Compare the2023 Mercedes GLSVS 2023 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Enclave doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Mercedes GLS has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the Enclave.

The GLS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLS and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 782 to 1726 pounds more than the Buick Enclave. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The GLS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The GLS’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Engine

The GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 52 more horsepower (362 vs. 310) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 173 more horsepower (483 vs. 310) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 240 more horsepower (550 vs. 310) and 272 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLS is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	GLS 450	GLS 580	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	4.7 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	13.2 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	105.9 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the GLS’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLS has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLS has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 21.7 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

	GLS	Enclave
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.4 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	GLS	Enclave
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Enclave (275/50R20 vs. 255/65R18). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 255/65R18).

The GLS 450’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS 450 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Enclave. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Enclave.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Enclave, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Buick doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Enclave.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Enclave doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Enclave doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Enclave (123.4 inches vs. 120.9 inches).

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Enclave Essence pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (10.1 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 3.8 inches higher than on the Enclave (11.3 vs. 7.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The GLS has .3 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more third row headroom and 1.1 inches more third row legroom than the Enclave.

Cargo Capacity

The GLS has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Enclave doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLS. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (7700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLS uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Enclave. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Enclave Premium/Avenir, the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The GLS has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Enclave doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The GLS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Enclave doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Enclave doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Enclave doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Buick doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Enclave.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Enclave doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Enclave doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

Both the GLS and the Enclave offer available massaging front seats. The GLS also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the Enclave.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because it costs $145 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Enclave, including $29 less for a fuel pump and $415 less for a timing belt/chain.

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