Car Auto Magazine

We drove approximately 1400 miles in various conditions, and fuel economy was a dismal 14 mpg, although that figure falls within the EPA estimates of 13 city and 17 highway. Stepping up to the GL550 isn’t about saving the earth, though—it’s about salvaging your street cred. The GL550 is aimed directly at rich guys who care a lot more about the image they project than pinching pennies or saving fuel.

Those guys will gladly pay the massive premium, some $24,000 over the diesel and $21,000 more than the GL450, which makes just 47 fewer horses. To be fair, much of the GL550’s cost is tied up in standard equipment that is optional on the other GLs, and Mercedes is happy to offer the much more reasonable GL320 or GL450 to folks who don’t like crappy fuel mileage or flashy body kits. The GL550 is fast and stylish and screams exclusivity. Sounds like it should be wearing an AMG badge on the liftgate instead of the wheels, doesn’t it?