New Mercedes G-Class review

If you’ve ever flicked through a celebrity magazine or visited Harrods, the Mercedes G-Class will almost certainly be on your radar. This enormous square-sided SUV – nicknamed the G-Wagon – is a big hit with the rich and famous.

Mercedes first launched the G-Class back in the late Seventies, and its go-anywhere ability meant it was chosen as a military vehicle by some countries. The basic look hasn't changed much over the years but the current version is a vastly more luxurious (and expensive) 4x4 than the original.

And now, as well as a petrol or diesel engine, you can have a G-Class powered by a motor and battery. The electric SUV version is called the Mercedes G580, and in place of a spare wheel holder on the back, it has a squarer box for the charging cables.

Mercedes G-Class video review

Whichever version you choose, the Mercedes G-Class remains true to its roots, with rugged suspension, a separate chassis and a some serious off-road tech to take you places a Bentley Bentayga could only dream of going. Read on to find out how we rate it against that and other rivals, including the BMW X7 and Range Rover...

There are three engines to pick from for the Mercedes G-Class, and the cheapest is the G400d. It's a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel and suits the G-Class really well, thanks to plenty of pull from low in the rev-range, and a surprising turn of pace when you floor the accelerator pedal.

Don't want a diesel? The cheapest of the two petrol options is the G500, which is also a 3.0-litre six-cylinder and is, on paper, fractionally faster than the G400d. It doesn't pull as hard from low revs, though, so it's not as well suited to this big and heavy SUV.

If you really want to push the boat out, you can have an AMG performance version, the G63, with a 4.0-litre V8 engine. It delivers savage acceleration (0-62mph in 4.4 seconds) accompanied by a thunderous soundtrack. It's hardly a sensible choice.

Of course, no version of the G-Class is particularly sensible, but you could argue that the electric G-Class – the G580 – does at least make sense as a company car because of the tax breaks available.

The G580 is no ordinary electric SUV. It has not one, not two, but four electric motors (one on each wheel) and is almost as rapid as the G63, with 0-62mph officially taking 4.7 seconds. It's much quieter, though, so it misses out on the aural drama of the AMG version.

Despite its enormous 116kWh battery, the G580 has an unremarkable official range of around 280 miles, no doubt due to the terrible aerodynamics and enormous kerb weight. We'd expect roughly 220 miles from a full charge unless it's a warm day and you drive very conservatively.

There are no issues with straight-line performance in any G-Class, but it's not so clever when it comes to cornering. The tall body leans noticeably in bends, and this top-heavy SUV feels increasingly cumbersome the harder you push. If you try to thread it down a twisty road with gusto, you won't enjoy the experience at all.

Sure, a Range Rover leans in the corners too, but it's vasty more composed and capable than the G-Class, flowing from corner to corner with far more grip.  The Bentley Bentayga is even better, and feels like a Ferrari compared with the G-Class (even the AMG G63 version with its sportier suspension).

Another thing you’ll notice when you start driving is how slow and heavy the G-Class's steering is, and how many minor corrections you have to apply to keep the car on your chosen trajectory. The Bentayga's quicker steering response makes it easier to place on the road, and the huge turning circle of the G-Class makes low-speed manoeuvres trickier than in most rivals.

Don't expect the G-Class to be a particularly smooth cruiser. It has something called a "live rear axle" (a set-up you find in most pick-up trucks), and that causes the car to bounce around on scruffy road surfaces. On undulating country roads, your head is tossed from side to side, and even around town the G-Class is nowhere near as smooth or settled as a Bentayga or Range Rover.

It's nowhere near as hushed as rivals either. There's noticeably more road noise in the G-Class than in most other luxury SUVs and that bluff windscreen generates lots of wind noise at motorway speeds.

That said, while the on-road driving manners are poor by the standards of the luxury SUV class, that's missing the point somewhat. The G-Class has always been a rugged 4x4 in the old-fashioned sense. Indeed, with its low-range gearbox, locking differentials and long suspension travel, it's a very capable off-roader, aided by the freedom of movement of that live rear axle.

“I was seriously impressed by how well the G-Class performed in our off-road tests, although many buyers won't need it to tackle more than a small ramp into the local Waitrose car park.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

The Mercedes G-Class's towering driving position places you higher up from the road than you would be in a Bentley Bentayga or Range Rover, and its big windows and slender pillars give you a great view out to the front and sides. 

Electric seats with a memory function are fitted standard, with the basic controls mounted on the doors. You do have to use the 12.3in infotainment touchscreen to adjust the lumbar support or activate the optional massaging seat function, but otherwise it's easy to set up everything just how you want it.

Once you're settled behind the G-Class's flat-bottomed steering wheel, you'll notice that the pedals are offset slightly to the right because the bulkhead encroaches into the left side of the footwell. It's not ideal but you do get used to it.

As well as the main infotainment screen, there's a 12.3in digital driver's display behind the steering wheel. Both screens are easy to read and have pin-sharp graphics.

You can control the infotainment system by touching the screen or using a touchpad between the front seats, which is slightly less distracting when you're driving, but not as easy as using the dial controller in the BMW X7.

The G-Class's dashboard has more buttons than you'll find in many luxury SUVs and most are incredibly useful. The physical air-con controls save you from faffing around with the touchscreen (as you do in a Range Rover), and there are conveniently placed buttons to control the differential locks when off-roading.

The interior feels sturdier than in many rivals, giving the impression that it can withstand journeys involving rough terrain. There’s plenty of soft leather and attractive finishes though, so it doesn’t feel at all utilitarian – although a Bentayga is much plusher inside.

“The spare wheel hanging on the boot might look cool, but I found it annoying when reversing. At least there's a camera to mitigate the issue.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

As with many car models, the Mercedes G-Class has grown larger as it’s grown older. It's still narrower than a Range Rover but the latest version is more than wide enough to stop you bashing elbows with your passenger. There’s tonnes of head room, even with the optional electric sunroof fitted.

Head room in the back is generous but rear leg room is far from outstanding by luxury SUV standards. There's enough shoulder room for two broad occupants but fitting three across the rear bench will be a squeeze for everyone concerned.

Seating flexibility is nothing special either. Most rivals offer 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, whereas the G-Class gets a 60/40 split. And while the BMW X7 and the Range Rover have rear seats that fold down electrically, in the G-Class you have to flip up the seat bases then haul the seatbacks down yourself.

It's also worth noting that although the folded seatbacks lie completely flat, they create a huge step up from the main boot area, which is far from ideal. Unlike most rivals, the G-Class is not available as a seven-seater.

The side-hinged tailgate can be annoying because it means you need plenty of space behind the car to swing it open. Once you've manage to do so, it provides a big, square gateway to the boot.

The boot space itself is usefully square and there's no annoying lip at the entrance. However, there isn't a great deal of space for luggage compared with key rivals. In fact, the G-Class has less usable boot space than a Land Rover Defender 110.

“Despite it's huge presence, the G-Class is barely any more practical than a Nissan Qashqai. I found that a little disappointing.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

There’s no denying that the hand-built Mercedes G-Class is astronomically expensive to buy, and it won't be cheap to run either. The G400d diesel version is significantly dearer than an equivalent BMW X7 or Range Rover, while the top-of-the-range version of the all-electric G63 costs more than £200,000.

At least you get plenty of standard kit, even with entry-level AMG Line Premium Plus trim, and the G-Class's desirability and relative exclusivity mean it should holds its value well.

As for fuel economy, the diesel G400d can officially manage 31.4mpg, which isn't very good. The G500 and G63 petrols are even thirstier.

While the G580 is inefficient by electric car standards, it is tax-efficient for company car users paying BIK tax. The electric G-Class has a maximum charging rate of 200kW so even with a fast public EV charger it will take about 35 minutes to charge from 10-80%.

You get plenty of safety kit as standard, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, road-sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.

Euro NCAP awarded the G-Class its full five-star rating, although it scored fewer points in specific categories than some luxury SUVs. Chest protection for front occupants in a frontal impact, for example, was rated as weak.

“The G-Class isn't a great car objectively, especially given its eye-watering price tag. That said, if I had the money I might be tempted.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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