How reliable is the Mercedes-Benz GLS?

Is the GLS luxury SUV a reliable option? We checked with the experts to see what consumers have to say

Lawrence Minnie

29 Oct 2021 · 07:37Car Ownership

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Reliable luxury

Short term data reveals that the latest offerings from manufacturers are lasting longer and fail less often. Globally, Mercedes as a whole sits in 16th place out of 50 odd auto manufacturers, not too far behind Korean and Japanese brands in the reliability stakes.

These rankings do of course change from country to country as some brands are not sold in certain countries. Here in South Africa, Mercedes ranks quite highly with an overall JD Power score of 75 out of 100 which is the averaged score across a number of factors that cover everything from dealership experiences to the actual technical aspects of the vehicle.

Consumer data indicates that the GLS is highly ranked as a very reliable car when initially purchased but as the vehicle ages the cost of ownership multiplies exponentially once the vehicle is out of maintenance plan.

The key then is to get an extended maintenance or service plan if you are buying as a second owner and keep to the service schedule to ensure that your GLS stays in tip top condition.

Written by Lawrence Minnie

Lawrence has been involved with motorsports for almost 30 years. Whether it's two wheels or four, if it has an engine, he will try to race it. This love of motor vehicles has led him to ride, drive, film, photograph, and write about his passion. Freelance for a while but now a permanent fixture on the AutoTrader team for over 7 years, Lawrence contributes written, photographic, and video content for AutoTrader and AutoTrader Bikes.Read more