2022 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 Interior and Cargo

Sitting as the premier version of the flagship GLS, the GLS 63 comes decadently equipped inside with expensive materials throughout the cabin. Nappa leather is included as the standard choice over the AMG-specific front seats, with leather surfaces covering nearly all of the dashboard. An Alcantara headliner adds an even greater touch of opulence, but we would skip the optional Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel. What few plastic surfaces there are on the interior are knurled and feel metallic to the touch.

Black Nappa or a Black/Tartufo combination are available at no extra cost, while Nappa leather with diamond stitching can be had for $250 in either Black or Macchiato Beige/Black. Cabin trim comes in the form of Grey Linden wood, Aluminum with Longitudinal Grain, Natural Grain Grey Oak wood, or Natural Grain Brown Walnut wood. For $850, you can have Manufaktur-specific trim like Natural Grain Black Flamed Ash wood or Brown Linden "Flowing Lines" wood. For $600, there is Metal Weave, or AMG Carbon Fiber, but the latter will cost you $1,750.

The cavernous GLS is impressively capacious, but with the third row in place, there's only really enough room for a pair of medium suitcases and maybe some shopping bags. The 17.4-cubic foot volume measurement increases substantially if you flatten the third row and move the second row as far forward as possible. In this configuration, you have 48.7 cubes of volume, but all seats folded increase this even further, offering up 84.7 cubic feet of space.

In the cabin, you get cupholders in each row, along with generous center armrest storage, decent door pockets, and a reasonable glovebox. The center console also has a space for phones, keys, and wallets but we wish it was slightly larger.

The GLS 63 is described as the S-Class of SUVs, and with a long list of standard features, it's not hard to see why. Forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking is standard, along with lane keep assist, an active driver condition monitor, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera. The SUV also features dynamic LED headlights with auto high beams, 64-color configurable ambient lighting, heated and cooled front cupholders, dynamic LED headlights with automatic high beams, keyless entry and ignition, soft-close doors, and rain-sensing wipers. Other standard features include tri-zone automatic climate control and front seats that boast both heating and ventilation, as well as a massage function. The second row is heated as standard too, with this being an option for the third row. Ventilated seats are also optional for the second row, as is a head-up display for the driver.

The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) is a massive improvement over the outgoing COMAND system in terms of usability but like BMW's iDrive system, it can be tricky for beginners. To make it easier to understand, Mercedes has included redundant controls in the form of a touchscreen, touchpad, steering wheel-mounted controller, and voice command. Drivers can, therefore, pick whichever control method feels most intuitive and stick with it.

Two 12.3-inch screens handle infotainment and gauge cluster duties with both offering a dizzying amount of customization. The gauge cluster, for example, offers multiple themes and the ability to configure the speedometer, tachometer, and center area. MBUX borders on being too customizable (if that can be considered a negative) but we suspect most owners will find one configuration and stick with it. If you prefer, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available but do not feature wireless capability. A Burmester Surround Sound System comes standard while a Burmester High-End 3D system is optional. A total of nine USB ports are dotted around the cabin and, of course, both navigation and Bluetooth connectivity are standard as well.