Item: Mercedes G-Class
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

There’s no denying that the hand-built G-Class is expensive to buy, finance and run. The cheapest diesel version has a high five-digit price while the top-spec G63 Magno Edition will cost you more than two Audi SQ7s.

The G400d comes in AMG Line Premium Plus trim and is packed with equipment, including 20in alloy wheels, ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and front and rear heated seats, the Burmester stereo, panoramic roof, 360deg parking and the adaptive suspension we mentioned earlier, at extra cost. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/g-class/4x4/review/n17870">AMG G63</a> adds AMG body styling, including 22in wheels, colour-coded brake callipers, sports exhaust and a sportier front grille design. Carbon and Magno Editions simply add different interior trim finishers and darker exterior highlights.

The G-Class <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">holds onto its value very well</a>, especially with the G400d beating the equivalent Range Rover over four years of ownership. As for fuel economy, the diesel’s mpg figure of just 25.7mpg in official tests isn’t very impressive, although during our time of testing it easily beat 30mpg. This still trails the equivalent Range Rover and its mid-30s figure, though. The G63 is even more punishing, with its official figure of 17.7mpg. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">CO2 emissions</a> for the G400d are also an eye-watering 289g/km (although that’s nothing on the 363g/km of the G63), easily placing the G-Class in the top bracket for first-year road tax and benefit-in-kind company car tax.&nbsp;

You get plenty of safety kit as standard, such as blindspot monitoring, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>, lane-keeping assistance, road sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a> gave it the full five-star rating, although it scores less points in specific categories than the best in the luxury SUV class, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.

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You get a choice of two engines for your Mercedes G-Class: a sensible 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel in the G400d or, if you really want to push the boat out, a 4.0-litre V8 with a pair of turbochargers in the AMG-fettled G63.

Despite this huge SUV weighing at least two and a half tonnes, the diesel is as much engine as most drivers will need. It offers plenty of pull from low in the rev-range, so accelerating up to motorway speed is easy.

The G63 offers an exciting turn of pace for something this tall and bulky. Any car that can whizz from 0-62mph in 4.5sec is impressive, but the fact that this boxy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-luxury-suvs-2022/n17036">luxury SUV</a> can do so feels even more of an achievement. It's accompanied by an appropriately theatrical soundtrack from the engine and the exhaust, which is mounted down the side, ahead of the rear wheels.&nbsp;

While both offer fast acceleration in a straight line, if you try to use too much power while turning, you’ll have the stability control light flashing away. The G-Class’s high ground clearance and soft suspension are great on the rough stuff but hurt its handling.

It's worth pointing out that the latest G-Class represents a huge step forward for ride and handling compared with its predecessor, but grip is in relatively short supply around corners. Even with&nbsp;wide tyres and the optional adaptive suspension, the stability control is quick to intervene.

The tall, heavy body pitches in bends noticeably, and the G400d feels ever more cumbersome the harder you push. When you try to thread it down a twisty road with gusto, body lean becomes even more pronounced.

Plus, if you put your foot down from a standstill, there’s a long hesitation before the G-Class accelerates away as the nine-speed automatic gearbox fumbles to find the right gear. Another thing you’ll notice when you start driving is how slow and heavy the steering is, and you’ll notice how many corrections you have to apply to keep it in a straight line.

The G-Class isn't an especially smooth cruiser, either. Even with adaptive suspension fitted, the live rear axle – a set-up that incorporates the car’s driveshafts and differential in a single, rigid unit – causes the car to jostle and heave around on scruffy road surfaces. Your head will be thrown around on undulating country roads, even in the suspension’s comfiest setting.

The G400d feels very much like a well-sorted pick-up truck on the open road – which is no surprise, as it has the same basic lay-out as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/x-class/pick-up/review/n186">Mercedes X-Class</a>. That said, while the ride and handling isn’t great by the standards of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/luxury-suv">luxury SUV</a> class, it'd be missing the point somewhat to sign off here, because the G-Class has always been a rugged 4x4 in the old-fashioned sense. This latest version certainly holds true to that.

Indeed, a low-range gearbox, differential locks and long suspension travel mean&nbsp;the G-Class really is very capable in the rough stuff, aided by the freedom of movement of that live rear axle. Even if you’ve bought one with no intention of scuffing its expensive alloy wheels doing something as crazy as driving it off road, it's good to&nbsp;know&nbsp;that if you need to, it can.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

G400d

g400d

The G63's 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol engine gives this huge SUV stupendous straight-line performance.

G63 Tip Auto

If you’ve flicked through a celebrity magazine or visited Harrods recently, the Mercedes G-Class will be on your radar. This square-sided <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-luxury-suvs-2022/n17036">luxury SUV</a>&nbsp;– nicknamed 'the G-Wagon' – is a big hit with the rich and famous.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a> first launched the G-Class in the Seventies, and it was developed as a military vehicle that could go almost anywhere. The G stands for&nbsp;Geländewagen (German for ‘cross-country vehicle’) and it's incredibly competent off road.&nbsp;

There have been quite a few big updates to the model over the years, but at a glance, a new G-Class doesn't look all that different to an early one. This is still very much an old-school 4x4, with rugged suspension, a separate chassis and a high centre of gravity.

It's&nbsp;much pricier than your average 4x4, though. While you could think of it as a teutonic alternative to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a>&nbsp;style wise, the G-Class actually costs about the&nbsp;same as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a> or a heavily optioned <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a>.

Fortunately, beneath the utilitarian exterior, you'll find the sort of luxury you'd expect in a car with a six-figure price tag. There's swathes of leather, a modern infotainment system and all the clever driving tech Mercedes can throw at it.

For even more power, you can get a G-Class with AMG tuning and a V8 engine, the Mercedes-AMG G63.

If the idea of this most iconic of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/luxury-suv">luxury SUVs</a> appeals, read on over the next few pages of this review to find out how our road testers rate it in all the important areas – from performance to practicality.

Once you've decided on the new car for you, remember we can save you thousands off the list price if you search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Deals service</a>. It has lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-luxury-suvs-2022/n17036">new luxury SUV deals</a>.

Few will have trouble getting comfortable behind the wheel of a Mercedes G-Class. The steering wheel, seat and pedals all line up nicely and there’s a reasonable amount of room for your left foot.

Unlike in previous generations, plentiful interior width means you won’t feel hemmed in&nbsp;either. Electric seats with a memory function are standard, with the basic controls mounted on the doors. You’ll have to dig into the infotainment system to adjust the lumbar support or activate the sumptuous massaging seat function, though.

Settle behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel and you’re greeted by a pair of 12.3in digital displays – one for infotainment and one in place of conventional dials. Both are configurable and easy to read, and have pin-sharp graphics.

The infotainment system is primarily controlled by a rotary dial between the front seats, but there’s also a touchpad you can use to enter 'handwriting' (when entering addresses into the sat-nav, for instance).

Alternatively, you can use the touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel – the left one controls the infotainment and the right one controls&nbsp;the dials. These can be a bit annoying, though. Unintentional contact can cause the infotainment system to change radio stations or the selected panel of information on the trip computer.

While that all sounds a bit confusing, you soon learn to operate the system fairly instinctively. Aside from the slightly confusing menu structure and occasionally laggy inputs, it’s a system that's beaten only by BMW’s iDrive set-up. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> are standard, while the powerful 590W Burmester surround-sound hi-fi drowns out exterior noise with ease.

The G-Class’s unusually flat, upright windscreen and high driving position mean visibility is generally very good. The square sides and prominent front corners make it easy to place on the road, and most of the windows are huge. Visibility to the rear is an exception.

The&nbsp;tailgate-mounted spare wheel partially obscures your view through the rear screen and makes reversing a little tricky. Still, parking help is at hand from a standard 360-degree camera system, although it's easily obscured by any mud you might pick up on adventurous routes.

Elsewhere, buttons and other controls work with pleasing precision and there are enough traditional G-Class design cues – such as the dashboard-mounted passenger grab handle and three centrally positioned diff lock buttons – to remind you what you’re sitting in. Even the mechanical sound of the doors closing (or&nbsp;perhaps we should say 'slamming')&nbsp;harks back to G-Classes of old, and the central locking operates with a satisfying clonk.

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

G CLASS

There’s no sensible reason to buy a G-Class, but&nbsp;it’s hard not to be drawn in by its old-school charms.&nbsp;

As is so often the way, the Mercedes G-Class has grown larger as it’s grown older. The current model has been made longer and wider to offer more room for passengers and their luggage. Up front, there’s more than enough width to prevent bashing elbows with your passenger, and there’s tonnes of head room, even with the electric sunroof fitted.

In the rear, space is fine for adults, but it’s far from outstanding in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-luxury-suvs-2022/n17036">luxury SUV</a> class (after all, the G-Class , which includes the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/bentayga/4x4/review/n17228">Bentley Bentayga</a> and full-fat <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a>. Leg room is where you'll find the biggest compromise; there's enough for a six-footer to sit behind another, but unlike in the G-Class’s luxury rivals, there's little room to stretch out. Head room is still plentiful, though – that tall, oxy shape means occupants can wear top hats if they feel like it – and there’s just enough width for three to sit abreast. Despite a very small hump on the floor, it’s not enough for the middle rear passenger to straddle.

Seating flexibility is fairly standard. The rear seatback has a 60/40 split and, thanks to a seat base that folds forward, enable the backrest to sit fairly flat when folded down. Still, with a 667-litre boot (much bigger than the Bentayga’s boot, although some way short of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne’s</a>), there should be enough room for all but the biggest Harrods shop. If you’re after a seven-seater, though, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

OUR PICK

The G350d comes only in AMG Line spec, which includes 20in alloy wheels, ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and front and rear heated seats. For an extra level of luxury, the optional Premium Pack adds the Burmester stereo we mentioned earlier, plus an electric panoramic roof, 360deg parking and the adaptive suspension, at extra cost.

AMG Line

amg-line

The AMG G63 builds on the 350d AMG Line's specification, adding a Burmester stereo system, an electric panoramic roof, 360deg parking camera and adaptive suspension, at extra cost. It also wears exclusive AMG body styling. 

Carbon Edition

carbon-edition

Magno Edition

magno-edition

Objectively, there’s no reason to buy a G-Class. While it’s extraordinarily capable on rough terrain, there are better choices for on-road driving, and for considerably less money. Subjectively, though, it’s hard not to be drawn in by its old-school charms and its great sense of occasion. So, while it doesn't get a particularly high What Car? star rating, we wouldn't dream of telling you not to buy one. We would, however, be a bit jealous if you did.


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

Luxury SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

Mercedes G-Class review

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Read the definitive Mercedes G-Class 2022 review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars.

If you’ve flicked through a celebrity magazine or visited Harrods recently, the Mercedes G-Class will be on your radar. This square-sided luxury SUV – nicknamed 'the G-Wagon' – is a big hit with the rich and famous.,Mercedes first launched the G-Class in the Seventies, and it was developed as a military vehicle that could go almost anywhere. The G stands for Geländewagen (German for ‘cross-country vehicle’) and it's incredibly competent off road. ,There have been quite a few big updates to the model over the years, but at a glance, a new G-Class doesn't look all that different to an early one. This is still very much an old-school 4x4, with rugged suspension, a separate chassis and a high centre of gravity.It's much pricier than your average 4x4, though. While you could think of it as a teutonic alternative to the Land Rover Defender style wise, the G-Class actually costs about the same as the Range Rover or a heavily optioned BMW X7.Fortunately, beneath the utilitarian exterior, you'll find the sort of luxury you'd expect in a car with a six-figure price tag. There's swathes of leather, a modern infotainment system and all the clever driving tech Mercedes can throw at it.,For even more power, you can get a G-Class with AMG tuning and a V8 engine, the Mercedes-AMG G63.,If the idea of this most iconic of luxury SUVs appeals, read on over the next few pages of this review to find out how our road testers rate it in all the important areas – from performance to practicality.Once you've decided on the new car for you, remember we can save you thousands off the list price if you search our free What Car? New Car Deals service. It has lots of the best new luxury SUV deals.

RRP price range	£123,500 - £182,200
Number of trims (see all)	4
Number of engines (see all)	2
Available fuel types (which is best for you?)	diesel, petrol
MPG range across all versions	17.7 - 25.7
Available doors options	5
Warranty	3 years / No mileage cap
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)	£8,960 / £13,304
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)	£17,920 / £26,607
Available colours

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