How safe is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD?
Drivers of the 2020–2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD died at a rate of 8 per million registered vehicle years, 76% lower than the average of 37 for all vehicles. That makes it one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver: it ranks 16th of 129 vehicles, safer than 88% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
Where the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD sits among all 129 vehicles
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 37
The rate is based on plenty of data, so this ranking is reliable.
Vehicles ranked near the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Porsche Cayenne 4WDLuxury SUV · Large | 7 | 91 |
| 14 | Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4WDSUV · Small | 7 | 89 |
| 15 | Volvo XC90 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 7 | 89 |
| 16 | Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WDLuxury SUV · Large | 8 | 88 |
| 17 | Toyota Tacoma Double long bed 4WDPickup · Small | 9 | 88 |
| 18 | Toyota HighlanderSUV · Midsize | 10 | 87 |
| 19 | Ford Bronco 4WDSUV · Midsize | 10 | 86 |
How it compares with other luxury SUVs
Among the 24 luxury SUVs ranked, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD is 9th. The safest luxury SUVs are below. See all luxury SUVs.
| Luxury SUVs rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMW X7 4WDLuxury SUV · Large | 0 | 99 |
| 2 | Audi Q7 4WDLuxury SUV · Large | 0 | 98 |
| 3 | Porsche Macan 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 4 | 98 |
| 4 | BMW X5Luxury SUV · Midsize | 5 | 97 |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class 4WDLuxury SUV · Small | 0 | 93 |
| 9 | Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WDLuxury SUV · Large | 8 | 88 |
Common questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD is one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver. Its driver death rate of 8 per million registered vehicle years is 76% lower than the average, and it ranks 16th of 129 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD compare with other luxury SUVs?
It ranks 9th of 24 luxury SUVs. The safest is the BMW X7 4WD, with a rate of 0.
Why is this different from the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.