The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is Gigantic. Fast. Powerful. Luxurious. It sounds like we’re dealing with the king of the large SUV kingdom. But is it really? Alpine BX7 is appealing against this status.
The remarkable super-SUVs are now face to face, thanks to Throttle House. The Canadian journalists go through all the details of the premium athletes.
But first things first. The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ starts at $132,100 in the United States. For those who would chose an Alpina XB7 instead, negotiations start at $141,300. Therefore, the Bavarian is almost $9,000 more expensive. Of course, optional equipment can take them both as far as $160,000.
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ comes with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It is capable of delivering 603 horsepower (610 PS) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. The power unit benefits from the presence of an EQ Boost starter-alternator, that provides it with an extra 22 horsepower and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque. The engine transfers resources to both axles via an intelligent 4-wheel drive 4MATIC+ system.
The SUV needs 4.1 seconds to run from a standstill to 62 mph (100 km/h) and is able to hit a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h), when the customer ticks the AMG Diver’s package.
Its opponent, the ALpina XB7, got the 4.4-liter twin turbocharged V8 engine that delivers 612 horsepower and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. All these go straight to all four wheels via the 4-wheel drive xDrive system and the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
The SUV go to 62 mph (100 km/h) from 0 in little over 4 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited at 290 km/h.
On paper, the Alpina XB7 looks stronger and faster than the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+
They are both intimidating in terms of design. They feature powerful solid lines, massive radiator grilles and angular sculpted shapes.
On paper, the Alpina XB7 looks stronger and faster than the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+. But how does it actually behave on the road?
Every press of the pedal brings a shock to the driver. They are both loud, aggressive, heavy, making use of every horsepower of their output and torque. But they can do “smooth” and “comfort” all right, because… prestige oblige. They make cruising just as good-feeling as racing. When cornering, the monster SUVs behave similar to any hot hatch.
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ gets the usual paddles behind the steering wheel to help the driver shift gears whenever necessary. Meanwhile, the Alpina XB7 gets two buttons with the same role.
We won’t provide any more spoilers, so check out the Throttle House comparative review.
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