Mercedes Benz G-Class – Prices, History, Engine, Interior & Exterior, Features, Highlights

Introduction

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

The Mercedes-Benz G-class is a mid-size luxury SUV manufactured in Austria. Even the most casual of observers can recognize a G-class from a distance without seeing the badging. All you have to know is that it looks like a shiny box on wheels and BOOM, you are a G-class expert. Affectionately called the G-Wagon, the SUV has been in production since 1979, with several iterations available over the years. Recently, the Germans introduced a new version, the 2017 G500 4×4 Squared and it is a dandy of a box…Ummm, SUV. Yeah, we meant SUV. Let’s have a look at this new G-Wagon!

Why Build It?

Before we get into the specs and details of the G500 4×4 Squared, we have to tell you why the thing was built in the first place. It seems that Mercedes-Benz is always looking for ways to top itself. Not wanting to tap the AMG builders for this project, the engineers at Benz developed a credo before delving into an upgrade for the G-class. That motto: ”Only a G-Class can be better than a G-Class”, was first and foremost during the development phase. How was it translated into the Squared? By taking inspiration from the G 63 AMG 6×6, of course. According to Mercedes-Benz’s dedicated website, the engineers are ”now stepping up a gear with the G 500 4×4 Squared. 

What Expert Drivers Say About the Ride

One of the surest ways to sell a bunch of vehicles is to send a few samples to the professional drivers at the top automotive magazines around the world. A sampling of the comments buzzing around the internet and in print includes;

Motor Trend: ”The G500 4×4 Squared is a mechanical monstrosity and without a doubt is one of the most ridiculous, amazing, impractical, unbelievable vehicles that I have ever driven..”

Those two quotes pretty much sum up everything you will read anywhere, but what makes it such a mechanical monstrosity and allows it to scramble over rough terrain?

You can imagine the G-class engineers sitting around stroking their rather impressive Freud-like beards pondering how to make the Squared more impressive than the base G-wagon, yet retaining the basic look of a functional box. Then it hits…make everything bigger!

The Interior & Exterior

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

The interior is all about luxury, comfort, and offers more space for cargo and people than the preceding generation. Include a power-adjustable steering column, heated front and rear seats with leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster, and three-zone automatic climate control as standard features. 

The G interior options offer the most luxurious and beautiful selection of more than 54 unique interior upholsteries, but they cost a considerable amount of money. While headroom in the front or back seats is spacious, the experience isn’t as extravagant as other high-end SUVs such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan or Bentley Bentayga. Still, the G-wagon has large cargo space. It can accommodate a total of 16 carry-on suitcases behind its back row and another 17 bags with those seats folded.

The Benz G500 4×4 Squared sits just over 2.4 meters tall. Imagine a vehicle taller than the largest basketball players in the world? It dwarfs gentlemen like Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming!

The first thing attacked was the width. The baby (base G-class, if you prefer) version is a ho-hum 151.38 cm wide. The big dog is 181.35 cm. Given that many of the roads in those quaint Bavarian villages we all hear about are a tad narrow, the G-Wagon may have to take out a few buildings to pass through. With such a wide stance, the tires extend beyond the standard G-class body, so carbon fiber wings have been added.

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

All of that height is wasted if you do not have enough ground clearance. The Squared delivers there as well, offering owners 45.72 cm of terrain conquering space. The impressive clearance is mainly provided by the portal axles. For those who do not know, with a portal axle the two axle shafts feed into the top of the wheel where they are geared to the hub instead of the traditional set-up where the axles feed into the center of the wheel. Not long ago, this was military-only technology.   

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

The 4×4 squared suspension features eight dampers and eight springs, a feature Mercedes attributes to rally sport. Interestingly, each damper is a gas bypass strut. To make the dual-damper system more pause-worthy, one damper of each set is fixed and the other uses variable damping rates. The variable dampers have two modes, Comfort and Sport. According to Mercedes, the system can switch modes in 15 milliseconds. With such a meaty suspension system, you need big meat, rubber…underneath. The 4×4 Squared sits on a Pirelli Scorpion ATR 325/55R22.

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

The Engine & Transmission

BROWSE LOW COST MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS MODELS

It shares the same engine as the G550. It is a twin-turbocharged V8 that thrusts 416 bhp through an automatic transmission to provide 610 N-m of torque. Mercedes estimates that the 0-100 km/h time is approximately six seconds and that the Squared has a top speed of 210 km/h. The maker does recommend that you keep your speed under 160 km/h with the standard off-road tires fitted. Something about control issues when using off-road tires on pavement. Go figure.

Features

The G-Class has a slew of standard driver-assistance technology such as self-parking assist and blind-spot monitoring. Key standard safety features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, and automated emergency braking.

Final Verdict

Pricing this Frankenstein’s monster of an SUV can be a shock. Keep in mind that it is fitted with a military-grade suspension system. The base Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4 Squared is going to set you back and this monster is not for everyone, it is for the class people with a lot of cash. The price range at BE FORWARD is between USD 27,780 and USD 422,310.

Originally published May 8, 2016, updated Oct 21, 2022

ALL MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SALE

BEST VALUE USED CARS FOR SALE

SIGN UP FOR REWARDS


Written by: Josephat Lukaza