Review - Mercedes-Benz G

The original served as one of Mercedes’ leading off-road vehicles, taking its name from the German translation of ‘terrain’ class. In more recent generations, though, the G-Class has become larger, more luxurious and shinier than ever before, which leaves us with one burning question. 

Just how good is the latest generation Mercedes G-Class, how well does it serve as a luxurious transporter on the road, and how real are its off-road credentials? Let’s find out. 

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Mercedes-Benz G (400d) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Mercedes-Benz G car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Mercedes G-Class range here in Australia comes in two major variants, the Mercedes-Benz G400d, which is priced from $233,900, and the range-topping Mercedes-AMG G63, which has a price tag of $314,897. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Mercedes G-Class Have?

The Mercedes-Benz G400d comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, and receives adaptive Matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone climate control, semi-autonomous parking assistance, a leather interior with Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable and heated seats, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, adaptive cruise control, surround view camera, as well as a 12.3-inch infotainment system fitted with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation that is paired to a Burmester surround sound system. 

Opting for the G63 AMG variant adds 21-inch alloy wheels, an AMG styling package across the bodywork, AMG ride control suspension system and AMG exhaust, as well as Nappa leather upholstery throughout the interior, a leather dashboard and headliner made from Dinamica microfibre, a set of heated rear seats and a digital TV receiver for entertainment on the move. 

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloy wheels

• Matrix LED headlights 

• Panoramic sunroof 

• Leather upholstery

• Nappa leather steering wheel 

• Tri-zone climate control 

• Power-adjustable, heated front seats

• Surround view camera 

• Front and rear-mounted parking sensors 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display 

• 12.3-inch infotainment system with DAB+, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• 15-speaker surround sound system from Burmester 

• Semi-autonomous parking assistant 

• 21-inch alloys (G63 AMG)

• AMG exterior styling upgrade (G63 AMG)

• AMG ride control suspension system (G63 AMG)

• AMG adjustable exhaust (G63 AMG)

• Nappa leather upholstery (G63 AMG)

• Leather dashboard (G63 AMG)

• Dinamica microfibre headliner (G63 AMG)

• Heated rear seats (G63 AMG)

• Digital TV receiver (G63 AMG)

Mercedes G-Class Colours

The Mercedes G-Class can be optioned with a choice of 8 colours, including Emerald Green, Mojave Silver, Designo Night Black Magno, Designo Yellow Olive Magno, Polar White, Obsidian Black, Rubellite Red and Brilliant Blue Metallic. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

Driving abilities were a key criticism of the previous G-Class, which Mercedes has been quick to fix in the latest generation. While it undoubtedly takes some getting used to, overall, the G-Class remains forgiving and approachable for drivers of all ages. 

That is, until you stomp on the throttle in the most powerful variant, which is beyond what this vehicle should be physically capable of. The car dips back under harsh acceleration, as if you were taking off from the line on a motorbike, making it extremely fun to thrash around.

In daily driving situations, though, the powertrain and nine-speed automatic transmission combination work fabulously, offering silky smooth shifts without the driver noticing, which makes the G-Class significantly more friendly for daily driving than the previous generation. 

To deal with all that weight, Mercedes has fitted the G-Class with some fairly tough suspension hardware to minimise the amount of body roll you’ll experience through the corners. This translates to a fairly firm ride quality, even on city streets. Thankfully, Mercedes packages the AMG variant with adjustable suspension that softens the ride quality more than the entry-level variant; but you’ll have to pay for this added comfort. 

Driving around town is made a bit more strenuous by the G-Class’ sheer size and proportions, however, once you’ve adjusted, it’s no more difficult than piloting a Range Rover or a Toyota LandCruiser. Once you’ve left the city streets, highway driving is simple and the ride significantly more comfortable, although you will need to pay attention, as the steering requires constant input to avoid wandering between lanes. 

Overall, the latest generation G-Class is far more friendly when it comes to daily driving, but it isn’t perfect. 

Is the Mercedes G-Class Capable Off Road?

While the Mercedes G-Class may have been adopted by the celebrity elite for its less than subtle styling and luxury, it remains highly capable when pushed off-road. Thanks to the extremely powerful engines available, the dual range four-wheel drive system, three locking differentials and clever suspension systems, the G-Class offers true substance when it comes to adventurous driving, not just style. 

Mercedes has fitted the G-Class with an independent double-wishbone setup for the front suspension, which allows the wheels to move over challenging terrain, while the multimode suspension system offers an adjustable damping setup curated for the terrain you’re attacking. 

As a result, the G-Class offers an impressive approach and departure angle of 30-degrees thanks to its 25cm of ground clearance, combined with a wading depth of 70cm and enough power to push over the most challenging terrains. Whether or not you want to push the expensive bodywork and shiny alloy wheels into danger is another question entirely, though. 

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The interior of the G-Class is typical of a manufacturer like Mercedes, featuring a front cabin that could have been snatched from one of the company’s luxurious limousines. Stepping inside the cabin can prove a difficult process, however, once you’re in, you won’t be disappointed. 

The driver is treated to a pair of massive digital screens seamlessly tied together, with a sleek, modern and luxurious design applied to the centre console and door surrounds. Thanks to how high from the ground you’re sitting, there’s a great view out of the front windscreen, and a heap of visibility around the cabin with the help of some extra large windows. 

Practical elements include an extra-large set of door bins either side, a large folding armrest with storage inside and a folding tray in the centre console for smartphones and loose items. 

Rear passengers are treated to significantly more room in the rear of the G-Class cabin than in the previous generation, which now has no problem in accommodating tall rear passengers. 

There’s absolutely no issues here in terms of headroom, although you might expect there to be more legroom for a vehicle of this size. Regardless, it remains luxurious, comfortable and offers rear passengers a chance to stretch out and even recline their seats. For parents, the G-Class’ ISOFIX anchors are easy to access, although the door pillars are surprisingly narrow when it comes to large child seats. 

In terms of cargo capacity in the boot, the G-Class G400d offers 667L of volume, which extends to 1,941L with the rear seats folded down. Boot space in the G63 drops to 454L, which is somewhat smaller than what you’d expect from a vehicle of this size, but is more than adequate for daily driving, school trips, errand runs and weekend adventures. 

Is it Safe?

The Mercedes G-Class was awarded the maximum five star ANCAP safety rating when it was tested back in 2019, scoring 90% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child protection, 78% for vulnerable road user protection and 73% for its safety assist technologies. 

As standard, the G-Class is packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot and driver attention monitoring, a surround view camera, adaptive cruise control system with lane keep assistance, front and rear mounted parking sensors, as well as traffic sign recognition. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

This is one area that, as you can imagine, the G-Class doesn’t excel. The G400d is rated at 9.5L per 100km on a combined cycle, which isn’t terrible for a vehicle of this size, however, the range-topping G63 AMG is rated at 13.1L per 100km. 

In the real world, expect these figures to raise anywhere up to 13L per 100km for the G400d, and beyond 16-18L per 100km in the G63, depending on how aggressively you’re mashing that throttle. 

Our Verdict: Is the Mercedes G-Class Worth it?

As we wrap up our review, it’s clear to see that there’s no car quite like the Mercedes G-Class. As a result, buyers will continue to gravitate toward the G-Wagon’s bold design, luxurious interior and extreme power figures for quite some time to come. 

Thankfully, Mercedes has made all of the important revisions from the previous generation, which means that if you have been looking to step into something like the G-Class, there’s never been a better time. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

3. Turbo-diesel and twin-turbo V8 petrol available 

4. All-wheel drive platform with nine-speed automatic transmission

5. Fuel economy between 9.5L/100km in G400d - 13.1L/100km in G63 AMG

Pros

• Genuine performance on and off-road

• Luxurious, feature-packed and improved interior design offers more space

• Mind blowing soundtrack in G63 AMG

• Unparalleled uniqueness, road presence 

Cons

• Not a class leader on-road or off-road 

• Fuel economy

• Eye watering prices 

OnlineAuto Rating: 7.5/10

Mercedes G-Class Competition