Video: 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550 AWD

Now, on this video, we're gonna take you over how it drives and look at some of the interior features. But check out our other video for an overview of seating and cargo space. And right away, it's really easy to tell that the GL is a Mercedes. The logo on our test car is so big, that the logos on other cars stay awake at night, wondering when this one will come eat them. Rest assured though, that the logo on the GL450 is a bit smaller. Now, the back sorts things out nicely with none of the boxy endings that really define an SUV like the Cadillac Escalade or the Lincoln Navigator. This GL550 has monster 21-inch wheels. That means your kid's friends might think you're the coolest mom or dad on the block. Your kids will still think you're old fashioned and stingy. Inside, leather and wood trim a bound. And actually, everything's pretty well-arranged. There's leather wrapping on top of the dashboard and the stuff on the steering wheel is really soft. One thing we aren't crazy about is the glove compartment cover. Right here, where it meets the dashboard, there's sort of an inconsistent gap as it comes up. On an $80,000 SUV, that's not something you really wanna see. Air conditioning buttons are simple. They're elegant when you press them down. The climate dials themselves, they have a little bit of a clunky feel when you turn them. Mercedes needs to send a memo to the rest of the auto industry that says, "Look, you don't need to put silver painted plastic all over your center controls, plain old black can still look very good." What doesn't look so good is the navigation system. The graphics are really pixelated and there's no touch screen interface. Instead, you have to use these tiny little buttons along the side. Another awkward control is the overhead map lights. You would think they're here. See, 'cause the buttons are here but they're actually up here underneath the rear-view mirror. And they're not really very bright at night either. Visibility in the back is great. Thanks to the low head rests and the large side and rear windows but for a full-size SUV, side mirrors this small are just embarrassing. Now, under the hood is the V8 from the S-Class. There's a seven-speed automatic that you shift using this electronic stock on the steering wheel. It's a pretty seamless operation. And what's nice is how short some of the gears are, which gives you access to quick revving spurts to move right past those semis on the highway. Now, overall, the GL is a handsome SUV that's also quite capable. In the year or so it's been out, reliability is proven pretty bad but it's not very good for the Escalade either. That's the GL primary competitor. This SUV we think is pretty well constructed. It looks good on the inside and the outside and it's fun to drive to. So, it's a pure luxury car. If you can afford something in this price range, it's probably worth checking out. <v Narrator>For additional information on this car or any other, go to, Cars.com and our blog, Kicking Tires.