2019 Mercedes Benz G-Class Road Test and Review

2019 Mercedes Benz G550 Beige Side Profile ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

The fact that there is an all-new 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class ultra-luxury SUV is worthy of serious headlines. The fact that the new vehicle offers substantially better creature comforts and electronic aids without neutering its purposefulness is reason to celebrate.

As a vehicle that has become a conveyance of choice for well-heeled, well-coiffed, and well-manicured Southern California matrons, the G-Class might have succumbed to a misbegotten desire to soften it beyond recognition. But Mercedes-Benz executives and engineers heartily rejected that choice, instead opting to make the completely new G-Class very much like the old one in style and character, while enhancing its capabilities to scale mountains, ford streams, and pick up packages at trendy shops on Rodeo Drive. It does this with a robust ladder frame, a solid rear axle, and a slab-sized design so archaic that it has become timeless.

Exterior Echoes the Past

The all-new 2019 version of the vehicle represents the very first ground-up revision of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV. And a lot of water has passed over the waterfall since the first G-Class was sold to the public in 1979. True to its origins as a military-only vehicle commissioned by the Shah of Iran, the new G-Wagen (Geländewagen) design cadges key characteristics from its venerable predecessor.

So this SUV's military bearing finds expression in its nearly vertical windshield, narrow A-pillars, and flat window glass. The design team also rightly clung to G-Wagen signatures like thumb-press door handles, door and fender protector strips, an exposed spare tire on the swinging rear door, and circular headlights. (No, they aren’t sealed-beams.) But while the new G-Class certainly channels the spirit of the classic version, every panel is new.

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Lush, Stylish Interior

Just as the G-Class’s exterior offers a fresh interpretation of old forms, so too does the interior. Though you probably wouldn’t notice it unless someone points it out to you, the G-Class reflects exterior styling elements in its plush, contemporary cabin. For instance, the round headlights are echoed in round air vents, and the vehicle’s turn indicators are mimicked by the shape of the speakers.

A clear sign you’re in a G-Class is the grab handle in the front passenger space to hang on as the vehicle tilts at a 35-degree angle. Another sign is the array of three differential lock switches in the center of the dashboard. While the interior has these retro touches, the instrument panel is as new as Thursday of next week. It is dominated by two 12.3-inch displays positioned side-by-side under a glass cover. You can determine which of three instrumentation styles you’d prefer — Classic, Sport, or Progressive. The trim has an innate richness to it whether you choose open-pore wood, metal, or carbon fiber.

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Infotainment That Doesn't Distract

As infotainment systems offer bigger displays and more complex features, they are sometimes criticized for requiring too much driver attention. The G-Class system tries to address that by enabling drivers to control things via touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. The buttons respond to swiping motions in the same way as a smartphone. Haptic impulses and sounds from the onboard speakers give additional hints on how to control functions using the touchpad. The sound system is impressive, and the large display screen makes navigation an easy task.

At the same time, some might complain that controlling a few of the functions requires too many steps. Shortcut keys in front of the console-mounted controller help blunt some of that criticism. The base audio system for European G-Class models features seven speakers, but the premium Burmester system that boasts 16 speakers and a 590-watt amplifier is standard on G-Wagens destined for America.

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Two Twin-Turbo Powertrains

The top-of-the-line Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by an AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine that generates 577 horsepower and 627 lb-ft peak torque. It is backed by an AMG Speedshift TCT nine-speed transmission, and the G63 features AMG Dynamic Select with five drive modes plus three additional off-road modes. With the monstrous amount of power and torque on tap, the G63 vaults from zero to 60 mph in a scant 4.5 seconds.

The lower-range Mercedes-Benz G550 offers an impressive powerplant of its own, though it seems to pale in comparison to the G63. The 4.0-liter V8 engine employs twin turbochargers to produce 416 horsepower and peak torque of 450 lb-ft at 2,000 to 4,750 rpm. It is mated to a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission with torque converter specifically adapted to meet the needs of the G550’s varied uses. 

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Driving Impressions

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the most capable off-road vehicles we’ve ever driven. And that’s to be expected given its substantial ladder frame, excellent approach and departure angles, favorable ground clearance, and three locking differentials. Every G-Class is put to the test on the Schöckl, an Austrian torture chamber for off-roaders, and the G-Class certainly meets that standard.

What is more remarkable is that this military-grade truck fitted to do battle with any kind of terrain is so docile in everyday traffic and is so much fun to drive in mountain twisties. We had the chance to do a significant amount of driving in both of those conditions, and we found that the G-Wagen would make a rewarding, comfortable, and practical (if a $125,000+ vehicle can be practical) everyday driver.

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Off-Road Prowess

The new G-Class was designed to be a more capable off-roader than its predecessor, even while becoming more agile, dynamic, and comfortable on the highway. It’s a tall order that required significant engineering and development. On-road capabilities are furthered by its ladder frame, the three 100-percent differential locks, and a serious low-range gear reduction.

The new suspension arrangement eschews the old solid beam front axle and replaces it with an independent double-wishbone arrangement, which delivers better ride quality while still appearing to be extremely rugged. The components of the double-wishbone front axles are directly mounted to the frame without a subframe. With a ground clearance of 10.6 inches to the front axle gear and 9.5 inches between the axles, the G-Class is well-suited to do battle with harsh terrain.

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Interior Comfort and Fuel Economy

One key design goal of the all-new G-Class was to increase interior space, and that has been accomplished across the board. The new dimensions benefit not only the driver but also the passengers in the second row. In comparison to the previous G-Class, front legroom is up 1.5 inches and rear legroom is up a whopping 5.9 inches. The wider cabin also offers increased front and rear shoulder and elbow room.

The seats in the new G-Class are designed to offer enhanced comfort and lateral support. Features include a memory function for the driver’s seat and heated seats in the front and rear. The available multi-contour seats feature massage functions plus climate-controlled and rapid seat heating. The side sections of the seat cushions and backrests of the active seats have air chambers that fill or empty continuously depending on the driving dynamics, essentially hugging you as the vehicle corners. Fuel economy estimates for the all-wheel drive G550 are 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg combined, while figures for the G63 weren’t available at this writing.

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Two G-Class Models

The G-Class is offered in two forms: Mercedes-Benz G550 and Mercedes-AMG G63. Both offer all-around capabilities that might be termed astounding. The G550 delivers a very high level of luxury, safety, ruggedness, and off-road ability. The AMG G63 simply takes all that to even higher levels. Standard features on the G550 include 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission, multiple driving programs including new “G-mode,” 4MATIC all-wheel drive, low-range gear reduction, sunroof, three-zone climate control including rear-cabin control panel and leather seats with memory and seat heating.

To all that, the G63 adds a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, AMG Speedshift TCT 9G-Tronic transmission, AMG Performance 4MATIC rear-biased all-wheel drive, AMG-developed suspension with adaptive adjustable damping, AMG Dynamic Select with three new off-road modes, an AMG-specific grille, flared wheel arches, side pipes on the exhaust system with selectable exhaust flap, and an AMG steering wheel.

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Pricing and Value

The new 2019 G-Class is more than just a worthy successor to the legendary G-Wagen. It takes the vehicle to the next level of sophistication and capability. Both versions — G550 and AMG G63 — deliver on all the model’s promises that include luxury, capability, safety, and style. It also removes the model from military-vehicle utilitarianism while not blunting its all-terrain prowess or its idiosyncratic looks.

Both versions are impressive, and you pay for that impressiveness. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 has an MSRP of $124,500 plus $995 destination charge, and it went on sale in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Mercedes-AMG G63 has a base price of $147,500 plus $995 destination charge, and it goes on sale in early 2019. We tend to doubt the new version of the G-Class will continue largely unchanged from the next 40 years, but if it did it would still be a very capable all-around vehicle all those decades later.

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