2026 Mercedes GLS Reveals Its Starry Headlights & Refreshed Design

The third-generation Mercedes GLS debuted at the 2019 New York Auto Show and launched in the United States at the end of the same year. The three-pointed star brand gave it a facelift in 2023 and is now working on the second mid-cycle refresh.
 

Prototypes of the 2026 Mercedes GLS have been spotted undergoing testing in Europe recently, and despite the trippy vinyl stickers, it’s clear that the company’s flagship SUV has adopted the starry-light signature.
 
The headlamps feature starry daytime running lights, which is a great addition to any modern Mercedes and one that’s bound to be adopted by the tuning crowd. The front bumper is also new, and features redesigned intakes. The grille has been tweaked, featuring a different pattern and being shorter and wider by the looks of it.
 
At the back, the 2026 Mercedes GLS will feature new taillights with a starry pattern. The tailgate seems to carry over unchanged and is still home to the rear license plate holder. Further down, the vehicle will have a new bumper with fake vents on the side. The diffuser is also new and has cutouts for different exhaust pipe trims. The automaker could round things up with new colors and wheels.
 
Our vigilant spy photographers managed to get a glimpse of the cabin, and it was enough to reveal that the upcoming GLS will feature an extremely wide display. Stretching from one pillar to another, it was partially hidden beneath a black cloth. Reports speak of an updated center console and revised controls, and the dashboard has likely been modified. Elsewhere, we expect it to get revised trim and upholstery and probably updated tech and safety gizmos.
 

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS is offered in the 450 4Matic and 580 4Matic flavors in the United States. The former uses a 3.0L inline-six mild-hybrid rated at 375 hp (380 ps/280 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, taking 5.8s to reach 60 mph (97 kph). The latter packs a 4.0L bi-turbo V8 mild-hybrid that develops 510 hp (517 ps/380 kW) and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm). Chances are these powertrains will carry over with minimal to no intervention.
 
Powering the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a handcrafted 4.0L bi-turbo V8 with 603 hp (612 ps/450 kW) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm). This model does 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, six-tenths faster than the Benz GLS 580, and starts at $149,500. The 580 4Matic has an MSRP of $114,800, and the 450 4Matic begins at $89,200. We expect the 2026 family to become a bit pricier when it launches, and that could be sometime this year.
 
Meanwhile, the model has fallen into the hands of the rendering crowd, with the peeps at Kolesa doing their best to peel the fake skin away using their photo-editing skills. So, do you like the 2026 GLS more than the outgoing one?