[zambussi]

My wife has a 2011 GL500, and there are two things that aren't nice.

1. The seats aren't terribly comfortable. Merc bills the GL as the S-class of 4x4 vehicles, but clearly whoever came up with that caption hasn't driven much in the GL or has never driven an S-class.

2. Even in Sports Mode, the suspension is akin to driving a yacht. Body roll is enough to make people prone to car sickness start reaching for the vomit bag with an exuberant driver at the wheel.

Is the new model any better on these two issues ?

 

[Benzguy13]

I've got a 2014 with the Active Curve system to control body roll. Also the on/off road option. In auto/comfort mode it has I think less body roll than my old X5. The overall suspension though is definitely more plush. If you don't want that, switch it to Sport mode. In that mode I'd say it feels pretty X5-like, with better roll control. You can zip around curves and the car stays flat. The sport mode also tweaks the steering feel and gas pedal response, etc.

My dog can tell the difference, when the car was first delivered it had a leak from the factory in the Active Curve system and the car was very wallowy, made my dog carsick. Since the car got fixed, no more carsickness.

Seats feel fine to me, obviously not the best lateral support though when you're cornering.

 

[zambussi]

Thanks for this. Have they introduced the auto inflating side bolsters on the seats which inflate when you take a corner like the S-class has ?

 

[B200Turbo]

Hi Yes they did it is an option together with the massage seat on the new GL.

We have older GL 2011 with Seat package and seats very comfortable. You have so many options to set it plus the seats are cooled as well.
For nicer seats you have to go with real leather option because it is smoother and softer than the plastic. it is from my experience. I have real leather and owner of the other Gl that does not have it. It is shocking how comfortable are the seats with real leather plus all the extra settings for position and lumbar support and cooling in summer is great.

 

[Amnaggar]

Hi Yes they did it is an option together with the massage seat on the new GL.

We have older GL 2011 with Seat package and seats very comfortable. You have so many options to set it plus the seats are cooled as well.
For nicer seats you have to go with real leather option because it is smoother and softer than the plastic. it is from my experience. I have real leather and owner of the other Gl that does not have it. It is shocking how comfortable are the seats with real leather plus all the extra settings for position and lumbar support and cooling in summer is great.

Plain and simple.. DO NOT GET the fake leather!!! If you don't like to suffer wet pants and back every single day of the summer, that is!

 

[cyclrder]

No... The new GL does not have the inflating seat bolsters that react to turns (my old E500 had that capability and it was nice). The bolsters can be adjusted as a pair.

I had a GL550 08 before my new GL63... And the old car sucked unless you had it in sport mode... Then it was great. Being my new one is an AMG... It has a more aggressive double sport mode...I can only say that the handling is mind boggling. In the past...an older GL550 would smoke the 450 in handling, braking, and of course acceleration. I would suspect that the GL450 handles and drives as well if not better depending on the handling package as the older 550 (depending on what wheel and tire option you choose. But the key difference is that you can order a new 450 with all or most of the suspension options that come standard on a 550.)

Back to the seats.... My leather seats will adjust in the lumbar in such a way that I don't have a back ache after the 100 mile run to our beach house whereas the older 550 would leave me hurting the next day like it had ran over me!

One thing I will say is that if you have a larger butt... You might find the seats tight on the bottom without an adjustment to sort that. This simply might be the fact that the AMG has a more sporty seat...but I'm not sure.

 

[Amnaggar]

One thing I will say is that if you have a larger butt... You might find the seats tight on the bottom without an adjustment to sort that. This simply might be the fact that the AMG has a more sporty seat...but I'm not sure.

Though I'm only pants size 34 I have this issue with the SLS seats!

 

[cyclrder]

I'm 6.2 and size 33 ......I have gotten use to it but it isn't like Germans are known for skinny butts either!

No matter... It isn't terrible and the lumbar adjustments make up for it.

 

[jimhorvath2000]

My wife has a 2011 GL500, and there are two things that aren't nice.

1. The seats aren't terribly comfortable. Merc bills the GL as the S-class of 4x4 vehicles, but clearly whoever came up with that caption hasn't driven much in the GL or has never driven an S-class.

2. Even in Sports Mode, the suspension is akin to driving a yacht. Body roll is enough to make people prone to car sickness start reaching for the vomit bag with an exuberant driver at the wheel.

Is the new model any better on these two issues ?

It is Very comfortable to me, I am 6'3" and 240 lbs