New York 2012: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL Is The Latest Soccer Mom Chariot

by Derek Kreindler

Published: April 4th, 2012

new york 2012 2013 mercedes benz gl is the latest soccer mom chariot

My girlfriend is really excited for tonight’s debut of “The Real Housewives of Vancouver”, and I bet that the Real Housewives already hankering for a new ride before the 36-month lease on their current GL350 BlueTecs are up. Here’s more questionably-built ostentatiousness to satiate their vapid souls.

I do have an affinity for the Mercedes-Benz GL because it can be had with the BlueTec diesel engine – a good number of them (apparently as high as 50 percent in Canada) are sold with the oil burner. I imagine that isn’t the case in the United States. The BlueTec 3.0L V6 diesel now makes 240 horsepower and 455 lb-ft.

Two gasoline V8s will also be offered, both 4.6L twin-turbo V8s. The GL450 makes 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque while the GL550 will make 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, the better to get to hot yoga before that bitch in the Range Rover Sport steals your parking spot. A 7-speed automatic puts power to the ground. A radar-based collision avoidance system works at triple digit speeds, so you can yak on your phone without worrying about human life.

The GL350 starts at $62,445, and goes up to $86,175 for the GL550.

#2012NewYorkAutoShow #Mercedes-Benz #Mercedes-benzGl #NewYorkAutoShow #NYIAS #Nyias2012 #SUV

Derek Kreindler

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6 of 27 comments

Mandalorian on Apr 04, 2012

It would be 10000% better with a standing hood ornament.

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ClutchCarGo on Apr 04, 2012

Are soccer moms really driving vehicles that start at $62K? It seems that if one can afford that price point, one hardly fits the soccer mom demographic.

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- Hachee on Apr 04, 2012
  
  Oh god, yes they do. They're all over my town. It's basically the default choice of the family with a lot of money and a couple of kids between 5 and 12. They want a nice car, need the third row for carpools, and price just doesn't really matter. As for the car itself, I've been a passenger in the old one, and it's nice, but damn, Mercedes hasn't made a decent looking car in what feels like decades now.
  
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- Derek Kreindler on Apr 04, 2012
  
  Being a soccer mom transcends race and class (but not gender, heh heh heh)
  
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- Slab on Apr 04, 2012
  
  Depends on the area. I work in a more upscale part of town, and see these all the time. Almost as much as the Q7. Rarely see the big Lexus. I guess it's too truck-like. This new model looks longer and lower. A good direction for MB.
  
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- CA Guy on Apr 05, 2012
  
  @Slab In my beach city and throughout the west side of LA, oh yes indeed. Right along with loads of Cayennes and Range Rovers.
  
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