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Coming from a family of six, I remember the days when I used to call ‘shotgun’ for the passenger seat on family outings just so I didn’t need to squeeze myself between my three other siblings on the backseat.
It was a shame my mum disregarded the rule and threw me in the back regardless, leaving me sulking throughout the entire journey.
I must have developed a complex from the torture of being squashed over the years as I have an abnormal amount of love and respect for large, sport utility vehicles (SUVs). So, when I got to experience the quality of the 2013 Mercedes GL500, I was over the moon.
The GL500 is huge, just over five metres in length and two metres in width.
There’s something about Mercedes, regardless of the model, that demands attention. Sure, all Benzes are known for their presence on the road, but the GL’s shape and size gives it a superior feeling when benchmarked against other big luxury crossovers.
When I climbed into the spacious seven-seater and switched the V8, 5.5 litre, 388bhp engine on, the black luxurious leviathan roared with the dominance it deserved.
But before I could leave the showroom, the salesman talked me through the essential ‘need-to-know’ basics of the vehicle. Note to sales representative, Fawaz Ali: do not introduce the massage capabilities of the driver and passenger’s seats until the end of your demo … I zoned out into a tranquil state, hearing nothing after the word ‘relax’.
The model I tested boasted a burr walnut wood juxtaposed against the brown leather seats.
The interior was spacious, luxurious and breath-taking. The COMAND Online function, a multifaceted computer system, controls many of the GL500’s features including the camera, the GPS satellite navigation and the integrated Harman/Kardon LOGIC 7 surround sound system.
Other features include a CD/DVD player, MP3, WMA and AAC file compatibility, Bluetooth communications, rear seat entertainment systems – and the list of gadgets goes on.
The GL exudes class and although it may be able to test rival marques with its off-road capabilities, the on-road experience is in a class of its own. The GL500 can perform the 0 to 100 kmph sprint in just 6.5 seconds.
Mercedes has optimised fuel economy but not the power output … it was controlling, ironically polite for its size and comfortable. Not to mention it holds a solid exterior that looks sturdy, feels sturdy and most importantly, drives sturdy.
The panoramic sliding glass roof, the magnified Mercedes logo on the front grille and the newly-styled headlights that hug the corners of the SUV all add a modern look to the classic exterior. However, what attracted this driver to the vehicle were the futuristic safety options.
I’m known to occasionally, slowly drift across the lanes, especially whilst being massaged at the same time, so the ‘active lane keeping assist’ really came in handy.
By continuously registering road marking, the system warned me when it thought I was being uncontrollable by discreetly vibrating the steering wheel.
I later found out that if the driver fails to respond, the control function can apply braking selectively.
However, the function that most, if not all, Bahraini drivers will benefit from is the ‘active blind spot assist control’. It gave me full warnings when changing lane and even applies a braking force if necessary.
But for this driver (who is excellent at gliding through lanes), the 360 degree camera is all she needed for safety. With the hazardous parking in Bahrain City Centre the bird’s eye view ensured the driver who carelessly parked next to the beautiful beast wouldn’t leave it with the same markings it had on its own car.
And, when I had to hand the keys over at the end of the day, I sulked all the way home.
The starting price for the 2013 GL500 is BD34,500.
For details, call Al Haddad Motors on 17785454.
