do keep us updated.