Mercedes-Benz GL-Class CDI

DATELINE: REYKJAVIK – DRIVING HERE IS DIFFERENT THAN ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET. OUR COMPANIONS COMMENTED OFTEN ON THE TERRAIN’S LIKENESS TO THE LUNAR SURFACE OR MAYBE EVEN MARS. BUT A LUNARSCAPE? WELL, PROBABLY NOT, CONSIDERING THE ICE-SHROUDED PEAKS IN THE DISTANCE AND THE FJORD WE STOPPED AT THE DAY BEFORE. WE HADN’T HEARD OF STEAM VENTS ON MARS, BUT IMAGINED HOW THEIR PREVALENCE HERE DID SEEM OTHERWORLDLY. CONSIDERING ICELAND’S OFTEN-CHALLENGING GRAVEL ROADS AND THE GENERAL ISOLATION OF THE DRIVE, OF THIS WE WERE SURE: THE CONSIDERABLE CAPABILITIES OF MERCEDES-BENZ’ NEW GL-CLASS WE WERE PILOTING WERE WELCOME, INDEED.

Underscoring that Iceland is a country of contrasts, our drive on the streets of Reykjavik was hauntingly familiar. We were in the midst of a thriving metropolis. But venture outside this bastion of civilization and the otherworldly description fits. Yes, there were those occasional clusters of buildings, but mostly it was lava field upon lava field, with narrow two-lane paved roads or, often enough, gravel roads of the same width. The scenery ranges from more-of-the-same rock, moss, and treeless landscape to spectacular vistas.

Driving this in Mercedes-Benz’ all-new GL-Class leaves one focused on yet another contrast: traversing Iceland’s rugged and disparate landscape in an equally rugged but luxurious SUV. Credit for striking such a balance goes to a list of high-tech features that would make the Mars Rover proud. Highlights include the variable-height AIRMATIC air suspension that affords a fording depth of 23.6 inches as well as a surprisingly supple ride around town. Plus, there’s the advanced 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system that includes stability and traction control with shock damping that adjusts to driving conditions.

The seven-seat interior coddles its passengers regardless of the manner of mayhem outside. Leather and wood are generously apportioned throughout the spacious cabin, and all the creature comforts expected of a modern Mercedes are present. The two third-row seats fold into the floor at the push of a button. Folding down the second-row seats yields a total 81 cubic feet of cargo carrying capacity.

The GL’s styling looks purposeful and rugged, though less businesslike than the German military-sourced G-Class, which soldiers on alongside the GL-Class for its 27th year of production. A slippery – for this class, anyway – drag coefficient of 0.37 reduces wind noise and works to improve fuel economy.

The GL450, with its powerful 335 hp, 4.6-liter V-8 gasoline engine, is the only GL currently offered in America. It starts at $54,900 and Mercedes claims combined city and highway fuel economy is about 17 mpg. The GL500 – as well as the diesel-powered GL320 CDI and GL420 CDI – will be available in other world markets. All are equipped with Mercedes’ new smooth-shifting and efficient seven-speed automatic transmission.

The all-new 4.0-liter V-8 diesel in the GL420 CDI features the third-generation of Mercedes’ common-rail fuel injection system. Power is up to 306 hp, while emissions are down drastically. Fuel economy of about 20 mpg is expected. Also offered in the GL320 CDI is the tried-and-true 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine, providing 24 mpg. Both engines come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter that cuts engine-out emissions by 99 percent.

As clean as they are, the current diesel engines won’t meet California’s stringent emissions regulations. Mercedes-Benz is expected to offer a 45-state legal diesel
GL – likely using one of these two engines – in the coming months. The company hopes to employ its urea-based selective catalytic reduction system in a diesel-powered version of the GL-Class to meet emissions in all 50 states as early as 2008.

We emerged from our drive in the “lands of the ice and snow / from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow” – as Led Zeppelin describes Iceland in its iconic Immigrant Song – with a profound respect for the land and the people who live there. The same could be said of our experience with Mercedes-Benz’ GL-Class CDI. This all-new offering melds the utmost in civilized features in an SUV made to endure the rigors of a less civilized world, all the while offering higher fuel economy and lower emissions. It’s a combination that is sure to resonate with upscale American buyers half-a-world away.