Luxury's Next Chapter: 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Drives In, Demands Top Dollar

The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, a flagship SUV from the German automaker, recently underwent its first drive test in Colorado, leading to a crucial question: Do its revised engines and advanced technology truly justify its six-figure price tag against stiff competition? Mercedes-Benz provided an opportunity to drive the updated 2027 GLS alongside the smaller, also-updated GLE-Class, highlighting their close relationship, with the GLS naturally offering more size, length, and luxury, incorporating many of the GLE’s optional features as standard.

Significant improvements for the 2027 model year include the integration of Mercedes' new MB.OS software backbone, the impressive three-panel Superscreen dashboard, and meticulously reworked engines designed for ultimate refinement. This 2027 model represents the second major revision for the GLS, following its 2020 debut and a mid-cycle refresh in 2024. Instead of a complete redesign, Mercedes opted for a series of incremental yet impactful updates, encompassing extensive revisions to the engines and suspension tuning, enhanced driver assistance technology, and upgraded rear-seat amenities.

While exterior changes to the front and rear are modest, they adhere to Mercedes’ current design philosophy, featuring numerous three-pointed stars. A notable, albeit somewhat whimsical, addition is the stand-up hood ornament, which can now be illuminated, transforming it from a traditional throwback to an awesome feature. The vehicle also boasts new adaptive-beam headlights that project a welcome pattern and can display lane departure guidance directly on the road. These advanced headlights will eventually allow drivers to keep their high-beams on, as they will automatically dim sections for oncoming traffic, similar to the digital matrix lights found on the upcoming Audi Q9, with this functionality to be enabled via future over-the-air software updates.

The 2027 GLS will be available in two primary models, with an AMG version expected to follow. The six-cylinder GLS450 has a base price of $95,500, though a test SUV with options escalated its cost to $121,685. The more potent GLS580, powered by a V-8 engine, starts at $122,500 and includes several features standard that are optional on the 450, such as AMG Line styling, genuine leather upholstery (contrasting with Mercedes’ convincing MB-Tex pleather), five-zone climate control, and upgraded front seats.

Inside, the Superscreen presents a paradox of being both overwhelming and underwhelming. This single glass panel stretches across nearly the entire width of the dashboard, flanked by stylized round air vents. However, unlike some rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, which offer truly massive full-width displays, the Superscreen in the GLS is not one continuous monitor but three distinct screens separated by noticeable blank borders. While previous critiques of the S-Class's Superscreen lamented its dominance over traditional materials, the GLS, like the GLE, cleverly incorporates space below the screen for elegant veneers and additional vents, though these flattened vents lean towards a “baroque futurism” aesthetic.

Despite its visual composition, the center screen proved intuitive to navigate. The AI-enabled “Hey Mercedes” voice-response system, while capable of adjusting temperature and identifying landmarks, frustratingly lacks the ability to control driving modes or activate wipers. A compelling feature allows the front-seat passenger to enjoy movies or games on the right-most screen, which then “vanishes” from the driver’s view—an impressive trick. Drivers, however, will likely be more impressed by the huge head-up display, featuring augmented-reality animated arrows that make getting lost with the built-in navigation system almost impossible.