Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
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 Chevrolet Suburban 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 Suburban doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Suburban 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 Suburban 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 Suburban.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Suburban doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

The GLS has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Suburban’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Suburban and the Suburban’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

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 Suburban doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the GLS uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Suburban uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the GLS and the Suburban have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 Suburban’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 Suburban’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the GLS have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Suburban.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Suburban isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the Suburban:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Suburban 5.3 V8	355 HP	383 lbs.-ft.
Suburban 6.2 V8	420 HP	460 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Chevrolet Suburban 5.3 V8:

	GLS	Suburban
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLS gets better mileage than the Suburban:

			MPG
GLS
	AWD	580 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/20 hwy
		600 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/19 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
Suburban
	RWD	5.3 OHV V8	15 city/20 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.3 OHV V8	15 city/18 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	14 city/18 hwy

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

The GLS has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Suburban. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLS higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Suburban (3 to 6). This means the GLS produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Suburban every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLS	Suburban
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.5 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the Suburban:

	GLS	Suburban
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Suburban (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/65R18). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Suburban (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 275/50R22).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Suburban’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 Suburban’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Suburban. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Suburban.

Suspension and Handling

The GLS has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLS flat and controlled during cornering. The Suburban’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Suburban, 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. Chevrolet doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Suburban.

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 Suburban doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Suburban High Country 4WD pulls only .53 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 4.5 seconds quicker than the Suburban Z71 4WD (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 30.9 seconds @ .5 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GLS’ turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Suburban’s (41 feet vs. 42.3 feet). The GLS’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Suburban w/20-22 inch wheels’ (41 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Suburban (10.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Suburban Z71 Air Ride (11.3 vs. 10 inches).

Chassis

The GLS 450 is 1 foot, 8.8 inches shorter than the Suburban, making the GLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the GLS’ center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Suburban doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLS easier. The GLS’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.8 inches, while the Suburban’s liftover is 37 inches.

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

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Suburban’s (7716 vs. 7600 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Suburban LT/RST/Z71/Premier/High Country, 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 Suburban’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Suburban can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Suburban 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 Suburban 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 Suburban 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 Suburban 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. Chevrolet doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Suburban.

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 Suburban 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 Suburban doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Suburban.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Only the Suburban LT/RST/Z71/Premier/High Country offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Suburban because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Suburban, including $66 less for a fuel pump and $865 less for a timing belt/chain.