Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV (2018 -) Review Review by Tim Pollard on 04 May 2018 4.1 The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the toughest, muddiest Merc you can buy today. It’s a proper 4x4 from the old school – as capable off road as anything from Land Rover or Jeep, but the new model launching in summer 2018 adds a welcome degree of polish to make it more viable as a daily driver on road too. Summary Also Consider Facts & Figures Gallery Go-anywhere off-road ability Good to drive on road too Indestructible quality Generous equipment spec Very expensive Only 585hp AMG for now Profligate running costs A little ostentatious! New price range: £99,320 - £169,470 View all new prices Used price range: £70,166 - £155,040 View all used prices Summary Parkers Rating: 4.1 out of 5 The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the toughest, muddiest Merc you can buy today. It’s a proper 4x4 from the old school – as capable off road as anything from Land Rover or Jeep, but the new model launching in summer 2018 adds a welcome degree of polish to make it more viable as a daily driver on road too. BUY: Mercedes-Benz G-Class cars for sale Don’t mistake this for a lifestyle crossover. The latest Mercedes G-Class – sometimes also referred to as the G-Wagen – is an altogether more serious off-roader and comes equipped with some proper mud-scrambling hardware to boot. The trio of go-anywhere differential locks (for better traction), low-range transfer gearbox (for scaling 1:1 mountains) and separate, ladder-frame chassis (a tougher foundation for off-roading) are all indications this is no mere posing machine. Sadly, all that technical complication also means it’s a very expensive car. The G 63 AMG driven here is the only model available at launch in the UK and costs an eye-watering £143,000. The UK distributor is considering adding the cheaper G 500 non-AMG model in future, and a less profligate diesel G-Class is confirmed for UK sale in summer 2019. Until then, you’ll need deep pockets to run a G-Class. No wonder it’s seen as an alternative purchase to a supercar in a rich person’s dream garage – if you’re thinking of buying one, you should also consider Bentley's Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne or Range Rover for outright performance and polish, or maybe a Toyota Land Cruiser for proper off-road creds. Mercedes-Benz G-Class: the tough choice You only need to look at the perpendicular styling to realise the G does things a little differently. That bluff, upright styling makes this 4x4 stand out from the crowd and also contributes to a very roomy cabin. Where the last-generation G-Class was surprisingly cramped, the new one is bigger in all key dimensions, making it roomy enough for two full-sized adults in either row of seats. With no third-row seating available, this car is a five-seater. The boot is a decent size, but just remember there’s a side-hinged tailgate which is very heavy owing to the full-sized spare wheel bolted to the door. Thankfully, the new G-Wagen has a clever strut system which now holds the tailgate open, so you can open it and not worry it may slam shut on you in a gust of wind. Just one engine: the G 63 AMG Buyers considering a G-Class have a very simple shopping list: there is only one engine available for Brits: the top-dog G 63 AMG model. That means a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 sending a dizzying 585hp and 850Nm of pulling power to all four wheels. It is not a slow car. Performance has to be felt to be believed: not many 4x4s can scurry from 0-62mph in just 4.5sec – it’s as quick as many Porsches, and there’s a wonderfully rich, baritone V8 soundtrack to accompany the warp-speed acceleration. The penalty is poor economy: Mercedes-Benz quotes just shy of 22mpg on the combined fuel efficiency cycle, but a more realistic figure is likely to plummet low into the teens. Visits to the forecourt will be frequent and expensive. Read on for the full lowdown on how the G-Class drives. We detail the ride and handling – and its extraordinary off-road ability – in our detailed analysis lower down this page. The Parkers Verdict The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of a kind: an iconic, halo 4x4 that sits imperiously at the top of the firm's off-roading family tree. Few cars at any price can match its mud-plugging abilities, but the latest model is now a decent drive on road too. Pity it costs so much money. Read on for the full Parkers Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV review Parkers Ratings Overall 4.1 out of 5 Performance not rated yet Handling not rated yet Comfort not rated yet Practicality not rated yet Behind the wheel not rated yet Safety not rated yet Reliability not rated yet Running costs not rated yet Green credentials not rated yet Buying new not rated yet Buying used not rated yet Selling not rated yet Equipment not rated yet Read the full facts and figures about this car Compare this car to other cars Next steps Tweet Other Mercedes-Benz reviews Continue to: Also Consider