The range-topping Mercedes-Benz crossover SUV is getting a nip/tuck and a name change for the 2017 model year. What was formerly known as the GL-Class will now be called the GLS-Class, but it should still look familiar to devotees of the brand. Eagle-eyed consumers will notice the GLS鈥?new face, which takes more than a few cues from Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 other crossovers, the GLA, GLC, and GLE. A pair of headlights fit more closely into the grille鈥檚 contours, and a sculpted hood revives the twin power bulges seen on the first-generation GL-Class. Moving around the vehicle, a slightly updated tailgate and new LED taillamps give the GL-Class a freshened appearance, but the difference between the GL and GLS is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Inside, the GLS is a little more distinctive. A new dashboard and door panels greet passengers, with updated technology features appearing in the form of the floating touchscreen panel Mercedes is keen on spreading throughout its model line.

The range-topping Mercedes-Benz crossover SUV is getting a nip/tuck and a name change for the 2017 model year. What was formerly known as the GL-Class will now be called the GLS-Class, but it should still look familiar to devotees of the brand. Eagle-eyed consumers will notice the GLS鈥?new face, which takes more than a few cues from Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 other crossovers, the GLA, GLC, and GLE. A pair of headlights fit more closely into the grille鈥檚 contours, and a sculpted hood revives the twin power bulges seen on the first-generation GL-Class. Moving around the vehicle, a slightly updated tailgate and new LED taillamps give the GL-Class a freshened appearance, but the difference between the GL and GLS is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Inside, the GLS is a little more distinctive. A new dashboard and door panels greet passengers, with updated technology features appearing in the form of the floating touchscreen panel Mercedes is keen on spreading throughout its model line.

The new look is very handsome, and we鈥檙e sure three-row shoppers will love it. As with the GL before it, the GLS will be available in four model lines. Those less interested in efficiency will want to consider the GLS63, branded not as a Mercedes-Benz but a Mercedes-AMG. That SUV will come with a fire-breathing 5.5L AMG V-8, twin-turbocharged for your pleasure. Making 577 hp and 561 lb-ft, the motor is paired to an AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, routing power to all four wheels, natch. Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 fixation on safety is in full swing in the GLS, as it comes standard with Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Pre-Safe collision mitigation, Crosswind Assist, and Attention Assist. Optional extras include Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, which also includes Steering Assist, Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist. Also optional is the Off-Road Engineering package, which should turn the soft-roader into a respectable bruiser. Benz鈥檚 off-road efforts paid off with the smaller, less powerful GLC-Class crossover, so we鈥檇 expect no less of the GLS. Available to order in December, the first 2017 GLS-Class SUVs will make their way into U.S. 鈥?hands in March 2016. Pricing and efficiency numbers are still being finalized, but we鈥檙e confident both will be higher than their 2016 counterparts. Nevertheless, as much as we like the current GL-Class, the GLS should be an improvement in every respect over its predecessor.

In-car Wi-Fi and a rear entertainment system with two screens are optional, as well. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has a competitive 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. The second-row chairs aren鈥檛 so easy. With cushions that need to be flipped forward before the seats fold, they take a few more steps. The resulting load floor is flat, albeit with a slight gap between the two rows. Maximum cargo volume is 93.8 cubic feet, a total that鈥檚 competitive with larger SUVs like the QX80 and Escalade. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has not been crash-tested. A backup camera and drowsy-driver detection system are standard, as is a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. Blind spot and lane departure warning systems are optional. Self-driving options include adaptive cruise control with lane-centering steering assist, which purports to keep your car centered 鈥?not just pinballing between lane markers 鈥?given the right conditions. Go here to see a full list of standard safety equipment. Parents with small children will appreciate the GLS鈥?abundant Latch anchors: The second and third rows have two sets apiece, with top-tether anchors in all positions. 70,000 for the GLS450, in the ballpark of the Escalades, QX80s and Range Rover Sports you鈥檒l find in America鈥檚 tonier suburbs. 115,000 鈥?tens of thousands of dollars beyond the Cadillac and Infiniti. A value choice it is not. But the GLS still has a trump card: practicality, even for its class. At their core, SUVs should be practical no matter the price or segment. But some luxury models have sacrificed this at the altar of performance or styling. For all its flaws in drivability and luxury, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class still does the whole SUV thing right.

The standard wheel on 2.0T Premium Plus models is now a 19-inch, five-spoke design. Avoid: Looking for a diesel model. It鈥檚 gone from the lineup after the diesel scandal last year. Sum Up: A well-rounded two-row crossover with plenty of luxury. All-New: The Audi Q7 lost a bunch of weight and packed on the refinements, resulting in an SUV that鈥檚 simultaneously more luxurious and more nimble than before. The sleeker exterior is instantly recognizable as an Audi. Inside, the Q7 can be equipped with the new 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, a 23-speaker sound system, a night vision system, a suite of active safety tech that will nearly drive the Audi for you, and three-zone climate control. Look For: A new turbo I-4 to make its debut next, likely with a lower starting price. Sum Up: Your move, XC90. All-New: The Bentley of SUVs is finally here, and it arrives with Audi Q7 bones and polarizing styling. Inside, the Bentayga is as quiet as you鈥檇 expect and will be available as a seven-seater. You鈥檒l have no problem optioning your Bentayga with an Audi A4鈥檚 worth of options before bragging about the SUV鈥檚 ridiculous 187-mph top speed.