Pune via the expressway in a big, comfortable SUV like the GLS is a breeze. It has enough diesel grunt to pull a train up the ghats, the sumptuous seats allow you to wind down, and with refinement levels Mercedes has pegged its reputation on, it’s like being transported in your own private jet. And then there’s its innate ability to effortlessly chew up the kilometres. The only fly in the ointment… the traffic on the ghat today is diabolical.
The journey had started well. Getting out on Sunday after an early lunch, with no traffic to hold us back, meant the big GLS made good time across the freeway and the 21-kilometre-long Atal Setu. And driving at a relatively high speed with the big diesel barely ticking over feels just great. Kudos to the OM656 straight-six diesel that loves to rev and is silky smooth; the 48-volt mild-hybrid system integrates seamlessly. It may not be as responsive as the earlier V6 diesel, blame ever-increasing emissions norms, and the power doesn’t feel as spiky when the boost comes in, but the extra dose of creamy smoothness is difficult to ignore.
What came as a bit of a surprise on the 10-15km diversion we took to the Nanoli stud farm and new race track, was that the big GLS didn’t take to broken roads as well as we expected it to. Large ruts and deep potholes did toss us around, and there often is more lateral movement – or shuffling – from the rear than you expect. What makes this massive 5.2-metre-long beast feel relatively compact, however, is the simply brilliant setup of the quick and superbly weighted steering. It feels like you are drawing the reins in tight and grabbing the SUV by the scruff, not necessarily in a rough manner, but firmly all the same.
On the way back from Pune after dinner, I swap to the rear seat. Plenty of legroom, big seats and good visibility; this is a great place to spend time. And since we are only three up, I fold down the centre armrest, recline the backrest, and really stretch out in the sumptuous and beautifully built cabin. There are three screens in the rear, but the GLS also gets something I value several times more, old-school Mercedes quality. And there’s that typical Mercedes hush too, with very little diesel clatter audible. And I love the soft pillows on the headrest. Unsurprisingly, I doze off and find myself back on the Atal Setu when I wake up. Must use the big rear screens and the headphones the next time around.
Gavin D'Souza
Nikhil Bhatia
Sergius Barretto
Hormazd Sorabjee
Saumil Shah
Soham Thakur
