Mercedes-Benz Updates 2027 GLS With Superscreen Display and Engines Up to 530 HP

Mercedes-Benz has rolled out the updated 2027 GLS-Class, highlighting its ongoing mechanical ties to the smaller GLE-Class lineup. Rather than a clean-sheet redesign, the 2027 model serves as a second significant refresh for the current generation, which debuted for 2020 and saw an earlier update for 2024. The newest version introduces meaningful revisions to the digital architecture, suspension tuning, and powertrain refinements.

Styling updates to the front and rear fascias remain subtle, incorporating Mercedes three-pointed star motifs and an available illuminated stand-up hood ornament. New adaptive-beam headlights project welcome patterns and lane guidance directly onto the pavement, with glare-free high-beam capabilities slated for an over-the-air update. Inside, the GLS adopts the automaker's MB.OS operating system alongside the three-display Superscreen setup shared with the S-Class. The setup encloses driver, center, and passenger screens under a single glass pane, though thick bezels separate the individual displays. An augmented-reality head-up display assists navigation, while the passenger screen automatically dims from the driver's perspective during video playback.

The lineup centers on two core offerings ahead of a future AMG edition. The GLS450 starts at $95,500 ($121,685 as tested) and utilizes a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 375 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a 48-volt mild-hybrid motor-generator that smooths startup cycles, it achieves 0–60 mph in a manufacturer-claimed 5.4 seconds. The GLS580 begins at $122,500, delivering 530 hp and 553 lb-ft from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 equipped with a flat-plane crankshaft for improved smoothness, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Both versions employ a nine-speed automatic transmission that exhibited sluggish downshifts during dynamic testing.

Chassis dynamics rely on Airmatic air suspension augmented by cloud-based damper control, which harnesses 10 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and five radars to read road surfaces and share road data across vehicles. Inside, the second row offers an Executive Rear Seat package with massaging loungers, sunshades, and twin 11.6-inch displays, though the third row remains tight and unchanged in dimensions. While the 2027 GLS retains hallmark comfort and isolation, fierce segment competition and internal rivalry from the GLE challenge its six-figure price tag.