If a luxurious seven-seat SUV is what you’re looking for, you’d have surely considered the Mercedes GL. However, the carmaker has replaced the GL with the GLS. It comes with a new nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes has also tried to bring it up to date with modern rivals like the Volvo XC90 and the Audi Q7. Here’s how it compares with the competition in terms of specifications.
Dimensions
The three seven-seat SUVs measure around the five-metre mark in length, but the Mercedes GLS is the longest in this comparison by a significant margin. It is also the biggest car overall, and unsurprisingly, the heaviest too. The Audi, which comes in second in terms of size, is only down on the XC90 in terms of height.
The GLS is significantly longer in terms of wheelbase too, and this should translate into a big advantage in terms of legroom and interior space.
| Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes GLS | Audi Q7 | Volvo XC90 | |
| Length | 5162mm | 5052mm | 4950mm |
| Width | 1982mm | 1968mm | 1923mm |
| Height | 1850mm | 1740mm | 1776mm |
| Wheelbase | 3075mm | 2994mm | 2984mm |
| Kerb Weight | 2455kg | 2330kg | 2060kg |
| Tyres | 275/50 R20 | 255/55 R19 | 275/45 R20 |
Engine and transmission
The GLS’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine has been carried over unchanged from the GL. The Audi too uses a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, but this is a more modern unit than the one in the GLS. Like on all new Volvos, the XC90’s diesel engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit and is the smallest motor in the fray.
Power in the GLS is transmitted to all four wheels via Mercedes’ new nine-speed automatic transmission, while the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 use eight-speed automatic transmissions made by ZF and Aisin respectively.
The GLS’ motor, producing 258hp and 620Nm of torque, is the most powerful engine here. It is closely followed by the Q7's 3.0-litre V6 engine that produces 249hp and 600Nm of torque. However, the Audi produces peak torque at lower engine speeds than the GLS. The Volvo’s outputs of 225hp and 470Nm are the lowest in the comparison, but are nevertheless impressive for a 2.0-litre engine.
| Engine and Transmission | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes GLS | Audi Q7 | Volvo XC90 | |
| Engine | V6, 2987cc, turbo-diesel | V6, 2967cc, turbo-diesel | 4 cyl, 1969cc, twin-turbo-diesel |
| Power | 258hp at 3400rpm | 249hp at 3250-4250rpm | 225hp at 4250rpm |
| Torque | 620Nm at 1600-2400rpm | 600Nm at 1500-3000rpm | 470Nm at 1750-2500rpm |
| Gearbox | Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive | Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive | Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 8.21 sec | 7.1 sec | 9.1sec |
In terms of performance, the Q7 accelerates from 0-100kph in 7.1 sec, making it the quickest in the trio. The Volvo, given its relatively low outputs, is clearly the slowest, taking 9.1 seconds in the 0-100 dash.
Note, the Volvo has a nearly 300kg weight advantage over the Q7, and is 400kg lighter than the GLS. This, combined with the car’s smaller engine should make it the most fuel efficient of the three SUVs.
Prices
Given the ongoing ban on diesel cars with engine over 2,000cc in Delhi-NCR, only the Volvo is eligible for sale in the region. And so, we will compare the ex-showroom, Mumbai prices for the three cars.
Also, since the Mercedes GLS comes in only one fully loaded variant, we are considering prices of only the top-end variants of the Volvo and the Audi.
The Mercedes GLS is priced at Rs 84.45 lakh. The fully loaded Volvo XC90 Inscription is the most expensive car here with a price of Rs 88.05 lakh, whereas the top-of-the-line Audi Q7 costs Rs 83.95 lakh, making it marginally more affordable than the GLS.
| Prices | |
|---|---|
| Car | Price (ex-showroom, Mumbai) |
| Mercedes GLS 350 d | Rs 84.45 lakh |
| Audi Q7 45 TDI Technology | Rs 83.95 lakh |
| Volvo XC90 Inscription | Rs 88.05 lakh |