Mercedes GLS review - Reliability and safety

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Mercedes GLS but it has tested the closely related GLE; given that the pair share so much mechanically, it’s reasonable to speculate that the two will perform similarly.

And that’s a good thing: the GLE achieved the maximum five star rating when it was assessed in 2019. It achieved a 91% score in the adult occupant protection category; a rating that puts the Merc two percent ahead of the BMW X5 (a car which shares much with the X7). A child occupant protection score of 90% is excellent; indeed the only car to achieve a higher score in 2019 was Mercedes’s own CLA (it scored 91%). The GLE scored 78% in both the vulnerable road users and safety assist categories.

AMG Line Premium Plus and AMG Line Premium Plus Executive models come as standard with what Mercedes calls the Driving Assistance Package Plus. This includes a host of advanced safety tech, including extra sensors to allow for part-autonomous driving functions for motorway driving. It also adds “PRE-SAFE Impulse Side”, which, using the wide range of external sensors, helps to mitigate damage in side impacts caused by other vehicles by using active seat elements to position the occupants in a manner that reduces the risk of injury.

Meanwhile, smaller bumps can be avoided thanks to the standard 360-degree parking camera and the optional automatic parking function.

Mercedes finished 28th out of 30 manufacturers in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with running costs and overall reliability being key points of concern.

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Warranty

Mercedes offers a three year, unlimited mileage warranty with each of its cars. Some manufacturers offer longer warranties now, but this cover is a match for what BMW offers and superior to Audi’s, which is limited to 60,000 miles. It’s also possible to pay extra for an extended warranty.

Servicing

Servicing at a franchised Mercedes dealer can come at a cost. However, it can be made more manageable by the brand’s ServiceCare package: this encompasses two services in two years, three services in three years or four in four years, all for a fixed monthly fee. Service intervals are set at every 15,500 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.