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The Mercedes-Benz GLS combines conventional occupant protection with increasingly advanced driver-assistance technology. Depending on model year, the GLS can help manage following distance, provide steering support, monitor blind spots, assist with lane changes, respond to potential collisions, and provide a 360-degree view around the SUV when parking.
This guide compares the 2022 through 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS so Hoffman Estates drivers can see how the safety and driver-assistance systems changed over time. That distinction is especially important because features that were optional or packaged on earlier GLS models became standard equipment in later years, while the redesigned 2027 GLS introduces Mercedes-Benz’s newer MB.DRIVE assistance platform.
The refreshed 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS introduces a new generation of driver-assistance technology built around Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS. Standard MB.DRIVE and MB.DRIVE ASSIST replace the previous model’s collection of separately branded assistance functions with a more integrated system architecture. Mercedes-Benz will also offer additional MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO and parking-assistance functionality.
MB.DRIVE ASSIST combines assistance for distance, speed, steering, and lane positioning during supported driving conditions. The 2027 GLS also introduces the newest generation of DIGITAL LIGHT technology and can be equipped with MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST and MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST 360. Because the 2027 GLS is still an upcoming model, Mercedes-Benz has not yet published the complete U.S. feature-by-feature equipment list for every configuration.
Standard for 2027
Integrated driver assistance for supported cruising, steering, speed, and lane-positioning functions.
Available
Expands the capabilities of the standard MB.DRIVE assistance suite.
Updated parking-assistance technology designed to help with low-speed maneuvering and parking situations.
Available enhanced parking assistance uses the vehicle’s surrounding sensor and camera network to provide additional awareness around the GLS.
Micro-LED lighting technology updates the GLS lighting system for improved illumination and more precise light distribution.
Supports over-the-air updates for compatible MB.DRIVE functionality as Mercedes-Benz continues developing the system.
The biggest safety technology change is the move from the previous DISTRONIC-based naming structure to the new MB.DRIVE platform. Complete U.S. specifications will become clearer as the 2027 GLS reaches dealerships.
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS comes standard with an extensive driver-assistance suite rather than limiting its most useful highway technologies to an option package. Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC can automatically adjust vehicle speed to help maintain a selected following distance, while Active Steering Assist can provide steering support during compatible driving conditions.
The standard suite extends well beyond adaptive cruise control. Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, and Active Stop-and-Go Assist are all included. PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist and the Surround View System also help manage the GLS’s full-size dimensions in parking lots and garages.
Standard
Adjusts cruising speed to help maintain a selected following distance from traffic ahead.
Standard
Provides steering assistance to help the GLS remain positioned within its lane during supported driving conditions.
Standard
Can help check an adjacent lane and support a lane change after the driver activates the turn signal under appropriate conditions.
Standard
Can warn of certain collision risks and provide braking intervention when the system detects an appropriate hazard.
Standard
Monitors adjacent lanes and can warn the driver when another vehicle is detected in a blind spot.
Standard
Can respond when the GLS unintentionally crosses detected lane markings.
Standard
Uses multiple exterior cameras to create views around the vehicle for parking and low-speed maneuvering.
Standard
Can prepare selected occupant-protection systems when sensors identify conditions associated with an impending collision.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS made the advanced driver-assistance suite easier to access by including the Driver Assistance Package equipment as standard on the GLS lineup. That brought technology such as Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist into the normal equipment mix rather than requiring buyers to specifically seek out a vehicle configured with the assistance package.
The 2025 GLS also combines those highway-oriented systems with Active Brake Assist, blind-spot and lane-support technology, PRESAFE® occupant preparation, and a Surround View System. For a three-row SUV measuring more than 17 feet long, the camera and parking systems are particularly useful when maneuvering through crowded parking structures, school pickup areas, or tighter suburban lots around Hoffman Estates.
Adaptive cruise assistance can regulate speed to help maintain a driver-selected distance from vehicles ahead.
Works with DISTRONIC to provide steering support and help maintain lane positioning in supported conditions.
Monitors areas alongside the GLS and can warn the driver of detected vehicles when a lane change could create a conflict.
Can identify certain unintended lane departures and provide an intervention to help alert or guide the driver.
Provides camera views around the GLS to improve visibility while maneuvering close to vehicles, curbs, walls, and other obstacles.
Can automatically prepare selected restraint and cabin systems when the vehicle detects conditions associated with a potential collision.
The underlying systems were not all new, but Mercedes-Benz made the more comprehensive assistance technology broadly standard rather than leaving important highway-assistance features dependent on an added package.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS received a mid-cycle update that brought revised exterior lighting, updated MBUX technology, and expanded camera functionality. The GLS continued to offer core Mercedes-Benz protection systems such as Active Brake Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST®, PRESAFE®, and Crosswind Assist, while more advanced driver-assistance equipment added adaptive cruising, steering, lane-change, and evasive-steering support.
A notable addition for the refreshed GLS was the Off-Road Mode display with a Transparent Hood function. Although primarily intended for low-speed off-road maneuvering rather than conventional collision avoidance, it uses the Surround View cameras to create a virtual view of the terrain beneath the front of the SUV. This can also help the driver judge obstacles that would otherwise disappear below the hood line.
Can identify certain forward collision risks, issue warnings, and provide braking support or automatic intervention when appropriate.
Helps monitor adjacent traffic and can warn when another vehicle is detected in an area that may be difficult to see directly.
Can prepare the cabin and restraint systems for a possible collision based on information detected by vehicle sensors.
Uses the vehicle’s stability-control systems to help counteract the effects of strong lateral wind gusts.
Uses exterior cameras to provide multiple views around the GLS during parking and other low-speed maneuvers.
Uses camera imagery to provide a virtual view beneath the front of the GLS during compatible low-speed off-road driving situations.
Depending on configuration and equipment, the 2024 GLS could also include advanced systems such as:
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS combined a strong set of standard safety systems with an available Driver Assistance Package that expanded its highway-driving support. Core equipment included Active Brake Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST®, Crosswind Assist, PRESAFE®, and a rearview camera, while available systems added adaptive cruise control, steering support, lane-change assistance, and evasive-steering technology.
This distinction matters when comparing used 2023 GLS models because not every vehicle was equipped identically. A GLS with the Driver Assistance Package can offer substantially more active highway support than one without it, so buyers should verify the actual equipment installed on the specific vehicle rather than assuming every 2023 GLS includes the full suite.
Standard
Can warn of certain forward collision risks and provide braking support or automatic braking when appropriate.
Standard
Monitors adjacent traffic and can warn the driver when a vehicle is detected in a blind spot.
Standard
Evaluates certain driving patterns and can alert the driver when signs of reduced attentiveness are detected.
Standard
Can prepare selected occupant-protection systems when the vehicle detects conditions associated with a possible collision.
Standard
Uses stability-control intervention to help reduce the effect of strong side winds on the vehicle’s path.
Available depending on equipment
Uses exterior cameras to provide multiple views around the GLS during low-speed maneuvering.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS already offered many of the safety systems that would continue through later model years, but the more advanced assistance technologies were still commonly grouped into optional equipment rather than included across the lineup. Standard systems focused on collision warning, blind-spot awareness, driver-attention monitoring, stability support, and PRESAFE® occupant preparation.
Available driver-assistance equipment could add Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, lane-change assistance, lane-keeping support, and other semi-automated functions. As with the 2023 model, this makes the original option list important when evaluating a used 2022 GLS. Two vehicles from the same model year can have very different levels of active driver assistance.
Standard
Provides forward-collision warnings and can supplement braking when the system detects certain collision risks.
Standard
Can alert the driver when another vehicle is detected in an adjacent blind-spot area.
Standard
Monitors selected driver-input patterns and can recommend a break if signs of fatigue or inattention are detected.
Standard
Can adjust selected occupant-protection systems before certain detected collision situations.
Standard
Helps stabilize the GLS when strong crosswinds are detected at speed.
Standard
Provides a rear-facing view to support backing and low-speed maneuvering.
| Model Year | Driver Assistance Structure | Parking / Camera Technology | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | MB.DRIVE ASSIST standard, MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO available | MB.DRIVE PARKING ASSIST and available PARKING ASSIST 360 | New MB.DRIVE architecture replaces previous assistance-system structure |
| 2026 | Extensive DISTRONIC-based assistance suite standard | Surround View System and PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist | Broad advanced assistance suite included as standard equipment |
| 2025 | Driver Assistance Package equipment broadly standard | Surround View System with parking assistance | Advanced highway-assistance technology becomes easier to access across the lineup |
| 2024 | Core systems standard, advanced assistance available depending on equipment | Surround View plus new Transparent Hood function | Mid-cycle refresh expands camera-based functionality |
| 2023 | Core safety standard, advanced Driver Assistance Package available | Rearview camera with available Surround View | Vehicle-specific options remain important when comparing used models |
| 2022 | Core safety standard, advanced systems primarily package-based | Rearview camera and available expanded parking-camera technology | Early version of the current GLS safety-system hierarchy |
DISTRONIC is Mercedes-Benz’s adaptive cruise-control system. When active under appropriate conditions, it can adjust vehicle speed to help maintain a selected following distance from traffic ahead.
Active Steering Assist can provide steering input to help keep the GLS positioned within detected lane markings. It is intended to support the driver rather than replace active steering supervision.
Active Brake Assist monitors for certain potential frontal collisions and can provide visual and audible warnings. In supported situations, it can also supplement driver braking or initiate automatic braking.
This system monitors areas alongside the GLS that may be difficult to see directly and can warn the driver when another vehicle is detected during a potential lane change.
PRESAFE® can respond to certain detected pre-collision conditions by preparing selected cabin and restraint systems before impact. Depending on the situation and equipment, that can include seat-belt and seating adjustments.
PRESAFE® Sound can emit a brief protective sound signal when an impending collision is detected. The system is designed to trigger a natural inner-ear response before the louder noise of an impact.
Multiple exterior cameras provide selectable views around the GLS, making it easier to judge curbs, parking lines, nearby vehicles, and other obstacles while maneuvering a full-size SUV.
ATTENTION ASSIST® evaluates selected driving inputs and can display a warning when the system detects patterns that may indicate reduced driver attentiveness or fatigue.
The GLS’s driver-assistance systems are especially relevant to the mix of driving common around Hoffman Estates and Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Active Blind Spot Assist and lane-support systems can help add awareness in heavier multi-lane traffic, while DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist can reduce some of the workload during longer stretches of I-90 driving when conditions permit their use.
The parking technology is also useful in situations where the GLS’s size matters more than its highway capabilities. Surround View and PARKTRONIC can provide additional visibility in parking garages, shopping-center lots, and tighter spaces where the SUV’s long body and wide stance can otherwise make judging clearance more difficult.
For 2022 through 2024 models in particular, do not assume two GLS SUVs from the same year have identical driver-assistance technology. Features such as DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, and other advanced systems could depend on the original equipment package and configuration.
Before choosing a pre-owned GLS, check the original build information or vehicle equipment list. That is the most reliable way to confirm whether a specific SUV includes the assistance features that matter to you instead of relying only on the trim name or model year.
Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates can help you compare safety and driver-assistance equipment across current and pre-owned GLS models. Review available systems, model-year differences, and vehicle-specific equipment before choosing the GLS that fits your daily driving needs.