So I have a 2024 GLS 450. It is my second, trading in a 2018. I really considered the X7 as it drove really well, was several thousand dollars less than the similarly equipped GLS. The X7 even included annual servicing for a few years. So the X7 is a far better value.

Having said all that, I really disliked the the newer front end of the X7. I don't think the front end of the 2024 GLS is great, but that X7 front end just really looked weird to me.

I just read somewhere that the X7 has A/C issues, and I am loving the A/C in the GLS with this heat. We still own our 2014 X5 and the A/C is weird, it is cold but the fan control is awful and not ever powerful enough.

Anyway, curious why you all chose the GLS over X7 or really any other SUV.

 

Made this decision last year. We were replacing my wife's GL450 and she loves the badge (that's the short answer).

Here's the long answer:
Neither my wife nor I liked the front of the X7 40i. It's better than the 7 series but still maintains quite a bit of that "Hannibal Lecter" look. The space behind the third row is barely usable and we often have the third row up. BMW has gotten more and more buttonless and this would have been a nightmare for my wife as her DD. The dealer we were at also didn't budge from MSRP so that made it easier for us to focus back on Mercedes. We don't plan on buying another 3-row down the road as we will be downsizing in favor of more cars but smaller in a few years!

Note that we weren't aware of any AC issues during the "decision" last year.

 

We considered the X7 a few months ago before ordering our 2024 GLS 580. The X7 is quick, fun to drive, easy to handle, the HUD is great and works with polarized glasses but the interior is smaller, the rear A/C is not as efficient (no issues that we are aware of, just fewer vents and less power), no comparison in the seat massagers which we use a lot on long road trips, we prefer the more timeless exterior stylings of the GLS and the GLS infotainment. We also preferred MB's upgraded 3D audio system the the BMW upgrade. We also don't really care for the 2 piece tailgate; it's not ideal for aging big dogs.

For us, it was a really easy decision to go with the GLS based on the size. We also have a ML and were looking for something larger for road trips. In our opinion, the X7 is more comparable to the GLE.

If we were looking to replace our ML, it would have been a contender based on the positives listed above. There are some annoyances with how BMW packages things.. such as you have to get the Executive Package with diamond-cut glass trim elements on the controls (which we really didn't like) if you want seat massagers and heated/cooled cup holders or you have to get the M Sport Professional package with upgraded sport calipers to get the blackout (shadow line) exterior. There are also benefits with BMW. Their paint and trim options are extensive and if something isn't listed on the build sheet (paint, trim, upholstery, wheels), the dealer can petition BWM to allow other "non-standard" options. We were told as long as what you're doing is aesthetically pleasing they will allow it. Just imagine a world where you could order the GLS 580 and you could pick other MB rims from the factory that doesn't limit your ability to find winter or A/S tires....

 

Didn't even consider them when we bought ours in the fall of 2020 just as they too were coming out. Loved our 2014 E350 and admired the timeless design, which is the key reason why we got the GLS. A 5 year old BMW looks like a 5 year old car. But a 5 year old MB, usually doesn't. Their design ages better in my opinion, doesn't get as "dated" or lose its appeal. They're not "trendy". Sure there have been a few that didn't age well. A certainly a few BMW's that have aged very well. But I don't think the X7 is one of them. Case in point, the facelift already on the X7, whereas the GLS is still the same for the most part. When you look at a 2020 X7 next to a new one, it's pretty obvious and the 2020 looks dated already. But you put a 2020 GLS next to a comparable 2024, and that's not the case.

We also felt the GLS has a touch of class over the X7 at that time. The interior was a far more appealing place to be for us. Still is today. Friends have a 2021 X7, and it's no comparison to our GLS in terms of interior experience. That's not our words, those are the words of our friends with the X7.

 

Agree for the most part except the X167 GLS pre-facelift doesn't look as dated in the front because they didn't change the headlights at all. If you look at the V167 GLE pre-facelift and compare it to the facelift, the differences are greater.
https://vehicle-images.dealerinspire...07bf9e2676.jpg
https://docs.spm247.com/ftpcs/2021/M...xterior-01.jpg

The GLS is definitely a nice place to be in though : )

 

Actually this is a better comparison:
X253 pre-facelift:
https://inventory.dealersocket.com/a...Zz/IhNJ/RQ.jpg
X253 facelift:
https://www.dubicars.com/images/a7e1...2f694df84f.jpg
W205 C 43 pre-facelift:
https://static0.carbuzzimages.com/wo...0/0/509015.jpg
​​​​​W205 C 43 facelift:
​​https://cdn.jdpower.com/ChromeImageG...037_640_05.png

 

I did, however I could not get over the awfully ugly split headlight design on the X7. I wonder what the BMW designers had in their coffee the morning they came up with that atrocity. Hackfresse!

 

They put the 7 style split headlights starting on the facelift of the X7 right?

 

I was very close to buying an X7. Many things about it I like more than the GLS. The only thing that stopped me was how incredibly hideous it is.

 

I bought a '22 X7 (no goofy headlamps, no widescreen display, no mild hybrid). Never even considered the GLS because of MB quality and poor dealership experiences. Very pleased with the X7's 4.4L V8 TT 523 hp power plant. No recalls in 2 years.

 

If you are talking about the headlights, looks like those were introduced to the X7 for the facelift, the pre-facelift has more normal looking headlights.

 

I didn't wind up buying any SUV, but I extensively compared the X7 to the GLS. My choice would have been GLS for the following reasons:

1. Size. The GLS is considerably larger inside. When using the third row its the difference between having some usable space behind it, and none...quite frankly. The second row captains chairs in the X7 also don't have any room to pass between them for kids or dog, which the GLS has.

2. Styling inside and out. The X7 is higher quality inside, but from a design perspective I prefer the GLS inside and out to the X7.

The X7 is a better riding and driving vehicle, if I were buying a vehicle just for me to drive around I might go X7, but any use as a family vehicle it would have to be the GLS for us.m

This is absolutely true and is a big reason to go MB. One of the reasons why I got the S580 over an i7 or 760 is that once they refresh the 7 which would happen halfway through my lease mine would look totally outdated. Where when they refresh the S580, mine will still look great.

 

I’m talking about everything. The headlights are definitely the worst offender, but also ugly are:
* The grill that looks like the agry birds caricature of a pig nose
* That pimple in the middle of the grill, might be a front camera
* The wheels are all geometric shapes
* The screen is stuck on the dashboard with zero effort towards integration
* The interior air vents
* The triangles everywhere, especially on the dash next to the side mirrors. This is the kind of uninspired geometric pattern repetition I’d expect on a Nissan Versa or Mitsubishi Mirage
* Writing <<<X7>>> on the passenger dashboard
* The <<<angular>>> gauges with no option to select otherwise
* The center of the steering wheel is like a rounded octogon
* The gear shifter switch and it’s surrounding mess of differently sized buttons. Making it out of glass doesn’t make it better, it just draws more attention
* Even the key fob is ugly

Audi does the geometric/modern design language so much better. BMW has become outright grotesque, intentionally shockingly ugly.

I think most engineering aspects of the X7 are superior to the GLS. But aesthetically, it is so, so much worse. I put a non-refundable deposit down on an X7 because I was in a hurry and it was clearly an engineeringly excellent vehicle, but I walked away before taking delivery because I couldn’t get over the aesthetics, which are genuinely insulting to the human eye.

 

I see, those are good points.

 

When it comes to car magazines and on-line X7 vs GLS comparisons , most of the reviewers rank X7 over GLS. I dont like the looks of any BMW model , maybe the M5 in the 90's struck a chord , but I am fond of Mercedes , if you note my username , that says it all.

 

I noticed the 3rd row of the GLS I'm renting right now doesn't have any climate vents in the 3rd row. Is it an option to have that or not available at all?

 

It's part of the 5 zone climate control. It's standard on the 580 and an option for the 450.