The sight of a Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Audi Q7 together is usually the sign of a high profile gathering. These are, after all, the very vehicles that ferry a bunch of India’s politicians, industrialists and celebrities. In fact, it’s not unusual to see these SUVs without a posse of bodyguards and/or page 3 photographers surrounding them.
To formally introduce the contenders, the Mercedes GLS 350 d is the updated version of the older GL. It’s got a new face, revamped cabin, more tech and also a new 9-speed gearbox. The Q7 45 TDI, on the other hand, is the fantastic second-generation model that was launched in India late last year. The Audi is currently the benchmark among large SUVs for performance, comfort, refinement and technology. Has the Q7 met its match in the GLS? Thankfully, we are not on anyone’s hit list and nobody is interested enough in seeing our mug on the tabloids either, so, we can get to the serious job of finding the better SUV without distraction.
Size does matter
In India, where the size of your vehicle determines right of way, the GLS should be automotive royalty. Well over 5-metres long and 1.8-metres tall, the GLS is a large, large vehicle. Merc’s designers have softened front-end styling on the GLS but it still looks every bit an imposing SUV. The oversized three-pointed star sits loud and proud on the twin slatted grille, the chrome scuff plate adds bling to the new bumper and the restyled LED headlights get Merc’s sweeping LED DRL treatment. In its journey from GL to GLS, the big Merc has also gained full LED tail-lamps and a reprofiled rear bumper. The basic shape, though, is the same as the GL which is no bad thing. The trademark upright D-pillar look is quite handsome if a touch old school.
On the contrary, old school is not a phrase you can use to describe the new Q7’s design. The Q7 is as sharp, edgy and modern as they come. The large single piece grille up front is the focal point of the design while the rest of the body is made of simple geometric shapes. It’s all very clean, very contemporary. The level of detailing on the LED lights is brilliant too, especially how the indicators function by glowing in the direction of the turn. But there are many out there who feel the rake of the rear windscreen is too estate-like and, in general, that the new Q7 has lost the visual mass of the old one. The tight surfacing does make the Q7 look a bit smaller than its 5-metre-plus length and 1.7-metre height would suggest, more so in the company of the supertanker that is the GLS.
Back-seat drivers
Both of these SUVs may offer three rows of seating but it’s the middle seat that owners typically occupy. So, it’s important to note that entering and exiting the GLS’ high-set cabin requires use of the footboard and, in that sense, isn’t the most elegant ways to step onto the red carpet. But once inside, you sit at a commanding height and the well-cushioned middle row really feels like a seat of power. There’s massive leg space and that’s despite the fact that these seats don’t slide back as they do on the Q7. What’s no less amazing is that the third row is also a perfectly habitable space for adults. Access to the back, expectantly, is average but sufficient headroom and reasonably comfy seating position makes the GLS a proper seven-seater.
Unfortunately, this leads us to one of the Q7’s biggest weaknesses – the odd position of the spare wheel and its impact on third-row usability. The space saver unit is mounted vertically behind the middle row which means you lose the use of one of the two-third row seats. In effect, it’s a choice between carrying a spare wheel or a seventh passenger. In either case, the Q7’s third row is fair for short distances but cannot match the GLS for comfort or room. It’s a closer match when we shift focus to the middle row. The seat is positioned at the right height so you can literally just stroll in and there is GLS-rivaling legroom with the seats pushed all the way back. If only the seat base offered a bit more by way of thigh support.
Still, overall comfort is more than a function of just how the seats fit you. Ride quality is a vital part of the mix and it is here that the Q7 impresses more than the GLS. The Audi tackles commonly encountered low-speed imperfections with a certain grace and the air suspension feels more absorbent on the whole. Up the pace, however, and you will experience noticeable up-down movement. The thing is, even switching to the firmest of the Audi’s damper modes (Dynamic) doesn’t help completely arrest the motion. Comparatively speaking, though, there is more body movement in the big Merc, even some side-to-side motion, and it’s not just restricted to highway speeds either. You can play around with the Merc’s suspension settings all you like but the air springs won’t deliver the same finesse at city speeds as the Q7’s. You can feel the bumps a bit more and, though the occasional shudder isn’t disturbing, you can’t miss it either.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
