2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Military vehicles have had mixed success when crossing over into civilian life, especially when positioned as high-profile crowns for the elite. The AM General Humvee, or Hummer, is an excellent example of the awkwardness of plastering hard-edged combat machines with leather and selling them to the general public. However, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a different story. Its decades of military history only bolstered its appeal among well-heeled off-road enthusiasts, and at some point, the SUV moved to the upper echelon of luxury goods, alongside iconic brands like Rolex and Louis Vuitton. 

Though it has been around in consumer form since the late 1970s, the G-Class is only just in its second generation, since the model line split in 1990 into two versions. The U.S. got the more luxurious variant that remained in its first generation until 2018 when it got a major overhaul for its second act. 

That a giant, essentially square, military ‘ute could become an aspirational vehicle for the up-and-coming is impressive, but it’s the G-Wagen’s price tag that is truly notable. Mercedes offers one configuration of the non-AMG G-Class, the G 550, which starts at $132,800. The Mercedes-AMG G 63 starts at $157,500, and both climb with options. Both prices include a $1050 destination charge. 

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Performance

The G 550 gets a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The G 63 bumps power to 577 ponies and 627 pound-feet of torque. Both vehicles get all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard. It should come as no surprise that a twin-turbo V8 could tug anything down the road with authority, but the boxy G-Class feels like an unlikely candidate for such power. Mercedes upgraded the G-Wagen with independent front suspension a couple of years back with the introduction of the second-generation, which significantly boosted its on-road refinement. Still, there’s no getting around its upright shape. Wind noise is a prominent fixture at highway speeds, and the SUV’s utilitarian posture doesn’t help its performance in the bends.

Towing numbers are decent, at up to 6,500 pounds for the AMG G 63 and up to 7,000 pounds for the G 550.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Fuel Economy

G-Class buyers should be prepared for a rough time at the pump. Unsurprisingly, a large, boxy SUV with a large, powerful engine is not gentle on fuel. The G 550 returns 17 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined. The more powerful G 63 achieves just 13 mpg in the city, 16 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg combined. Then again, with pricing starting over $125,000, we suspect few buyers will notice or care. 

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space

If there were any doubts that the G-Wagen is worth its price tag, a few moments inside its opulent cabin will dissuade even the strongest naysayers. Mercedes offers a staggering number of material and color choices for the G, and with a few added options, buyers can get features like massaging seats and digital gauges. Taller drivers may notice a bit of the upright “bus driver” ergonomics carry over from the previous gen, but space and comfort are improved overall. Passengers, on the other hand, get plenty of room no matter where they sit. The front seats offer 41.9 inches of headroom and 38.7 inches of legroom. Rear-seat passengers get 40.5 inches of headroom and 39.5 inches of legroom. Cargo space is solid but hardly class-leading at 38.1 cubic feet behind the second row and 68.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down. For comparison, the 2021 Lexus LX 570 has 32.1 and 81.3 cubes, respectively. 

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Safety

The new G-Class hasn’t been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it’s worth noting that the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) awarded it five stars overall. Standard safety gear includes forward collision warnings, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking.