CLASSED as “the S-Class of SUVs”, the new seven-seat luxury SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLS, is now available to order, priced from £69,100 on the road ahead of first UK deliveries in March 2016.

This premium SUV combines luxury with comfort, agile dynamics and best-in-class safety. The new GLS features improved efficiency, extended Dynamic Select transmission modes, the latest Airmatic air suspension system with ADS adaptive damping system, a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, state-of-the-art driver assistance systems and the latest telematics with internet access.

Three models are available in the UK: the GLS 350d 4Matic AMG Line, the GLS 350d 4Matic designo Line and the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4Matic.

The standard specification is comprehensive and includes the latest generation of Comand Online including an 8-inch screen and touchpad; Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping; LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus; leather upholstery; memory front seats; Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system; panoramic electric sunroof; parking package with 360° camera; lane tracking package including Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist; Keyless-GO comfort package; Thermotronic climate control with three zones; three-colour ambient lighting; and heated seats in the front two rows.

The designo Line from £78,095 brings even more luxurious appointments, including designo nappa leather upholstery with diamond pattern quilting; heated and cooled front seats; a heated steering wheel; four-zone climate control including the third row of seats; temperature-controlled cup holders; and interior air ionisation with filter. Also included is the Active Curve System, which uses active suspension stabilisers to help reduce the rolling motion of the vehicle in mid- and high-speed bends. It also helps increase axle articulation off-road.

The interior can be further personalised at no extra cost with a choice of five different leather upholstery colours in the AMG Line or two luxurious designo Exclusive nappa leather options in the designo Line. Customers can choose from four wood trim finishes (brown open-pore ash, high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss brown eucalyptus, black poplar) or aluminium trim at no cost, with cost options including black piano lacquer and AMG carbon-fibre with black piano lacquer (combined).

The GLS 350d uses a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which produces 258hp and 620 Nm of torque, and emits 199 g/km of CO₂ (down from 209 g/km). The 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox is standard, making for greater efficiency and smoother shifts, as well as Dynamic Select driving modes.

An optional off-road package for the 350d adds a centre differential lock; low-range gearbox; extra modes for the DYNAMIC SELECT system and three additional heights for the suspension, to increase ground clearance to 306 mm and wading depth to up to 600 mm. Also included are underbody protection panels, and an off-road function for the headlights.

With a peak output of 585 hp and peak torque of 760 Nm from just 1,750 rpm, the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 in the GLS 63 offers even more power (+28 hp), more dynamism and higher equipment levels than before. Standard features include a revised AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission with AMG Dynamic Select transmission modes which provide optimum flexibility, and rear-biased AMG Performance all-wheel drive.