It is easy to find yourself getting entirely rhapsodic about Mercedes-AMG’s latest flagship utility vehicle, the thoroughly overhauled GLS 63. From its meticulously crafted, ultra-luxurious cabin and its versatile three rows of seating accommodating six or seven occupants, to its bold, head-turning exterior style defined by towering 23-inch rims and a striking new illuminated grille, the full-size performance machine commands attention. Yet, beneath the lavish appointments and imposing physical footprint, the true soul and ultimate appeal of this high-performance S.U.V. lie resolutely under the hood.
For the 2027 model year, Mercedes-AMG has comprehensively redesigned its signature 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. It now outputs a formidable 603 horsepower and 627 foot-pounds of torque. That immense muscular output is more than enough to thrust this 6,110-pound heavyweight from a complete standstill to 60 miles per hour in a blistering 4.0 seconds, a feat further aided by a newly implemented launch-control feature.
This formidable power plant is Mercedes-AMG’s new-generation M177 EVO engine, significantly enhanced and enlivened by a flat-plane crankshaft—a distinctive mechanical architecture traditionally associated with shrieking, high-revving supercar engines. According to AMG engineers, this advanced design successfully lowers internal mechanical mass, delivers sharper and more immediate throttle response, and makes the V-8 remarkably more eager to rev. Furthermore, the updated engineering architecture plays a vital role in helping the luxury automaker meet increasingly stringent global vehicle emission regulations.
Even if this significantly more potent engine were not enough to capture the imagination, the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 bristles with fresh technology, advanced engineering enhancements designed to sharpen its driving dynamics, a more distinctive exterior design language, and an even higher tier of luxury for its cavernous cabin. Together, these updates give this latest hot-rod GLS ample room to stand out decisively from rival three-row performance utility vehicles, such as Cadillac’s formidable Escalade-V, BMW’s X7 M60i, and Audi’s brand-new SQ9.
What’s New
The current-generation design style of the GLS 63 has been a fixture of the luxury market since 2020, making this latest iteration a comprehensive midlife facelift. However, it is an unusually significant midlife update, with a reported 40 percent of the vehicle’s total components being entirely new. Visually, it presents a much bolder stance from the outset. It adopts a striking new Panamericana-style grille, featuring vertical chrome bars that pay explicit homage to the legendary 1952 Mercedes 300 SL race car that famously competed in the grueling Carrera Panamericana road race across Mexico.
Exterior lighting has also been completely reimagined, introducing a prominent ring of bright-white LEDs encircling the larger, thicker-framed grille. Enlarged headlights now incorporate clever, three-pointed-star running lights, while fresh, newly styled taillights boast additional illuminated three-pointed stars as part of their intricate rear lighting motif.
Looking down toward the rear bumper reveals a newly minted AMG Performance exhaust system featuring a quartet of ovoid exhaust tips poking aggressively out of the revised rear diffuser. At all four corners, buyers will find an array of new wheel designs, including a sophisticated 23-inch multi-spoke version, alongside a remarkably distinctive five-spoke 23-inch monoblock option that instantly evokes classic AMG heritage.
Inside the cabin, occupants are greeted by a heavily redesigned dashboard layout, elevated significantly by the marque’s full-width MBUX Superscreen. This advanced digital interface deploys a trio of 12.3-inch displays, including a dedicated screen integrated specifically for the front-seat passenger. Complementing the hardware is the cutting-edge MB.OS operating system, which features vastly enhanced "Hey Mercedes" voice recognition commands powered by artificial intelligence searches, alongside seamless Google Maps integration. Reassuringly for traditionalists, Mercedes has ensured that plenty of physical buttons remain available for essential controls.
The cockpit also features a gorgeous, thick-rimmed AMG steering wheel available in a curated choice of premium coverings. Naturally, buyers can select from an extensive array of upscale interior materials sourced directly from the automaker’s rapidly expanding Manufaktur customization program. Perhaps the only polarizing interior element is the vibrant, somewhat wild neon cabin lighting scheme, which can give the passenger space a distinct visual atmosphere reminiscent of Tokyo by night.
Design
The full-bodied GLS 63 remains the single largest model within the ever-expanding fleet of Mercedes utility vehicles. Measuring more than 206 inches from nose to tail, it still falls slightly short of the overall length found in Audi’s new SQ9 at 209 inches, or Cadillac’s gargantuan Escalade-V at 212 inches. Nevertheless, standing a towering 70 inches tall, observers will never mistake it for anything less than a true automotive behemoth on the open highway.
Yet, courtesy of the latest exterior design alterations, the vehicle possesses a more distinctive aesthetic profile than ever before, particularly when rolling on those massive 23-inch wheels. Exclusive AMG design features add significantly to its commanding on-road presence. These include the deeply sculpted, power-domed hood, the bolder front fascia featuring substantially enlarged lower air intakes, and a palette of fresh, eye-catching paint colors. Notable additions include Mid-Green Metallic, Moonlight White Magno, and the striking Mystic Blue Metallic featured on launch models.
Powertrain and Hardware
While the introduction of the new M177 EVO V-8 dramatically strengthens the performance credentials of the GLS 63, it is supported by a robust suite of mechanical hardware. This includes sophisticated mild-hybrid technology centered around a new-generation integrated starter-generator. Operating quietly at lower engine speeds, this electrical architecture provides an auxiliary boost of 23 horsepower and 151 foot-pounds of torque, though it does not facilitate electric-only driving capability. What it successfully accomplishes, however, is a notable improvement in off-the-line responsiveness and a much smoother, imperceptible operation of the vehicle’s automatic stop-start system.
To ensure this massive Mercedes corners with a level of competence that matches its straight-line velocity, the GLS 63 comes standard with AMG Active Ride Control+ active-roll stabilization technology. This system actively mitigates body roll during hard cornering maneuvers, resulting in remarkably stable and precise handling characteristics. It operates in tandem with the vehicle’s standard multi-chamber air suspension system, which can automatically elevate the ride height by an additional 2.2 inches when the driver chooses to venture off the beaten path. Furthermore, the adaptive damping system provides a firm ride quality when left in Comfort mode, and transitions to an even stiffer setting when Comfort is swapped for Sport or Sport+, rewarding the driver with significantly reduced body roll during aggressive driving.
Performance
For an automobile that tips the certified scales at over 6,000 pounds and towers nearly six feet into the air, the comprehensive array of AMG performance upgrades transforms the GLS 63 into an astonishingly thrilling vehicle to pilot. Straight-line acceleration is an absolute rush, while the newly designed AMG exhaust system, working in unison with the flat-plane-crank V-8 architecture, produces an urgent, aggressive soundtrack that feels entirely uncharacteristic of a traditional utility vehicle as the tachometer needle sweeps toward its 6,800-rpm redline.
This is a genuinely sensational engine possessing immense character, providing endless low-range and midrange muscle for effortless passing maneuvers, alongside surprisingly smooth and refined high-speed cruising manners. Dialing up either Sport or Sport+ via the console-mounted drive-mode selector unlocks an immediate surge of raw energy.
Naturally, physics dictates that any machine weighing more than 6,000 pounds will never handle quite like a dedicated sports car. However, the GLS 63 makes a remarkably valiant effort, and its electronically locking rear differential proves highly effective at putting all 603 horsepower down securely onto the asphalt. The steering setup is similarly well-judged; while it can initially feel a fraction too light at lower speeds, it quickly reveals itself to be wonderfully precise and communicative as speeds rise.
The primary compromise for this level of athletic capability is a notably firm ride quality, even when the vehicle is kept in its most forgiving Comfort setting. The sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires generate exceptional mechanical grip through corners, but they also tend to transmit a fair amount of intrusive road noise into the cabin, meaning deep potholes and severe pavement scars are best avoided altogether.
Is It Worth It?
Arguably the most significant market challenges facing this latest iteration of the GLS 63 come from within the Mercedes lineup itself. Many performance-focused buyers might find complete satisfaction in the exceptional GLS 580, which utilizes a similar 4.0-liter V-8 architecture and delivers a still-formidable 530 horsepower. Alternatively, for buyers willing to forego third-row seating entirely, the lighter, more compact, AMG-tuned GLE 63 shares the exact same 603-horsepower output in a smaller package.
However, for motorists who specifically require three functional rows of seating along with the heavy-duty capability to tow up to 7,700 pounds of boat trailer or track-day race-car hauler, the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 delivers a visceral performance experience that fully justifies its starting price of approximately $157,000.
