The six-piece plastic underbody panelling of the GL-Class offers extra protection for driving in off-road terrain. The Off-Road Pro engineering package included as standard supplements this with a reinforced underride guard at the front made from stainless steel. The fording depth can also be increased by 110 mm to a maximum of 600 mm, making light work of rocky stretches or stream crossings.

The double-wishbone suspension at the front and the four-link rear suspension, both of which come with self-supporting subframes, are ideally suited to the challenges of off-road driving. The isolated design of the subframes in terms of vibration ensures that very few jolts are transferred to the vehicle's body. The upshot is that the rough terrain will be much less perceptible to you and your passengers, producing a ride that is almost as comfortable off the road as on it.