Mercedes- Benz offers a lineup of SUVs with a 7-person seating capacity. In addition, each model has many luxury features with excellent off-road capabilities to make a perfect choice for each segment of society.
Does Mercedes Make a 7 Passenger SUV? 7 passenger Mercedes SUVs are available in 3 lineups of models. Mercedes GLS is a full-size SUV and comes with 3 rows of seats as a standard feature for 7 persons. In comparison, GLB and GLE models come in either 5 seats or 7 seat variants according to customer requirements. Each design features a luxury SUV with a spacious interior and ample cargo space.
This article will provide a detailed insight into all 7-seater SUVs by Mercedes-Benz for the USA market. Their features and prices can vary according to their availability and particular model.
Does Mercedes Make a 7 Passenger SUV?
7-seater SUVs have the primary purpose of serving the public who travel with a large family and friends for a delightful camping experience.
Their spacious interior provides a comfortable sitting arrangement and an abundance of cargo space.
Mercedes offers the GLS series having 7 person seating capacity with a large towing capacity and belongs to the large size SUVs. The two prominent models available in this series are GLS 450 and GLS 580.
Mercedes GLS 450 SUV
GLS 450 is a full-size luxury SUV with 3 rows of seats to accommodate 7-8 adults. It has a 3.0-liter Inline-6 turbo engine with an electronically driven turbo boost.
Engine power available is 360-365 horsepower varying according to operating rpm. In addition, you will find the state-of-the-art 9-speed automatic transmission system of Mercedes, known as 9G-TRONIC.
Due to its powerful engine, it is fast with time to accelerate from 0 to 60mph. Despite its more weight and high payload, and towing capacity of 7600-7800 lbs, you will get a sound fuel economy of 19-25 miles per gallon according to driving conditions.
With the presence of a 23-24 gallons fuel tank, you can travel from 437- 600 miles with a one-time refill.
GLS 450 has a spacious interior offering comfortable seats for passengers in 3 rows. The first row has legroom of 40-41 inches.
The second row is roomy with 40.5-42 inches of legroom, and the third row has 34-35 inches of space. Cargo capacity can vary from 17cu-ft to 85 cu-ft according to the trim level selected.
This vehicle has excellent off-road capabilities with the presence of a 4MATIC fully variable all-wheel-drive system. It enables it to drive on uneven terrains without losing traction.
It has an independent AIRMATIC suspension system for all 4 wheels with an adaptive damping system to ensure a comfortable ride.
Safety features present in this model are an Active brakes system, safe distance from another vehicle warning, and emergency call service.
Furthermore, heat/cold front seats with multi-contour massaging options and power adjustment options make it a luxury vehicle.
It is available at a base price of $75000-$77000, which increases by adding packages and a Mercedes Benz premier service warranty.
GLS 580
If you want a powerful SUV with luxury features and a large room to accommodate 7-8 persons, Mercedes has a solution in the form of the GLS 580 SUV.
It has a 4.0 liter V8 bi-turbo engine with EQ Boost. It is more potent than the GLS 450 and has 480-485 hp power at rated rpm.
It is also faster, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 5.1-5.3 seconds. However, you will have to pay more in fuel consumption in the range of 15-22 miles per gallon according to traffic conditions on the road.
Other features like transmission, suspension, and off-road capabilities are similar to GLS 450.
Besides Standard features, there are numerous additional packages available. For example, the night package provides black shade to the exterior and wheel spokes.
Executive Rear Seat Package Plus provides luxury features for 2nd-row seats like heating, ventilation, massaging, wireless charging, and infotainment tablet display.
Furthermore, the Air Balance package offers air purification and fragrance system for the cabin interior.
Driver Assistance package plus has multiple features regarding safe and smooth driving. It is available at a slightly higher base price of $98,000-$99,000 due to its powerful engine and stylish design.
Mercedes SUVs with optional 7 seat capacity
Besides the GLS series, Mercedes offers 2 other types of midsize SUVs, including GLB and GLE models that have 7 seats available as an optional package.
It has 2 models, including GLB 250 and GLB 250 4MATIC, in this category with one AMG lineup model, AMG GLB 35.
GLB 250
The 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with turbocharger provides a power rating of 220-225 hp and torque rating of 260 lb-ft.
The 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission system provides smooth gear switching and better engine efficiency with front-wheel drive.
Cargo capacity is 20-24 cu-ft, and you can enhance it up to 60-64 cu-ft by folding the 3rd row of seats. Acceleration from 0-60mph is 6.8-7.0 seconds.
It is highly fuel-efficient due to its sportier design and better engine parameters.
Fuel average can vary in the range of 22-32 mpg from crowded areas to highways. The fuel capacity of the tank is 16 gallons.
Despite its compact size, it has a spacious interior with comfortable legroom and headroom for the first 2 rows.
The first row has 40-42 inches of legroom, 2nd has 38-39 inches, and the third row has relatively lesser legroom of 29-30 inches.
The Interior has a dashboard camera to record your activity, a panoramic roof for a better view at night, and a futuristic cabin design. 2 Aluminium rails on the top provide support to carry your luggage or tools.
All other features, including safety, multimedia, and driver assistance, are similar to other models.
It is available at a base price of $38,000-$39,000. However, the cost can increase according to additional packages and an extended warranty by Mercedes-Benz.
GLB 250 4MATIC
GLB 250 4MATIC is an advanced variant of GLB 250 with advanced off-road capabilities. The only difference between the two models is drive configuration.
While GLB 250 is a front-wheel drive, this SUV has an all-wheel drive with a 4MATIC drivetrain for variable torque adjustment to both axles.
It gives the vehicle the ability to operate on rough or slippery terrains and transfer the maximum torque to rear wheels. Its starting price quoted by the manufacturer is $40,000-$41,000 for the standard features.
Mercedes AMG GLB 35
It is a compact SUV with sporty features, including speed and agility with enhanced engine performance from Mercedes-AMG.
It has a 2.0-liter Inline-4 turbo engine with enhancement by AMG that has increased its power to above 300 hp and a torque rating of 290-300 lb-ft.
Due to AMG enhancement, you will also find quick acceleration from 0-60mph within 5.0-5.2 seconds.
In addition, fuel efficiency is 20-27 mpg from city to highway areas, which is quite an excellent figure for an SUV.
Transmission is an automatic AMG 8-speed dual-clutch for quick shifting. You will also find it off-road capable due to the presence of a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive configuration.
The rest of the specifications and packages available are similar to other GLB SUVs.
However, this one has the touch of a sports vehicle in its front seats and other performance parameters. You can buy it at an initial price of $49,000-$50,000 for its base variant.
Mercedes GLE 350
GLE 350 SUV has an optional package to install the 3rd row with 7-persons seating capacity. In addition, it has a 2.0-liter Inline-4 turbo engine with advanced features to provide 250-260 hp of power and 270 lb-ft of torque.
It has an intercooler twin-screw turbocharger that helps to deliver maximum torque at lower rpm for quick power bursts.
You will find the famous 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission by Mercedes in this model. It is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with 6000 lbs of towing capacity.
Moreover, its fuel economy is 18-27 miles per gallon with a 22-23 gallons fuel tank.
The cabin is spacious with optional 3rd-row installation and a cargo capacity of 33-75 cu-ft.
Front seats have a sports look like its entire dashboard with other luxury features like ventilated/heated option and multi-contour active motion option for massaging.
Additional packages are AMG Line Interior, Exterior, 3rd-row seats, Premium, and Air balance packages. Its manufacturer quoted starting price is $54000-$55000 for standard features.
Mercedes GLE 350 4MATIC SUV
It is a permanent all-wheel drive variant of GLE 350 equipped with a Mercedes 4MATIC drivetrain system.
All other features and packages available are the same as its base version. However, an all-wheel drivetrain gives it a better towing capacity of 7600-7800 lbs.
In addition, you can increase its capacity up to 7 by installing an additional 3rd row of seats by purchasing a 3rd-row seat package for$2,000-$2,200. The base version is available at $57,000-$58,000.
Mercedes GLE 450 4MATIC SUV
GLE 450 is a fully variable all-wheel drive capable SUV with a 7-passenger seating capacity.
You will get more power up to 360 hp due to the presence of a 3.0-liter Inline-6 turbo engine with EQ Boost and a torque rating of 370 lb-ft.
Its acceleration is quick due to the powerful engine and can reach from 0-60mph in 5.4-5.6 seconds.
The rest of the features, including interior space, cargo capacity, fuel economy, and transmission system, are the same as Mercedes’ other models of GLE SUVs.
It has a 4-wheel independent suspension system. However, you can purchase an AIRMATIC suspension system and Adaptive Damping System as an additional package for $1700-$1750. GLE 450 4MATIC has a base price of $62,000-$63,000 for the 2021 model.
GLE 580 4MATIC
It is fully equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 bi-turbo engine with a power rating of 480-485 hp and torque of 515-520 lb-ft.
Its acceleration time is 4.8-5.0 seconds. You can buy this powerful sport utility vehicle with a good fuel economy of 16-23 mpg and a fuel tank of 23 gallons.
It has AIRMATIC suspension as a part of the base variant, and you don’t need to buy an additional package for this feature.
Instead, you can buy it at a relatively higher price of $78,000-$80,000 due to its superior engine with EQ Boost option and its integrated starter generator for quick power and torque generation.
Mercedes AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+
It is a part of the GLE SUV model lineup developed and improved by Mercedes-AMG. You will get a lot of power in the 3.0-liter Inline-6 turbo engine with EQ Boost providing 430 hp of power and 385 lb-ft of torque.
Improvement in engine performance is a result of reduced friction and reduced fuel consumption. It has a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission.
In addition, it has an AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive configuration making it capable of driving in all weather and terrains.
In addition, it has self-leveling ride control with AIRMATIC and an adaptive damping suspension system that gives you a comfortable journey.
Its physical dimensions, cargo capacity, seating arrangement, and multimedia features are standard of the GLE platform. You can purchase it at a starting price of $72,000-$73,000.
Why do brands like Mercedes are going towards 7-seater SUVs?
Luxury vehicle manufacturers like Mercedes have devised a strategy to increase sales of their cars by increasing the seating capacity in its compact SUV models like the GLB lineup.
Providing a seating capacity of 7 passengers within the car’s price range and the availability of luxury features makes them a lucrative choice.
The presence of other features of a sport utility vehicle like increased cargo space, enhanced off-road capabilities, all-wheel drivetrains, and excellent towing capacities urge the customers to prefer them over passenger cars.
Related Articles:
Why Does the Mercedes Maybach Bounce?
Benefits of adding rear wipers in SUVs
How to buy Mercedes-Benz Unimog in America?
Do all SUVs have small engines?