AMG GLS63 Takes on BMW Alpina XB7 in Entertaining Comparison
Can Alpina’s retuned XB7 take down the reigning segment champ – the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 – in this showdown?
In the world of plush SUVs/crossovers that are also insanely-fast, the latest Mercedes-AMG GLS63 ranks pretty high on the list. What’s particularly special about the GLS63 is that it has room for the entire family, thanks to its legit three-row seating, and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces a healthy 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. That translates to a blistering 3.6-second 0-60 in the real world, though Mercedes only quotes it as 4.1 seconds.
Those are insane numbers for a larger SUV capable of hauling the entire extended family. But of course, the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 isn’t the only such vehicle on the planet. In this video from Throttle House, the team decides to throw whatever it can against the segment stalwart to see if it can be taken down. So in this case, they went with a fortified version of the BMW X7 – the Alpina XB7.
Alpina tunes the BMW’s stock 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and massages 612 horsepower and 590 pound-feet from it, good enough for a 4.0-second 0-60. But of course, the tuner also tweaks the suspension and exterior/interior finishes to make it more of an exclusive product.
So how do these two German machines stack up? In terms of styling, the duo has gripes about the BMW. “The thing that makes me so upset about this grille is that now this is the small grille,” TH says. “This is awful like this. Also, the chrome lips don’t help.” They also prefer the GLS63’s more SUV-like profile, as well as its plush, modern, and tech-friendly interior.
As far as the driving experience goes, TH notes that the Mercedes GLS63 “is more alive, more frantic, more of a brute as it is loud.” However, they like the Alpina more. “The Alpina won us both over this day with its perfectly tuned balance of performance and comfort. It’s one of the few super SUVs on sale that seems to sacrifice nothing.”
Yes, it seems that the driving experience overshadows all of the BWM’s other problems. “As ridiculous as it looks and even though Alpina sadly didn’t rework any of BMW’s interior issues, I genuinely loved living with it and it makes me wish I had access to more of the Alpina products over here in North America,” TH concludes.
It’s an interesting conclusion to this comparison, given the fact that TH seems to prefer the Mercedes in virtually every category, save for driving experience. But as fellow enthusiasts, we can certainly understand.
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