With the glowing success of the G-Class SUV, Mercedes-Benz introduced a more smoothly styled SUV in 2006: the GL. It appealed to a wider audience, thanks to its more conservative styling, yet it still delivered a handsome appearance with a spacious interior for people and cargo. And it also delivered that signature Mercedes-Benz performance and handling. This GL550 is finished in Steel Gray Metallic with a black interior, and it’s powered by the 5.5L V-8 engine, with the 7-speed automatic transmission helping to deliver power to all four wheels. Highly optioned, the GL550 is fitted with the AMG appearance package with 5-spoke wheels, COMMAND cockpit navigation, twin glass roof panels, a rear seat DVD entertainment system, heated and cooled seats, third row seating and an interior adorned with rich wood accents. Costing about $84,000 when it was new, the GL550 quickly established itself as the end all of ultraluxe SUVs. It weighed close to 6,000-pounds, and yet, it could sprint from zero to 60 MPH in about 6 seconds. It had three rows, some space left over for luggage and a respectable towing capacity. On top of that, it was comfortable, very quiet and built with that bank vault solidity for which Mercedes-Benz has long been known. Interestingly, the GL didn’t take the baton from the G-Class, but rather it was built to complement it, offering a little something extra to the whole lineup. Mercedes-Benz invested over $600 million in its Alabama factory to build the GL, and most agree it was money well spent. While the GL hasn’t set sales records, it’s sold healthfully enough that interest and development continues. Oddly enough, GLs are just rare enough to be even more interesting, even if off the radar due to their newness. However, in typical family SUV parlance, finding one with low miles in exceptional condition can be difficult, especially with a healthy roster of options like this one. To be sold with a copy of the window sticker, factory books and a clean CarFax, this is one of those great vehicles that can be bought and enjoyed while appreciating that there aren’t all that many of them around.
