by A practically new Mercedes SUV failed to get close to its starting price at auction, falling short by almost $20,000.
Bidding for the black GLS450 in AMG Line trim stopped at $77,200 this week.
Had the car sold for that amount, every kilometer it had traveled would have cost its former owner $1,500.
New cars lose value quickly during their first year of operation, but the biggest drop happens even before they drive their first kilometer. A car’s value decreases the moment the paperwork is signed for the new owner, as this case with the Mercedes SUV has proven.
A review of the 2025 model, recently listed on his online auction Cars & Bids, appeared on Doug DeMuro’s YouTube channel. However, buyers were not interested in the offer, and the maximum bid was only $77,178—$20,767 less than the starting price of $97,945. The deal did not go through due to the presence of a reserve price.
The low demand is definitely not related to mileage—since its purchase in January of this year, the SUV has only traveled 23 km, which is completely normal for a new car.
The car’s condition is perfect, as it has hardly been used. The GLS 450 is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 375 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 5.8 seconds—a decent figure for a large SUV with a base engine.
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Although this model has the standard engine, its trim is far from basic. The price of a GLS 450 without additional options is $90,350, but this particular example received the AMG Line package for $3,250, the Night Package for $400, a heads-up display for $1,100, and 22-inch AMG wheels for $1,350, bringing the total to $97,945.
Cars & Bids representatives are trying to negotiate between the seller and the highest bidder. If a deal happens close to the maximum bid of $77,718, the new owner will get a practically new Mercedes for a price 20% lower than the showroom price.
However, the buyer should not expect too much of a bargain—soon Mercedes will introduce an updated version of the model with star-shaped daytime running lights and a full-width instrument panel, which could have been one of the reasons for the weak demand for this particular example.
