While driving a Mercedes-AMG on the streets of Mumbai or Delhi may be commonplace, I often lament that city roads do not do justice to the sheer prowess and capabilities of the German carmaker’s performance range—AMG. To truly enjoy the vroom of a 4.0 litre V8 engine of an SUV like the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, I need to take it out into rugged terrain and long stretches of tarmac to push it to the limits.
This is exactly what I am doing in Morocco, covering over 500 km a day across three days in this car. The itinerary, which begins in Marrakech and charts a course through the Atlas Mountains’ remotest parts while making a detour through the dunes of the Sahara before finally heading back to Casablanca, is designed for car geeks like me to not only enjoy the performance of the SUV across different terrains but also to appreciate the interiors for the design and technology featured.
Let me set a bit of context for you as I drive. This upgraded AMG version of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship full-size SUV is now the designated head of the AMG SUV family. The new model offers many enhancements to an already heavily kitted predecessor and, according to the manufacturer, has further improved drive dynamics (more on that later). While the GLS silhouette is instantly recognisable with its muscular yet refined lines, the AMG front grille, with the added AMG logo replacing the three-pointed star, is truly a standout. This new version comes with redesigned rear LED lights and an AMG projected light on the ground every time you open the door, which is a nice touch.
It’s day two of my almost 1,500 km itinerary. As an avid driver, I always judge a car’s drive quality by the scale of drive fatigue. Cocooned within the napa leather confines of this SUV, with my seat position customised to perfection, I find the long drive a breeze. The interior trims are sporty and resolutely AMG with a nice mix of lines, chrome, leather and lacquer. While the MBUX user interface and infotainment system are standard, these days, across Mercedes cars, if you have a sharp eye, you will notice certain AMG-specific graphics and animations in the interface. The large unified screen stretching from the driver display to the centre of the cabin is now a Mercedes design signature, and it’s visually working.
I can’t rave enough about the cult favourite AMG Performance steering wheel, which seems to be highly Instagrammed these days, with its signature metallic finish and round illuminated knobs to change drive modes. If this isn’t indulgent enough, you can ask the manufacturer to customise the steering wheel with a heated or carbon fibre option. During my long drive, I tried out the Apple CarPlay (which glitched occasionally) and the climatised front seats, which might be a welcome feature for hot Indian summers. I always love a panoramic roof, as it bathes the cabin in natural light, ideal for long road trips.
Some of my favourite moments of testing this car’s performance are on the long desert roads, with no car or pedestrian to be seen for miles. The V8 engines promise to pump out a maximum power of 612 horsepower—the AMG Performance exhaust system giving it that extra dramatic sound effect—and letting this massive SUV sprint to a maximum speed of 280 km per hour. The specification sheet of the car indicates a sprint of 0-100 km per hour in 4.2 seconds, which is an impressive feat given the dimensions of this vehicle. The engines are hyper-responsive as I step on the accelerator on open stretches and feel the push into my seat. It handles the road smoothly and skirts the curves seamlessly. Switching between drive modes using the steering wheel knob is a delight, and to see the engine, suspension, and torque adapt to different terrains is impressive.
This SUV features the AMG Active Ride Control, which balances torque and ensures no body roll during cornering. Today is not all about highway driving. I do get into a rocky stretch of the desert, where I turn on the off-roading mode and raise the car height to effortlessly take on shallow brooks and rocky terrains. The air suspension works like a charm.
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 63 impresses on all fronts. While we love well-appointed interiors and loads of technology inside the car, this one is all about performance and power. And it’s the drive experience that you should be looking for. Is this a driver’s car or a passenger’s car? There’s no debate here—it’s a driver’s car for me.
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