2013 Motor Trend SUV of the Year

Motor Trend has declared the 2013 SUV's of the year; the Mercedes-Benz GL. They held a week long test with 10 other SUV's. At the end of the testing they had three cars in mind that they thought were winners : the Mercedes GL, Ford Escape, and the Nissan Pathfinder. They knew that other SUV candidates were no match next to the Mercedes GL.

Yes, I know it’s a GL that won, we all know they are not cheap cars. When they first came out the base price was already $55,675 and now half a decade later the entry level GL is $63,305. So yes, it is kind of unfair for  the other competitors since the more you pay the better stuff you get, right? But look at it this way, it is still a full size seven passenger luxury SUV.  The GL just kills the rest in its class! GL being called best in class is just an understatement in my opinion.

So the interior of both the GL 450 and GL550 is just astonishing and leaves the rest of the SUV's in the dust. What is the price that you are going to have to pay for that amazing interior? How about $4,000? Mercedes is now starting to offer a non-glossy wood (open pore wood) interior. The wood is like nothing you have ever seen, it looks like it was just freshly cut from a tree and put straight into the GL.

Mercedes has adopted the new 360 degree camera which had a lot of people talking about and loved very much. The electric seats in the middle row were a little slow but still convenient to have electric seats in the back.

Now with the driving and handling, Motor Trend was very impressed on how it took on the things they threw at the GL. Even though it weighs 5,774 pounds, it can handle on the road and still get decent gas mileage. Motor Trend calls it “An absolutely amazing piece of machinery” and “ An ueber-smooth ride, even in sport mode”

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL does have everything you need in a SUV. So what were the criteria the the SUV's had to meet in order to be named the winner by Motor Trend? Performance of intended function, design advancement, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, and value. Mercedes met an astonishing five out of the six criteria. The one criteria Mercedes didn't meet was value, but it just depends on the way you look at it; Mercedes is way ahead in the GL then the other competitors.  

info credited to motortrend

2013 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

Does your wife always nag at you to get the groceries quick? Well here is your perfect excuse to get a new car, and a pretty fast one also I must say.  The new 2013 ML63 AMG is still your typical family SUV but with just twin-turbos and some boost under the hood. The ML is a heavy groceries-getter weighing in at two and a half tons. This beast has a 5.5 liter V-8 with 14.5 psi of boost pushing 518 horses, meaning you will hit that 60 in about 4.8 seconds. Once you select the AMG Performance package, your  boost goes up to 18.9 psi, with 550 horses hitting that 60 will be even quicker in about 4.5 seconds. Your top speed is governed at 155 mph even with the Performance package. So you guys know what this means right...? Off the line you will be head to head with the, BMW X5 M (4.5 sec), Porsche Cayenne Turbo (4.4 sec), Land Rover Supercharged (5.6 sec). The ML now has active anti-roll bars, cornering almost feels like the X5 M which is a good thing. This ML isn't going to be going on some crazy trails or going up a snowy mountain road with its stock tires. But once you change the tires you're going to change the whole character of the car together with handling. So what I'm trying to say is just keep it the way it is. The inside of the ML is like walking into a designer store. The insides are wrapped in a very high-end grade leather. You will be rolling pretty deep with the stock 21-inch wheels, and nice chrome exhaust tips. So now your probably wondering what is all this going to cost you? Its going to set you back a nice $95,865 base, but with just a few lovely upgrades your looking at six figures already, about $112,805.

 

   

     

Photos and Information credited to- www.caranddriver.com