2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550

2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550 - Using the same delicious 5.5-liter V-8 that has wormed its way across the Mercedes-Benz lineup—here it makes 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque; it’s also found in the CLS550, E550, S550, and you-get-the-idea 550—this latest GL has some serious balls in its basket. This is one fast SUV. How does a best-in-class 5.9 seconds to 60 mph sound? If you’re still not impressed, consider that this mastodon-sized piece of hardware weighs in at a whopping 5569 pounds, roughly equivalent to the weight of the piles of gold bullion it requires to afford the $82,415 as-tested price.

And looking at the GL is something you’ll actually want to do now, what with the standard AMG body kit. Whereas lesser GLs look a bit tipsy, nouveau riche, and just sort of ugly, the GL550 really looks the part. Those AMG-inscribed wheels? They’re 21-inchers, wrapped in low-pro 295-40 rubber. The rest of the dress-up kit includes side sills, running boards, new exhaust outlets, and some seriously boss fender flares.

Dynamically, the GL550 is pretty good, too. There’s still a touch too much squat under hard acceleration and brake dive, but those are easily mitigated by popping the standard Airmatic suspension into sport mode. (As in every other Airmatic-equipped Benz, sport mode is comfortable enough for all but the roughest sections of bombed-out pavement while returning adequately agile handling.) The suspension does a pretty good job in all modes of quelling any wheel crash you might get from those heavy, oversized shoes, too, but the smaller 18-inch wheels of the more inexpensive GLs allow for a cushier and more buttoned-down experience.

We’ve never taken to the typical Mercedes steering sensation—it always feels as if road feel were being delivered to you on a tiny pillow by a tiny butler—but there is good precision and heft to the wheel. The seven-speed automatic is fantastic in full auto mode, with smooth, nearly seamless up- and downshifts, but the transmission gnome that controls the button-actuated shifts needs to drink some Red Bull, as it takes a while for anything to happen.

Standard equipment includes, well, almost everything, but if you’d like to get more specific, here’s an abridged list of what’s tossed in: a rearview camera, heated rear seats, a power sunroof, power rear quarter-windows, a power steering column, and a top-spec Harman/Kardon stereo system. The only options on the GL550 are things such as a cargo-area box, rear-seat entertainment, keyless ignition, and a trailer hitch. The last option we heartily recommend. We towed a little bit with our test vehicle, and we can say that it tugged like a champ, although we admittedly didn’t really get anywhere near its 7500-pound limit.

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?