The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is about as much Teutonic luxosheetmetal (to use a compound German phrase) as you can get on four wheels. At more than 200 inches in length, the seven-seat SUV has plenty of room to transport five full-size passengers in comfort, and even some usable room left over for the kindergartners in the third row. The real surprise with the GL450 is how much performance technology Mercedes has packed into it. A phone call and a short drive later, we found ourselves parked outside Arlequin wine merchants in San Francisco's trendy Hayes Valley. 7,500 worth of wine. The GL450's automatic third-row seats tumble forward and fold flat with the press of a button on either side of the cargo area. With the third-row seats stowed, the GL450 has 44 cubic feet of cargo room. Unfortunately, there is no automated system for loading wine into the back, and so it was by the sweat of our brow that we packed the car with 21 crates of wine of varying sizes.

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is about as much Teutonic luxosheetmetal (to use a compound German phrase) as you can get on four wheels. At more than 200 inches in length, the seven-seat SUV has plenty of room to transport five full-size passengers in comfort, and even some usable room left over for the kindergartners in the third row. The real surprise with the GL450 is how much performance technology Mercedes has packed into it. A phone call and a short drive later, we found ourselves parked outside Arlequin wine merchants in San Francisco's trendy Hayes Valley. 7,500 worth of wine. The GL450's automatic third-row seats tumble forward and fold flat with the press of a button on either side of the cargo area. With the third-row seats stowed, the GL450 has 44 cubic feet of cargo room. Unfortunately, there is no automated system for loading wine into the back, and so it was by the sweat of our brow that we packed the car with 21 crates of wine of varying sizes.

With the back fully laden, we unsheathed the tape measure once more. The load-leveling suspension does its job well. The cabin of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is a refined, elevated perch from which to look down at other road users. A stitched, upholstered upper dashboard bedecked in Mercedes-Benz Tex is complemented by plush leather seats and burl walnut trim lining the dash, center console, and door panels. 540 wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel to complete the luxurious ensemble. As we have seen on other Mercedes models, the luxury credentials of the GL450's cabin outweigh its technology offerings. Let's start with navigation: As we found in the reviews of the 2007 Mercedes E550 and the 2007 Mercedes E320 BlueTec, the Comand screen is small and less-than-intuitive to use. Programming the system is less frustrating in the GL450 than in the E-class sedans, thanks to the presence of a joystick to the right of the display as well as a quicker processor that eliminates the lag between inputs.

The voice guidance on the 2007 Mercedes GL450 is also more bearable than that in the previous Mercedes navigation system, as it actually sounds like a person rather than a machine. However, the navigation maps are still unattractive and uninformative; even at the maximum level of zoom, street names are not visible for many roads. The GL450's maps are colorful, but they lack detailed information on road names. The GL450's audio system is a similar mix of decent technology with an unhelpful interface. On the positive side, the GL450's stereo can be used to play various kinds of digital audio, including MP3 and WMA discs. 4,500 Premium I option package, which equipped it with a power tailgate, a Parktronic radar-based parking aid, a DVD navigation system, autodimming/power-folding mirrors, power steering, a memory system for the front seats, and a six-month Sirius Satellite Radio subscription. 500) was also handy in helping us get in and out of tight spots. Other impressive standard safety equipment on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 includes second-row seat-mounted air bags, window curtain air bags for all three rows, and active front head restraints. 1,500), which includes a glass sunroof and power-rear three-quarter windows.

We like the headrest-mounted rear LCD screens for the optional rear-seat entertainment package. Like the E550 and the S550, the Mercedes-Benz GL450 does come with the option of hands-free calling. 408 for the pleasure of a separate module, another black mark against the GL450's cabin tech. Before we go under the hood, the Mercedes Benz GL450's hood itself gives some indication as to its performance aspirations. With a power bulge and two air vents identical to those on the SL550, the mammoth SUV seems to wish it had been born as something toward the sportier end of the Mercedes lineup. With its 335-horsepower 4.6-liter V-8 engine, adaptive suspension, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the GL450 does have the soul of a sports car, but that is somewhat dampened by its 5,249-pound curb weight. Nevertheless, this is one permanent four-wheel drive SUV that can pull its own weight: with the gears held into higher rev bands in manual-shift mode, the GL450 barrels forward with the swiftness of a much smaller car. In addition to its load-leveling capabilities, the air suspension can be configured in a number of ways to accommodate different terrains and driving styles.

70K Benz through mud, water, or deep snow. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 comes with an impressive range of performance technology, including the Adaptive Damping System. Another standard performance feature on the GL450 is its adjustable suspension, which, in addition to the default suspension configuration, gives drivers the option of setting the suspension to Sport or Comfort mode. Driving around town, we noticed a demonstrable difference between the two settings: In Sport mode the tuning is surprisingly stiff with imperfections and bumps in the road translating into the cabin, and a more surefooted feeling in cornering. In Comfort mode--far more suited to the GL450's luxobarge persona--rough pavement is effectively damped out, leading to a very soft, lolloping ride. 150 for ambient interior lighting. At that price, the Mercedes-Benz GL450 is up against the 2007 Audi Q7, the newly remodeled 2008 BMW X5, and probably Lexus' forthcoming LX 570, to be unveiled at this year's New York auto show.