It is written all over the face of the Mercedes-Benz GLS that the 7-seat sport-utility vehicle is refreshed for 2017. Bigger, bolder grille bars and a revised lower front fascia make that point quite clear. The makeover doesn鈥檛 stop there. Take that name for instance. The 鈥淪鈥?has been added to the title to better correlate it with the M-B passenger-car hierarchy. Daimler-Benz volk would like shoppers to think of this as the S-Class of SUVs. 1340 Appearance Package adds 20-inch alloy wheels and illuminated running boards. Consumer Guide tested the one that didn鈥檛 get more go, the GLS450. 68,700 to start, it is the cheapest of the three gas-engine GLS models. Still, it鈥檚 no slouch with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. That鈥檚 plenty of power, responsively and pretty quietly delivered, for around-town driving or highway cruising. Though its cabin is a little narrow for a large SUV, the GLS is otherwise roomy and comfortable.

It is written all over the face of the Mercedes-Benz GLS that the 7-seat sport-utility vehicle is refreshed for 2017. Bigger, bolder grille bars and a revised lower front fascia make that point quite clear. The makeover doesn鈥檛 stop there. Take that name for instance. The 鈥淪鈥?has been added to the title to better correlate it with the M-B passenger-car hierarchy. Daimler-Benz volk would like shoppers to think of this as the S-Class of SUVs. 1340 Appearance Package adds 20-inch alloy wheels and illuminated running boards. Consumer Guide tested the one that didn鈥檛 get more go, the GLS450. 68,700 to start, it is the cheapest of the three gas-engine GLS models. Still, it鈥檚 no slouch with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. That鈥檚 plenty of power, responsively and pretty quietly delivered, for around-town driving or highway cruising. Though its cabin is a little narrow for a large SUV, the GLS is otherwise roomy and comfortable.

While three-abreast seating in the second row isn鈥檛 recommended for long trips, the 3rd-row can accommodate adults in reasonable comfort. Materials and assembly quality in the GLS cabin are top notch. The GLS450 does get the smooth new automatic transmission. It incorporates 鈥淒ynamic Select,鈥?which provides up to six transmission modes that govern gear selection and power delivery. This reviewer did most of his driving in base 鈥淐omfort鈥?mode but also clicked into 鈥淪port.鈥?The latter ratchets up throttle response and delays upshifts to effectively pick up the pace when desired. It鈥檚 probably a good guess that it picks up the pace of fuel consumption, too. Maybe that helps explain how this driver averaged just 15.42 mpg from a stint of 163.1 miles that included 76 percent city miles. EPA mileage estimates for the vehicle are 17 mpg in city driving, 22 mpg in highway operation, and 19 combined. By the way, the GLS comes with an extremely discreet engine stop/start to shave fuel use during full-stop situations. This knurled aluminum door-lock button is an example of the overall quality and attention to detail found throughout the GLS cabin.

The Comfort-setting ride lives up to its name, with a premium placed on soaking up bumps and easing around corners, thanks to the standard air suspension. 3830 Premium Package option that adds hard-drive-based navigation, satellite radio, satellite traffic and weather monitoring, and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration to the Comand system. All of this shows up on a new standard 8-inch color screen at the top center of the dash. What shows up on the screen is controlled by a console dial. This tester never has been all that fond of any of the various one-dial control systems that have sprung up in a number of makes (primarily luxury brands). While Comand seems to have gotten a little easier and more intuitive to use, it still requires a lot of attention from a driver. There鈥檚 no complaint about the clarity of the screen display, however, and climate controls remain separate with a mix of dials for temperature and buttons for function. If the light is blue, your drink is being cooled; red means it鈥檚 being heated.

180 to the GLS鈥檚 bottom line. Though the essential interior package continues from the GL of recent years, cabin details are changed somewhat. Soft-to-the-touch surfaces are well distributed. The GLS450 comes with imitation-leather upholstery. Bright-metal highlights and eucalyptus-wood dash trim impart a luxury look that is complemented by top-flight assembly. Seats are comfortable and headroom is ample throughout the cabin. Legroom is best in front and gets gradually tighter in succeeding rows. Indeed, the third row may not be all that adult friendly鈥攂ut the 60/40-split middle-row seats fold and pivot to ease access to the third row, and there鈥檚 a fast-acting optional power assist to make this even easier. The cabin is quiet, and large windows enhance all-around driver vision. Shorter passengers may find that they have to stretch just a little bit to climb in or out of the vehicle. There鈥檚 less room in the cargo area of the GLS than you鈥檒l find in a Cadillac Escalade ESV, but there鈥檚 still more than enough room for most folks.