Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec

Like its German rivals, Mercedes-Benz offers a wide selection of cars, crossovers and SUVs to fit seemingly every niche. With luxury brands fighting to get ahead in each segment of the market, every combination of body-type, engine size and price-point are available in some way or another.

Want a four-door sedan styled like a coupe? There’s one available. Want a coupe that has space and luxury appointments for four? They’ve got that too. Need a vehicle with space for seven and excellent fuel economy? Meet the Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec.

The base-model in the GL range, the GL350 BlueTec ditches the wasteful V8 for a turbocharged diesel motor. At $63,000, it’s just $1,550 shy of the GL450, but earns 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, good for an improvement of six mpg combined over the thirsty GL450.

We drove it for a week, commuting through traffic during the week and family outings on the weekend to see if down-sizing is right-sizing, or if you should stick with the V8.

There’s very little to suggest that this GL350 BlueTec is the budget model in the lineup. It still sports 19-inch wheels with a design reminiscent of the brand’s AMG styling. Chrome trim will catch the eye of onlookers as will that big three-pointed star on the front grille.

Step inside, and the GL350 doesn’t disappoint either. The leather appointments are cushy and luxurious, and the extra thoughtful touches inside are appreciated. Our model features the necessities in a large luxury SUV including a heated steering wheel, keyless start system, a three-zone climate control system, power lift gate and easy access system for the third row passengers. Also, the huge panoramic sunroof means that every passenger gets graced with sunlight. A few of these systems aren’t standard, which leads us to the next point…

While the GL350 is available with just about every technology add-on available to the rest of the GL range, each option bumps up the price. The numbers aren’t huge by themselves, but they add up.

Mercedes uses a clever adaptive lighting system that sees into turns and enables high-beam functions automatically. Sadly such an excellent safety system is a $1,390 option. Other safety and convenience features reach just as far into your wallet, like the driver assistance package, which adds adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and blind-spot monitoring, for an eye-watering $2,800, while parking technology that includes a surround-view camera (a nice feature to have on a big SUV) costs an extra $1,290.

Other interior features that make a luxury car worthy of a luxury badge are equally pricey. Three-zone climate control costs $1,450, while adding heated seats to the second row bumps up the price another $620. While the GL350 is the cheapest model in the range, choosing a few nice additions will quickly bump the price out of bargain territory.

That benefit at the pump doesn’t come at much of a compromise either. Making 240 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, the GL350 is still a primo performer off the line. On the highway the truck takes just a moment to get primed for a pass, as the seven-speed gearbox chooses the perfect ratio for maximum acceleration.

As expected, the torquey diesel motor can tow and like the rest of the GL lineup is rated at 7,500 lbs.

On the road the GL350 performs as advertised, easily meeting the fuel economy estimates of 22 mpg combined, even in city driving and stop-and-go traffic. On the highway and settled into its seventh gear, it’s quiet and refined.

Much of that smoothness can be attributed to the airmatic suspension setup. Ride-height can be adjusted on the go, and there’s even an adjustable suspension which includes a comfort mode, which lets the GL to wallow smoothly over imperfections on the road. There’s also a tensed up sport mode which, when paired with the standard paddle shifters, gives the GL350 an extra sense of purpose.

Often an under-appreciated citizen, the third-row passenger is completely taken care of in the GL350. Access to the third-row is easy thanks to an assisted function that lifts the second row out of the way, and once the headrests are up and in place, the third row passengers will appreciate the plentiful head and legroom offered. The Benz easily trumps competitors and offers far more space in the third row than the Lexus LX570 and Audi Q7.

When the third row isn’t in use, it can be folded flat thanks to a one-touch-button, expanding the cargo space to 49.4 cu-ft and all the way to 93.8 cu-ft with the second row folded as well.

Proving to be a serious luxury hauler for the family, the GL350 doesn’t lose a beat when ditching the turbocharged V8 engine for a diesel power plant. It’s a vehicle that makes the mid-range GL450 seem not only unnecessary but downright wasteful. Opting for diesel-power under the hood will save you money at the pump, while the up-front savings means you can package in more of those pricey upgrades.

Looking to get your own Mercedes SUV? Check out AutoGuide.com’s new car buying section, or jump straight to the GL350 BlueTec by clicking here.