Apparently USA buyers have different demands on an SUV than the rest of the world.
My 2007 Gl450 is coming up on lease end. I have one of the few equipped with the "Off road package" that gives Low range, Differential Locking, and enhanced air suspension features.

The Mid Atlantic blizzard of '10 gave me a true chance to test this enhanced traction package, and it performed incredibly. It seems a Land Rover is the only vehicle out there today that offers comparable traction options in a luxury full size SUV.

I guess living in Canada could have it's advantages when it comes to buying a fully equipped ML or GL

The MB G500 doesn't have the air suspension, but does have hi/lo TC and 3 diff locks; and will beat a GL or ML hands down in rough terrain any time.. The Porsche Cayenne has air suspension as an option. It also has hi/lo TC and a locking center diff. A locking rear diff is available as an option.

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1973 280SE 4.5 (Sold)
1984 LWB 280GE (Sold)
2000 G500 NMLE - "Deep Throat"
2007 ML320 CDI (Sold)
2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia TipTronic (Sold)
2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (Sold and Sorely Missed)
2014 ML350 BTC
2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (On Order)

I had exactly the same thought. Both my Cayenne S and Touareg V10TDI have air suspension, multiple locking differentials, and low range -- and off-road would eat the lumbering GL alive. Our GL550 has air suspension and none of the rest, as far as I know -- and regardless, the 21" wheels don't leave me a lot of useful tire selection for inclement weather, so it's relegated to being a sunny-day driver.

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

Dutch,
A G series would be ultra nice, but really just too much money for me.
I can't mentally separate Porsche from VW, and that much money for a glorified VW is not something I can afford either.

lkchris,
I figured it all boiled down to the bottom line. Odd that these features seem to be standard in the Canadian models.

John,
I do kind of like the looks of the Cayenne and Touareg's, but I'd never hear the end of it from my wife if I invested that much on a VW. The reviews also leave me a bit skeptical of the model line.

I'd never drive an SUV around on 20" low profile rubber, much less 21". The GL450's are now coming thru with 19" wheels. I can live with that, but would prefer the 18" 'ers that 2007's came with.

I've shopped all the options over the last 4-6 weeks. Today I went ahead and ordered the GL450. Come the end of April I'll post some pics.

Thanks for the responses.

Its a "numbers game."

GL450s equipped with the offroad package have--according to EPA--a different drivetrain than those without. Therefore that's another EPA certifciation, which is very expensive. Most car companies want to recover those costs via sales. In this case, sales of an even more expensive vehicle. You'll note that when sales get slow, Mercedes may be more likely to offer 2WD versions, as they have with ML and R-class.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles