2026 Mercedes GLS Embraces Stars And Pillar-To-Pillar Display

The third-generation Mercedes GLS recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and that would typically mean a redesigned model is only a year or two away. However, the current crossover is sticking around a little longer than usual and this means it’s getting a second facelift to stay fresh.

While the camouflage does a good job of hiding the changes, we can see this will be a relatively minor update that focuses on the front and rear ends. There isn’t much to see, but the model has a revised grille that is flanked by temporary headlights with a sweptback design.

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The taillights are production-ready and feature new star graphics like those found on the E-Class. The rest of the rear end largely carries over, but the model appears to have a lightly revised exhaust and an updated bumper.

Spy shooters only managed to get a glimpse of the cabin, but it appears to show a pillar-to-pillar display that is partially hidden behind a black cloth. We can also expect a new dashboard as well as revised controls and, possibly, an updated center console.

It remains unclear if there will be any powertrain changes, but the current GLS offers an assortment of engines including a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six developing 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Customers can also get a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with outputs of 510 hp (380 kW / 517 PS), 550 hp (410 kW / 558 PS), and 603 hp (450 kW / 611 PS).

SH Proshots / Carscoops