First Major Makeover for the G-Class in Over 40 Years
Slideshow: The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has turned 40. From a military utility vehicle to a luxurious off-roader, it has surely come a long way.
40-Year Legacy
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first 460-Series Geländewagen 40 years ago. It was an agile and no-nonsense vehicle built specifically for the military. Since then, it has undergone tremendous changes over the years while maintaining its highly utilitarian character and off-road performance. It's now domesticated, smoother in handling, and has more shoulder and legroom.
An Outlier
The G-Class is without a doubt a beautiful black spot on a white cloth. It's nothing like anything else that Mercedes-Benz has on its vehicle lineup. It's so much of an outlier that the body-on-frame is built by Magna-Steyr, in Austria, far away from Mercedes' other models.
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Some Modernity
Today's G-Class is more of an S-Class than a Wrangler Rubicon. The trademark characteristics have been retained while trying to meet the needs of the current customer base. There are a lot of newcomers in this segment. And for 2019 the G-Class finally received a redesign, better off-road capability, massaging seats, and Nappa leather for more comfort and luxury.
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What Remains
In a world where vehicles are increasingly being built to adapt to the wind, the G-Class retains its squared look, which is a major selling point. Its door hinges are still mounted on the outside. The flat panels and clamshell hood give it a desirable look backed up by its conspicuous heft.
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Exterior
The doors on the G-Class are now more muscular. There's a distinct "clack" that accompanies you when you lock them. Mercedes has responded to criticism for its restricted spaces by making the G-Wagon 2.5 inches wider and 2.1 inches longer than its previous version. This provides even more interior room for the occupants. It also retains its ample headspace even for taller passengers. Lastly, there are 3 locking differentials built into the G-Wagon as standard to provide outstanding off-road hardware that you won't find anywhere else.
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Interior
The interior is packed with brushed wood and aluminum accents that provide a strong sense of luxury. Thanks to the extra body length and width, occupants get an extra 1.5 inches of legroom at the front and 5.9 inches at the rear. There's also plenty of cargo room considering that the G-Class' rear seats do not fold flat.
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Tech Features
The current model stacks a 12.3-inch infotainment display that comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These provide a better presence of modernity compared to the previous COMMAND system. A second display of the same size is also available as an option if you wish to replace the default analog gauges for the tachometer. The menu system is controlled by a touchpad and a small collection of buttons on the steering wheel and center console. A toggle allows you to choose between 4 driving modes: Eco, Sport, Individual, and Comfort. Other standard features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.
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Performance
Under the hood of the G550 is a 4-liter V8 engine that is capable of producing 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The power is transmitted to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. The overall result is a quick sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. For a 5,600-pound truck, nothing is more eyebrow-raising. Mercedes replaced the recirculating-ball steering with a conventional rack and pinion system. Together with the new double wishbone suspension, the G-Class delivers a more conventional and comfortable driving feel.
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Fuel Efficiency
The upgraded V8 engine has a lot of weight to drag around. As such, the G-Class may not be a leader in fuel efficiency. EPA ratings place it at 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway and 14 when combined. These, however, might be different if the automatic start/stop feature is disabled.
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Price
The burly G550 starts at $124,500. For such a sporty car with little efficiency, Mercedes has added a number of updates that make it a little less stressful to live with. The 577-horsepower AMG G63 starts at $147,500 and Mercedes expects it to take up half as many sales as the standard G-Class.
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