Mercedes GL was the highest-selling three-row luxury SUV in the U.S. market last year (25,139 were sold), and with the recently released 2013 Mercedes GL, the brand has now become the most technological advanced vehicle in its class. It competes with the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX56, Lincoln Navigator, and Audi Q7. The Cadillac Escalade (which sold 23,467 units last year) has also been refined. The 2013 Cadillac Escalade SUV continues the successful lineage that began in 1999. It delivers high performance level and style; it is classy and powerfully built.
It is every buyer’s dream to own vehicles like these. If you are faced with the choice of picking one of them, do not make a choice until you have read my 2013 Mercedes GL vs Cadillac Escalade review.
Styling and Features
The seven-seat Mercedes GL 2013 model is offered in four models- GL350, GL450, GL550 and GL63. Each of the body styles are built with different engines. Just like the previous model, the Cadillac Escalade 2013 model is offered in several versions, with three body styles.
The new model Mercedes car is an ideal family car. It has a generous cargo space and a number of optional convenience features. When it comes to technological features, it continues to set the standard for other vehicles in its segment. It features a power lift-gate, a rear-view camera, automatic wipers, cruise control, a sunroof and an automatic climate control.
Performance and technology are perfectly aligned in the 2013 Escalade. It has a spacious third-row seat and a large rear cargo space. Just like Mercedes GL, it also packs an impressive list of features such as a navigation system, rear-view camera, Tri-Zone Climate Control and many others.
Powertrain
A turbocharged clean diesel V-6 rated at 240 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque powers the Mercedes GL350. A twin-turbo Direct-Injection V-8 engine engineered to produce 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, and 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque powers the GL450 and GL550 respectively. A 7-speed automatic transmission is used by all the models mentioned above. The new Escalade is offered with two different powertrains-standard and Hybrid. The standard engine is a 6.2L 403 HP V8 engine rated at 403 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. It uses an Active Fuel Management with E85 compatibility mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Although the GL450 midrange Mercedes delivers 41 horsepower and 11 lb-ft of torque short of what the Cadillac Escalade delivers, it is still faster than the Escalade. It posted a zero to 60 mph time of 6.0 seconds flat while the new Escalade can only make the same distance in 6.8 seconds.
2013 Mercedes GL boasts of an exceptional handling, rock-solid stability and some innovative safety features. It has an amazing off-road ability, and it is well built to ensure the safety of its occupants. The new Cadillac Escalade also boasts of some advanced safety features like anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD).
Pricing of 2013 Mercedes GL and Cadillac Escalade
The two vehicles are similarly priced. The base price of 2013 GL ranges from $63,305 to $87,805 whereas the starting price of the 2013 Escalade is $65,770 and $85,095. The Escalade is a great vehicle, but when you are talking about styling, feature list and performance level, the Mercedes is a better option and it has my vote in this 2013 Mercedes GL vs Cadillac Escalade contest.
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