SPIED? SoCal Spy Snaps Mercedes-Benz GLS350 DIESEL — Would You Ever CONSIDER Owning One After VW's Mega Mess?

re: Would I Own a Diesel?

I drive a diesel now (2015 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI), and I positively love it! Massive torque means brisk acceleration on demand, from any RPM. Massive torque also means a slow spinning yet powerful engine. It also delivers very respectable fuel economy when treated gently (my best tank was 51.8 US MPG, from an AWD SUV!!!)

Also, with today's diesel engines (manufacturer dependent):
- No smoke
- No smell
- No clatter
- No difficult cold-weather starts

So yeah, I LOVE a well-designed diesel, and I'd do it again! I prefer it over a gasoline engine. A lot! I'd love to get a diesel Cayenne.

And yeah, I'm still WAY pissed at VW for their epic fraud, widespread lying, cover-up, and ongoing arrogance. I can't wait for the emissions fix to be ready for my car. I love my car, but I don't have any warm 'n fuzzy feelings for VW, if that makes sense to you.

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re: "Do YOU think that Mercedes will issue The States a diesel GLS?"

I've written to Mercedes, asking about their diesel GLC SUV. In late 2016 they indicated that they will bring diesels to North America in early 2017, but that is being slowed down by the stringent certification process. I got an email in early January 2017 informing me the GLC diesel variant did not pass certification, therefore it won't be coming to North America.

*I* believe Mercedes will ATTEMPT to bring diesel models to North America. Whether they can pass emission certification and actually sell them here is an entirely different matter.

Ditto to what TheSteve said! I have a 2014 GL350 Bluetek and its quite a fantastic vehicle. I'm sure if MB launched the GLS350d it would do very well. I buy my vehicles and keep them til I tire of them (usually 5+ years) so I got the 7-year warranty (it was an extra $4,500).

The emissions controls on diesels are complicated. For example, I bought the extended warranty after MBUsa paid for $4,000 in emissions repairs on mine to get the check engine light to go out. [However, I am cynical and noted that performance and fuel economy went down slightly after they returned the vehicle to me, so I suspect MB pushed through some software updates in addition to a bunch a new NOx sensors].

I also have received crazy super-generous buyback/trade-in offers for the past year (only on the GL350, not on my other gas S550) so I have a suspicion that MB is trying to bring some of these vehicles home to the mother ship for perhaps some retrofitting. I LOVE my GL350 though - averages 18MPG in stop and go Manhattan area traffic and gets 27MPG on open highway for a range of up to 700 miles. The MB diesel V6 is fantastic.

I am curious to see where Mercedes goes with their Diesel model line. They are great but I'm not sure how much tech is under the skin to all them to hold it together (I suspect a lot!).

Yes. Love my Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel. Incredible power and towing grunt, yet its an amazing highway cruiser, with MPG in the low thirties. I know lots of people who have diesels even VWs and they'd do it again. The game for the VW owners is drive it until the bitter end before giving it back to VW. Note that lots of new diesels are coming on the market and making it through the EPA from various manufacturers. Its not dead.

Just because I sold my Passat TDI back doesn't mean I wouldn't jump on another diesel. The GLS is too big for me, but the BMW X3 diesel is returning, the Equinox is coming later this year, and the Mazda CX-5 diesel is also supposed to arrive this summer. Any one of those would satisfy me, at least on paper. I'll need to drive the Chevy to see if the engine is large enough for the size car.

But, I would also jump on the new Tiguan coming later this year, depending on pricing. And if they announce a diesel or hybrid for it, I'll be first in line.

In a word: NO. The supposed advantages of a diesel are MPG and torque, but the disadvantages of higher initial cost and high repair costs down the road make diesel a failed technology.

It's a dumb fuel choice that a lot of Rube Goldberg technology has been applied to in an effort to make them suitable.

A hybrid does EVERYTHING a diesel can do with far less complication. Nothing can beat the torque profile of an electric motor.

re "...A hybrid does EVERYTHING a diesel can do with far less complication..."

Just as a data point, when I was eyeing a new Q5, I compared the Q5 diesel (3.0L) to the Q5 Hybrid (with 2.0L gasoline engine). The diesel out-accelerated the hybrid in 0-60mph time, got better fuel economy in mixed and highway driving and only a little worse in pure city driving, and was less expensive to buy. Factor in the lower pump price for diesel fuel as compared to premium, in addition to the diesel's better fuel economy, and the diesel's cost per mile was considerably lower than the hybrid variant's.

Q5 diesel vs Q5 hybrid. All things are equal, except for the powertrain.

I bought the diesel. FWIW, the Q5 hybrid's sales have always been, and are still dismal. I'm *NOT* saying "any diesel is better than any hybrid," but I am saying that I do not agree with your assertion that "a hybrid does EVERYTHING a diesel can do."

Also, that "Rube Goldberg" technology is coming to gas engines as well. Expect the same hit to MPG and the same tech issues that diesel has waddled through for the last decade. Particulate filters are arriving for gas engines soon, and that alone is going to really hit their MPG.

Sadly we are beginning to see proposals from legislators to even outlaw hybrids since they still rely somewhat on ICE. For huge chunk of the population a plug in hybrid vehicle ala a Volt and others makes perfect sense as its an EV around town for daily use if you have a home charger, yet still serves for trips and longer uses when needed.

Hell yes! Even with all the VW controversy, today's Diesel engines are fabulous. My wife has a Cayenne diesel and she wouldn't give up for anything else. After driving a modern diesel, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a GLS350d if MB brought it to the US. If you require a large SUV, considering the option of having a Diesel engine and it's benefits makes perfect sense.

The rear looks very dated already .. front is typical mercedes for this period of

If you directly compare an ICE gas engine in a car from the 1950's and one from today - it is almost impossible to actually find the engine underneath all of the various do-dads and thingamajigs they have added since that time - to say that diesels have Rube Goldberg stuff added - is no different. Having worked on cars most of that time - a lot of the additions are taken so normal for today that most people dont consider an EGR valve to be unsual - but it is just another addition from the Rube Goldberg bag.

There is nothing wrong with Diesel Engines. Yes - they are different than gasoline engines - and produce different emissions - but if - from 1960 - they had spent the same money on their development - they would seem normal today. AS long as European Gasoline continues to be very expensive compared to Diesels - a Hybrid is still NOT a replacement for a well put together diesel. With Trump planning on bringing back the coal industry - I expect emission level restrictions will be eased. And diesels will soldier on. For example - most TANKS run on diesel - and how could you replace an easily mobile fuel - with a mobile Electric Generator (which would still require a fuel too) to charge a Hybrid Tank? Non-atomic submarines also run on Diesel. THere are no Electric Generation plants under the water in the oceans either.