Mean-street machine

This Mercedes-Benz SUV has the space of a mini apartment and the blistering pace of a supercar. Add to that all the luxuries money can buy

Owning a monstrous Sports Utility Vehicle, or SUV, comes with its set of hazards - you will be ridiculed for being newly rich, environmentally indifferent and lacking in class. It's okay to admit the truth. Words like these sometimes reflect the views of people who cannot own such luxuries in life. There is perhaps an iota of envy involved too. And just as there will always be the haves and the have-nots, there will always be SUV lovers and SUV haters.

Undeterred by criticism, Mercedes-Benz powers on with its SUVs. This time, it has taken its popular full-sized SUV, the GL, and dumped its engine. In its place, the car maker has installed the super powered AMG 5.5-litre biturbo V8 engine in the new GL 63 AMG. Many will wonder whether an almost 2.6 tonne vehicle needed as much of an acceleration punch as the new engine provides. That is perhaps a wrong line of questioning. The right queries would be to ask how the new car drives and whether it lives up to the AMG branding. After all, an AMG badge implies the car is more expensive and has a higher performance than regular Mercedes-Benz models.

For starters, the GL 63 AMG doesn't look too different from the regular SUV brandishing the three-star logo. Apart from the bold chrome strips on the front fascia, bigger air vents on the bumper, buffed up wheel arches and, of course, the signature double twin exhausts, it still remains the street tank we are familiar with.

But because it comes from Mercedes-AMG, you can only expect it be a hub of luxury inside. Your assumptions wouldn't be wrong, for this car remains true to its premium calling. The all-leather upholstery adds to the already comfortable seats, which come with options for massage, cooling and heating. The middle-row passengers have their own separate state-of-the-art displays that come accompanied by two wireless headphones. What the ultra rich who buy the car will complain about is the absence of dual climate control in the second row. What sacrilege! Surely Mercedes-AMG doesn't expect the owner of this big machine to drive the car himself every day, does it? Of course, the acres of cabin space have been wisely used and two adults can sit even in the third row without feeling cramped.

A couple of new features have been added. The Harman Kardon music system comes with 14 speakers, making the surround system so good that you feel like you are on your private island. The SUV now has a flat-bottom steering wheel, while the paddle shift in aluminium adds a dash of sportiness to the set-up. Apart from the latest safety features, the GL 63 is equipped with night vision, that is, it uses infrared headlamps and a camera to scope out the road at night for pedestrians and obstacles.

This SUV has a huge heart that promises to make your heart race. Step on the gas and even at 2000 rpm, it is ready for anything that comes in its way. It goes from standstill to 100 kmph in a mere 5.5 seconds. The GL 63 is not only fun to speed along in a straight line, but with its Active Curve System it also ambitiously takes on turns. Yes, there is body roll as expected due to its size, but nothing feels out of control. Much can be attributed to the huge 21-inch alloy wheels and the low-profile tyres that provide amazing grip. The GL 63 AMG's suspension can tackle different driving conditions as it comes in three modes: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. For each mode, the suspension automatically lowers itself at high speed to reduce the drag quotient and this increases stability as it keeps the vehicle planted on the tarmac. But this has its own drawback - the ride quality suffers due to the tyres and the stiff suspensions, even when the vehicle is in the Comfort mode. But then it is an AMG, so it is supposed to have a sports-car like feel to the experience.

The engine is mated to an AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission. The Controlled Efficiency mode uses the start-stop system and is responsive even to a gentle throttle stimulus, ensuring maximised efficiency. The Sport or Manual mode switches off the start-stop function and makes both the engine and transmission more agile. These modes also allow the shift times to be quicker, and the exhaust system sings a gruff symphony that, at full throttle, is music to the ears.

The GL 63 AMG has the space of a mini apartment and the blistering pace of a supercar. The build quality, raw power of the V8 engine and the precise 7-speed automatic gearbox all make it more than just an SUV that can take on other mean machines. If you want to live life king-size, then this SUV could well be your soulmate.

MERCEDES-BENZ GL 63 AMG
Engine: 5461cc V8 twinturbo petrol
Power: 557 PS @ 5250-5750 rpm
Torque: 760 Nm @ 2000-5000 rpm
Price: Rs 1.66 crore (Ex-showroom, Mumbai)

Arup Das is Features Editor at AutoX