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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 Mercedes Benz GL450 by Cordell Koland The new Mercedes-Benz GL450 looks like a hard act to beat in the full-size SUV market. It delivers a killer combination of brawn and refinement. The GL450 is the company¹s first big SUV and at this point is the new benchmark in its class. The Mercedes GL450 features unit construction and marks the fourth vehicle in the company¹s line of SUVs. Mercedes-Benz even outguns Lexus in terms of SUV hardware choices and is part of the company¹s strategy to offer as many alternatives as possible for luxury auto and SUV buyers. The GL450 is on the big and strong side of the equation with third-row seating With an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.37, the body of the GL-Class is 200 inches in length, 76 inches wide and 72 inches tall, making it the largest Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle in terms of overall size. It features a lusty 335-horsepower V-8 mated to a cutting-edge seven-speed automatic transmission, while competitors offer only a five- or six-speed unit. Additional forward speeds enable the engine to run at peak efficiency and maybe deliver a small savings in gas mileage, at least that¹s the theory. Your own experience will be the final judge. The GL450 will zoom from zero to 60 mile per hour in 7.4 seconds, which is very fast for a big SUV. The power delivery is exceedingly smooth and quiet, regardless of how hard you push the pedal. But if the GL450 seems deficient in the power department, rest assured that Mercedes has a GL-Class variant waiting in the wings to solve that problem with even more power. The GL also delivers 7,500 lbs. of towing capacity, but my guess is that there are very few conversations at the Mercedes-Benz dealer centered on the topic of trailer towing. Even more impressive than raw power is the GL450¹s responsiveness and agility. It just doesn¹t seem all that big even when negotiating congested urban settings. And on a fast expressway it feels as smooth and effortless as a big Mercedes sedan, just higher off the ground. The GL450¹s styling shouldn¹t catch anyone by surprise. It manifests the same tailored look of the smaller ML350, just larger and a bit more muscular. The family resemblance is hardly accidental. The Mercedes SUV clan comes to market with the familiar barred grille with the big three-pointed star anchored in the center. The profile suggests advanced aerodynamics without excessive ornament, chrome stripes or so-called character lines. Let¹s face facts, most big SUVs really aren¹t that great off-road and are pretty much maxed out with a ski trip over snowy roads. To dispel the thought that it¹s just a pretty face, the GL-Class offers very serious off-road technology. It utilizes three conventional differentials in the front, rear and center of its full-time four-wheel-drive drive train. The center differential allows the front wheels to go faster than the rear when cornering, while the front and rear differentials permit the outside wheels to go faster than the inside ones in turns. This set up also gives the GL450 real ability to deal with rugged terrain. Our test GL450 was equipped with the optional Off-Road Package, which includes a two-speed transfer case as well as locking center and rear differentials for severe duty on rough and obstacle-strewn territory. The package includes modified air suspension that can increase ground clearance to 12 inches. The option also includes adaptive damping that provides driver-selectable shock absorber settings ranging from a firm sporty suspension to a smooth comfort ride. In many ways, going down hill on very steep and rugged trails is even more challenging than going uphill. Sometimes it is enough just to hold onto the steering wheel as you bounce up and down and lurch from side to side. Mercedes¹ Downhill Speed Regulation is essentially an ultra-low-speed cruise control. Activated by a button on the center console, the driver uses the cruise control to set vehicle speed anywhere between four and 12 mph. The computer-driven system uses throttle, transmission gearing and automatic braking to maintain speed, even on steep descents. Speed can also be regulated by the multi-function steering wheel and a menu in the central display. Vehicle:
Mercedes Benz GL450
Price as tested: $72,135 Engine: Type: 4.6-liter V-8 Horsepower: 335 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 339 lbs.-ft. @ 2,700 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 14 mpg Highway 18 mpg Curb Weight: 5,249 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
