On a dreary day near the end of a long week, the GL550's ultraluxurious cabin is a great place to land for the commute home. The seats are supportive and comfortable and appear to be infinitely adjustable. In addition to the standard movements, you get adjustable bolsters, thigh support, and two independent lumbar controls. The heated seats warm up quickly and then automatically adjust from the highest setting to the middle setting.
I am not a fan of the Mercedes navigation system interface, though. Its colors, fonts, and layout remind me of something designed using text boxes and the rectangle drawing tool in Microsoft Word. M-B also isn't the only automaker that simulates an analog radio tuner on a very digital screen, which I find doesn't add any functionality.
The 5.5-liter V-8 powertrain is excellent, providing a relaxed but powerful driving experience. But over rough roads, the 5434-pound GL550 has a tendency to bob side-to-side like a tiny dinghy in rough seas. At the end of a long day, that's not something you want.
Eric Tingwall, Associate Editor ...next page >>