Nuts & Bolts
2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450
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Complaints: GL450 luxury does not equate to maximum utility. For utility, you can get more and spend considerably less, and still be plush. Consider the Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-9.
Ride, acceleration and handling: Superior big-vehicle performance in all three categories. Any big vehicle that rides and handles with the near-precision of a sports car gets our attention. This one does.
Head-turning quotient: It's a big, luxury Mercedes-Benz. Duh . . . .
Body style/layout: The GL450 is a front-engine, all-wheel-drive, full-size luxury sport-utility vehicle built with unit-body construction, which means it rides more like a sedan than it does a truck. The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class also includes the 320 CDI, which is a less-expensive, considerably more fuel-efficient version, which we prefer. Big spenders san sate their appetites with the super-luxury GL550.
Engine/transmission: The standard engine is a 4.7-liter, 32-valve V-8 that develops 335-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 339 foot-pounds of torque at 2,700 rpm. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission that also can be shifted manually.
Capacities: There are seats for seven, but seating space depends on how much cargo is carried. Cargo capacity is 83 cubic feet with middle and rear seats folded down, but it drops to 14.3 cubic feet with those seats up. Fuel capacity is 26.4 gallons of required premium unleaded gasoline. "Required" means required here.
Mileage: We barely averaged 17 miles per gallon in highway driving. Let's not even talk about city mileage.
Safety: Antilock brakes, side and head air bags, electronic stability and traction control are standard. Rigid body construction is among the best in the business.
Price: Base price on the tested GL450 is $55,900. Dealer's invoice price on base model is $51,987. Price as tested is $70,195, including $13,470 in options (onboard navigation, premium sound and video systems, panoramic roof, leather seats, parking proximity warning system, Mercedes-Benz Distronic system that automatically sets safe driving distance between your vehicle and the car ahead, fog lights and other goodies) and a $825 destination charge. Dealer's price as tested is $65,339. Prices sourced from Mercedes-Benz, http:/
Purse-strings note: The perfect vehicle for people who have lots of cash and want to spend it.
