The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ is a full-size, seven-seat SUV that offers handling to rival many sports cars. Image: Thomas Wielecki.
The laws of physics suggest that a tall, large box on wheels could not possibly be as agile as smaller, more low-slung and aerodynamic objects travelling at the same velocity.
So it comes as a surprise to find, on a first drive of the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, that a full-size, seven-seat SUV can not only offer handling to rival many sports cars but combine it with the ride and stability attributes of a luxury saloon.
On meandering country roads through the lush countryside of Victoria’s picturesque West Gippsland region, the latest GLS 63 eats up the kilometres with next to no fuss. Body roll is all but absent, even on choppy and occasionally off-camber surfaces.
This “magic carpet ride” effect is perhaps the most notable step forward from the previous generation, courtesy of the new AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL roll stabilisation system that works in conjunction with the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ continuous adaptive damping system. The overall effect is that the GLS 63 seems to shrink around you, driving like a much smaller vehicle than its capacious footprint suggests.
Yet, when the road ahead turns twisty, this practical family hauler transforms from mild to wild. The bi-turbo V8 that was previously purring along on four cylinders suddenly barks to full attention with a flick of the AMG drive mode selector on the steering wheel face from Comfort mode across to Sport. Firmer damping and sharpened steering create the impression the GLS 63 has sunk talons into the tarmac and is poised to leap in any direction.
Sean Fitzpatrick, chairman of Laureus World Sports Academy, in the Mercedes-AMG GLE.
You split your time between the UK and New Zealand. How does it feel to be back home at this time of year?
This is the best time of the year to be here in New Zealand, between December and March. It’s lovely to be home to see friends and to reconnect. Last year, and for some of the beginning of 2021, we were here for seven months because of COVID-19. And it just made us really appreciate how beautiful this country is.
What were some standout moments of this last year for you?
In my business, sport, it was really inspiring to see how people dealt with COVID and situations that they'd never thought they'd have to. Things like doing a PCR test four times a week just to be able to go to work. And then another highlight has to be the actual sporting competitions themselves. I loved watching the cricket in the summer in the UK with New Zealand doing so well. In the Test cricket final it was so special to see little old New Zealand punching above its weight again.
Looking back on 2021, what were the key lessons you learned?
COVID taught us some really hard lessons and some really good lessons in terms of how important your friends are. I made a point, especially during the lockdowns, to focus on connecting with people again who you might not have spoken to for a long time. I really enjoyed that, reconnecting with old mates, because everyone's normally so busy that you don't really get the opportunity to do that. And overall, I think the year also made us really appreciate what we've got.Splitting his time between the UK and New Zealand has helped Sean to appreciate the beauty of his home country.
What are your goals for 2022?
I always talk about getting out of bed in the morning and wanting today to be better than what it was yesterday. It’s an easy thing to say, but it can be a hard thing to do – but why not? The All Blacks are a good testament to that, that the way we did it yesterday is not good enough to win tomorrow.
What advice would you give someone who wants to make the most of the next year?
My advice going forward into 2022 is to make the most of every opportunity and that you have to enjoy life. Take opportunities. Don’t think about “sometimes” or “I'll do it tomorrow”, or “I don't really need that” or “this is too hard”. Just make it work.
You’ve been a Mercedes driver for a long time, what’s exciting you about the future?
I am an absolute petrol head. I get one car and I’m already thinking about the next. I love cars, I love Mercedes, I love AMG, I’ve spent a lot of time driving the Mercedes-AMG GLE SUV, I think the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is the best saloon car around – but I am blown away by the Mercedes electric vehicles that are already here and what’s coming next. All Mercedes models will be electrified by 2030 and I’m absolutely sold on the electric future that is around the corner.
In fact, this is only a taster for what this Mercedes-AMG is capable of. A further click of the switch reveals Sport+ mode, further sharpening responsiveness and easing electronic intervention, while the full-bottle Race mode turns this genuinely full-sized SUV into a faux track day car with serious hot lap potential. That’s a drive experience for another day but on the face of it, it’s a genuinely astounding feat of engineering.
Back on the undulating, gently winding roads of West Gippsland, there’s time to consider some of the other attributes combining the elegance and luxury of a range-topping Mercedes-Benz vehicle with the sporty and technical prowess of a benchmark product from the Mercedes-AMG stable.
A highlight for the driver is the beautiful AMG Performance steering wheel, which has contours in all the right places, and is finished in Nappa leather and DINAMICA microfibre. The widescreen display panel featuring the MBUX infotainment system is large, crisp and clear, with an array of options for input including the standout ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice activation system. The ability to vocally issue commands such as “turn on seat ventilation” or “set climate control to 20 degrees” helps to keep the driver’s eyes firmly on the road.
Speaking of which, the GLS 63 is among the first vehicles in the range to receive the new augmented reality satellite navigation. In this application, helpful navigation information is overlaid in the central display with the forward camera view, using visual trickery that makes it appear part of the real world within the screen. Thus, on approach to a tricky road junction, the sat-nav might tell you to turn second-left but also show you, with an arrow pointing to the correct path that appears as though it was painted onto the view of the road surface in exactly the right position.
Importantly, too, this large and luxurious SUV succeeds in its core function as a legitimate carrier for large families. The generously equipped second and third rows ensure comfortable seating and adjustability for up to seven, including five-zone climate control and a 13-speaker Burmester surround-sound system.
The overall effect is one that combines the space and comfort of a family-friendly vehicle, with the ability to drive like a small sports car, and the ride and refinement of a luxurious saloon.
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ is proof that performance, space and luxury really can co-exist in one very exceptional package.
By Steve Colquhoun