The Mercedes GLS is the largest SUV in the standard Mercedes-Benz range and the only model in the fleet that comfortably seats seven adults across three rows while retaining a cabin quality that justifies the premium hire cost. For groups, families, and corporate parties who need to travel together without splitting across multiple vehicles, it is the most capable and most refined option available at this size.

Starr Luxury Cars has been providing Mercedes GLS hire across London and the UK for clients ranging from private families to production companies and corporate travel managers. Every vehicle in the fleet is prepared to showroom standard before collection, and our team has direct experience advising clients on which GLS variant suits a specific trip, budget, and group size. If you want to see how the GLS sits within the wider fleet, the Starr Luxury Cars homepage provides a full overview, and the Mercedes luxury car hire collection covers every available model in detail.

GLS 450, GLS 580, and AMG GLS 63 — which variant suits your hire

The GLS range spans three main variants, each covering a different brief. The GLS 450 runs a 3.0-litre straight-six mild hybrid producing 367 bhp, covers 0 to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds, and represents the most fuel-efficient starting point in the range. For a family of seven doing a long run from London to the North East or across to West Wales, it is the sensible choice where fuel consumption over several hundred miles matters.

The GLS 580 steps up to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 489 bhp, cutting the 0 to 62 time to 4.9 seconds. For clients who want the effortless long-distance performance of a V8 combined with the seven-seat configuration, it is the most well-rounded vehicle in the GLS lineup. The AMG GLS 63 takes the same V8 platform to 612 bhp with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, a ten-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox, and AMG Ride Control air suspension. It is a significant performance step and suits clients for whom pace matters as much as passenger numbers.

Contact our team when enquiring to confirm which variant is available for your dates. In most cases we will recommend the GLS 580 as the default option, but we will always advise based on your specific group size, journey length, and intended use.

Why seven seats change the calculation for group hire

The arithmetic of group travel is straightforward. A party of seven travelling in a single GLS pays one hire cost, covers one fuel bill, and arrives together at the same time. The same group split across a GLE and an E-Class pays two hire costs, coordinates two departure times, and spends the journey in two separate conversations. For any group larger than four, the GLS removes friction that multiple separate vehicles always introduce.

The third row in the GLS is genuinely usable for adults, not just a fold-down space for occasional use. Mercedes has given it its own climate zone, its own USB ports, and enough headroom and legroom that passengers on a three-hour drive from London to the Forest of Dean or up to the Yorkshire coast at Whitby are not asking to stop early. That is a meaningful distinction from SUVs that technically offer seven seats but functionally carry five.

Occasions and itineraries where the GLS is the right vehicle

Group leisure trips are the most common booking for GLS hire in London. A party of friends heading to a golf resort in Fife, a family collecting relatives from Heathrow for a week in the Cairngorms, or a corporate group driving to a country house event in Oxfordshire — in each case the GLS handles the logistics cleanly and arrives looking entirely appropriate for the occasion.

For airport transfers involving large groups or significant luggage, the GLS boot capacity of 355 litres with all seats in use, extending to 2,400 litres with the second and third rows folded, means there is rarely a luggage problem. The panoramic roof, the widescreen MBUX display, the 64-colour ambient lighting, and the Burmester surround sound system mean the journey to or from the airport is not something to endure but a reasonable part of the trip itself.

For families hiring for an extended period, the GLS makes a strong case over a standard seven-seat hire vehicle. The ISOFIX points across multiple rows, the rear-seat entertainment system, and the driving assistance package that manages lane keeping and adaptive cruise control on motorways all contribute to a materially different experience over several hundred miles than a non-premium alternative provides.

Hire requirements, pricing, and how to book

To self drive hire the Mercedes GLS with Starr Luxury Cars you will need a full UK or EU driving licence held for a minimum of two years, be aged 25 or over, and have a clean driving record. AMG GLS 63 hire carries standard insurance criteria. A refundable security deposit is taken at collection and comprehensive insurance is included across all hire packages.

Hire is available from a single day upwards with weekend, weekly, and longer-term rates available. We deliver the GLS to any London address and across the UK, including Dundee, Hereford, Sunderland, and Inverness. We monitor competitor pricing daily and guarantee the lowest rate on Mercedes GLS hire in the UK. If you find the same vehicle and specification cheaper elsewhere and we cannot match the price, we will give you 10 per cent off your next booking.

For clients deciding between the GLS and a more premium seven-seat option, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS hire offers a four-seat executive reconfiguration with a significantly higher interior specification. For those who want a five-seat SUV rather than seven, the Mercedes GLE hire is the natural step down in size. For larger group travel in a dedicated MPV, the Mercedes Jet Class hire and V-Class hire are both available in the fleet. The full 4×4 and SUV hire collection lists all options side by side.

Call us on +44 203 600 1631, email sales@starrluxurycars.com, or use our contact page.