| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $43,320 |
| Insurance (annual) | $4,726 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $2,500 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $847 |
| Tires (annual) | $430 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 22 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 19 / 25 MPG |
| Engine | 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive |
| Horsepower | 375 hp |
| Torque | 369 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 7 passengers |
| Cargo space | 17.4 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 31 | 62 | -31 |
| Powertrain | 63 | 60 | +3 |
| Safety | 80 | 95 | -15 |
| Driver assistance | 70 | 49 | +21 |
| Livability | 37 | 53 | -16 |
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS scores 31/100 on cost of ownership — 31 points below the suvs median. The 3-Row SUV class median 5-year ownership cost is $65,569 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: insurance.
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS scores 70/100 on driver assistance — 21 points above the suvs median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS scores 63/100 on powertrain — 3 points above the suvs median. Key figures: 22 MPG combined, 375 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 GLS is a full-size luxury SUV with seven-passenger seating and an excellent driver-assistance suite. The cabin is sumptuous, and the ride is serene. But the ownership costs are staggering — insurance, fuel, and maintenance are among the highest on the entire platform — and crash-test data is not yet published. For luxury buyers who need three rows and want the best ADAS in a full-size package, the GLS delivers an opulent experience — at an opulent price.
Good fit for: Highway driver
Best for
- Excellent driver-assistance suite
- Sumptuous cabin with seven-passenger seating
- Serene ride quality
Watch out for
- Among the highest ownership costs on the entire platform
- Crash-test data not yet published
2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 GLS is a full-size luxury SUV with seven-passenger seating and an excellent driver-assistance suite. The cabin is sumptuous, and the ride is serene. But the ownership costs are staggering — insurance, fuel, and maintenance are among the highest on the entire platform — and crash-test data is not yet published. For luxury buyers who need three rows and want the best ADAS in a full-size package, the GLS delivers an opulent experience — at an opulent price.
Good fit for: Highway driver
Long-distance drivers who value adaptive cruise control and lane-centering
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by depreciation; tires is a minor share.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but hands-free automation is limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Passenger space and everyday maneuverability, scored within its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its 3-Row SUV segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Scored on standard crash-avoidance technology alone — no published crash tests yet.
No published NHTSA or IIHS crash-test results yet.
What do NHTSA & IIHS ratings mean? →Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS earns a MotiveGrid Score of 62 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- What is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS safety score?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 80/100 (provisional — crash-test data is still incomplete for this model year). The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS include?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS scores 70/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS reliable?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS has an above average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 81/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS fuel economy?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS is EPA-rated at 22 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS rank among suvs?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS is in the top 91% of suvs on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS compare to the Lucid Gravity?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the suvs segment.
- Is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS scores 37/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other suvs in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03