The Mercedes-Benz GLS is the brand’s largest combustion SUV, and its update was shown on 31 March 2026 alongside the GLE and GLE Coupe. The three-row body carries over on a 123.4-inch wheelbase with seating for up to seven, while the engines, the suspension and the electronics are new.
Both US engines keep a 48-volt system with a second-generation integrated starter-generator, which allows coasting, torque fill and recuperation. The GLS 450 4MATIC uses the revised 3.0-litre inline-six, now with an electric auxiliary compressor and a reworked cylinder head, rated at 375 hp and 560 Nm. The GLS 580 4MATIC gets an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 built around a flat-plane crankshaft, producing 530 hp and 750 Nm between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, up from 510 hp before.
AIRMATIC air suspension is now standard, with damper control that reads map and cloud data for the road ahead. The GLS 580 can be ordered with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which uses that same forward look to pre-load the suspension. All-wheel drive is standard, with a Torque on Demand transfer case.
Inside, the MBUX Superscreen spans almost the full width of the dashboard with three 12.3-inch displays under one sheet of glass, backed by MB.OS and over-the-air updates. An Executive Rear Seat Package Plus adds multi-contour rear seats with massage. The exterior gains a larger grille with an illuminated star and, for the first time outside Maybach, an upright bonnet star. US deliveries are expected in the second half of 2026, with pricing to follow.
