What would you get if you mated what used to be Mercedes-Benz's GL-Class three-row SUV with its luxury S-Class flagship sedan? While it looks like the long, tall, roomy, fullsize three-row SUV it is, this new GLS wears a fresh new face somewhat like the one on S-Class Coupes and Cabriolets. It leads with a large central Mercedes star flanked on both sides by twin three-segment horizontal chrome bars (instead of single bars) and swept-back two-element headlamps under a twin power-creased hood. And its squared-off tail is updated with a new bumper and full-LED taillamps. Some have written that the GLS feels smaller than it is on twisty two-lanes. Maybe so, but in our week of city, suburban, freeway and occasional two-lane cruising, our GLS450 felt big, tall, and heavy鈥攂ecause it is. The twin-turbo V-6 seemed strong enough at most speeds, though a bit slow off the line from rest. Some of that was turbo lag, the rest because it launches in Second gear unless you manually choose First with the steering wheel paddle. Those paddles are handy for choosing ratios when you want to, but the nine-speed upshifts when it decides to when accelerating.

What would you get if you mated what used to be Mercedes-Benz's GL-Class three-row SUV with its luxury S-Class flagship sedan? While it looks like the long, tall, roomy, fullsize three-row SUV it is, this new GLS wears a fresh new face somewhat like the one on S-Class Coupes and Cabriolets. It leads with a large central Mercedes star flanked on both sides by twin three-segment horizontal chrome bars (instead of single bars) and swept-back two-element headlamps under a twin power-creased hood. And its squared-off tail is updated with a new bumper and full-LED taillamps. Some have written that the GLS feels smaller than it is on twisty two-lanes. Maybe so, but in our week of city, suburban, freeway and occasional two-lane cruising, our GLS450 felt big, tall, and heavy鈥攂ecause it is. The twin-turbo V-6 seemed strong enough at most speeds, though a bit slow off the line from rest. Some of that was turbo lag, the rest because it launches in Second gear unless you manually choose First with the steering wheel paddle. Those paddles are handy for choosing ratios when you want to, but the nine-speed upshifts when it decides to when accelerating.

It accelerates zero to 60 in about 6.5 seconds and scores 17 city, 22 highway, and 19 combined mpg in EPA testing, which is right in line with our 19.2 mpg average. That dainty steering column-mounted electronic shifter flips up for reverse or down for drive, but the brakes hold tight until you add some throttle, which keeps it from rolling before you're ready. Park is a button on its end, which takes some getting used to. There's also a learning curve for the COMAND-controlled infotainment system, which typically requires a series of push/pull/twirl/poke steps to find and choose what you want. The new touchpad above helps, but we prefer a big touchscreen with large icons. On the good news side is a volume knob and hard buttons for instantly calling up radio, media, nav, or phone. Otherwise, the 鈥?7 GLS is a fine-driving upscale people and cargo hauler with excellent second-row room and surprising third-row accommodations, though getting in and out of that far-back seat can be a chore. It's the closest thing in capability to Cadillac's truck-based Escalade ESV and the only "full-fledged seven-seater in the European premium SUV segment," according to Mercedes. An excellent choice if that is what you want or need.

A Premier trim now tops the lineup above the 2LT model. Look For: An impressive drop in curb weight for the next-gen model, which may even add a four-cylinder base model. Sum Up: Chevrolet鈥檚 biggest crossover offers more cargo space than the Tahoe. Major: Chevrolet鈥檚 entry-level crossover gets refreshed with updated styling and a revised interior for 2017. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are offered, as are basic active safety features such as forward collision alert and lane departure warning. The Trax retains its 1.4-liter turbo-four and adds a new Premier trim level, which makes 18-inch wheels available. Cool Fact: Sixty percent of Trax owners are female, the highest percentage of any model in the Chevrolet lineup. Sum Up: The crossover player in Chevrolet鈥檚 three-vehicle subcompact lineup. All-New: Chrysler鈥檚 ambitious Pacifica rolls onto the minivan scene hoping to pick up where the Town & Country left off. The Pacifica, which for 2017 will still be supported in FCA鈥檚 overall lineup by the cheaper Dodge Grand Caravan, offers seating for up to eight, innovative storage and seat-folding solutions, and a hands-free rear liftgate and sliding side doors.

Best Buy: The plug-in hybrid for around 30 miles of all-electric range and a powertrain type you can鈥檛 find on anything else in the segment. Sum Up: Aiming for minivan greatness. Minor: Things are getting more luxurious in the three-row Durango lineup. The eight-cylinder R/T model can now be specced with a soft-touch instrument panel that adds red accent stitching. An Anodized Platinum package on the top-end Citadel includes black and sepia two-tone Nappa leather, a soft-touch instrument panel with a silver accent, Platinum Chrome trim inside and out, and Anodized Gunmetal interior accents. A new GT trim replaces Limited. Sum Up: Ruggedly handsome with a useful interior. Unchanged: When you want three rows of seating and not much else, it鈥檚 hard to beat the Grand Caravan, which enters 2017 with a simplified model structure. 24,990 SE has seven-passenger seating, a 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, and up to 140.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The Blacktop package adds black headlight trim, a gloss black grille, black interior accents, and 17-inch wheels with gloss-black pockets. Look For: A Pacifica if you want 20-inch wheels, as the Grand Caravan sticks with 17s even on the R/T-replacing GT trim. Sum Up: Not dead yet!