2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

A few special-edition models to commemorate the end of the G-Class' first-generationPart of the first G-Class generation introduced in America for 2002

　　The Mercedes G-Class is a throwback to an odd moment in the company's history. It was originally commissioned by the shah of Iran as a military vehicle, but that all stopped with the shah's ouster. Shortly thereafter, the G-Wagen, as it was known, was put up for sale to the public and officially brought to the U.S. decades later in 2002.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G 550 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$351/mo  for G-Class G 550

　　G-Class G 550

　　G 550 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7A) - $123,600 MSRPAMG G 63 4dr SUV 4WD (5.5L 8cyl Turbo 7A) (Most Popular) - $142,800 MSRPAMG G 65 4dr SUV 4WD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 7A) - $222,700 MSRPG 550 4x4 Squared 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7A) - $227,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　In the 40-year span since its development, there have been many upgrades, but the G-Class remains a rather crude and outdated vehicle. Handling is ponderous. It's difficult to get in and out of. It's uncomfortable. The interior is well behind the times, and there's not much room for passengers or cargo. Despite these drawbacks, it became a status symbol for wealthy clients looking to make a statement.

　　At long last, an all-new 2019 G-Class is set to go on sale, though from outward appearances it's nearly identical to this final first-generation G-Wagen. It will feature a ton of new updates throughout that should address its many drawbacks. Quite frankly, we suggest any potential G-Class owners wait for the new model that should go on sale in late 2018.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.7 / 10

　　The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a relic whose time has run out. Based on the original model designed decades ago, it suffers from compromised driving dynamics and limiting interior space. Despite these shortcomings, the G-Class remains an undeniable status symbol.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG (turbo 5.5L V8 | 7-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2015, the current G-Class has received only minor, mostly cosmetic revisions and the addition of the G550 4x42 trim level. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's G-Class.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.7 / 10
Driving	5.0
Comfort	5.5
Interior	4.5
Utility	6.0

　　

Driving

5.0

　　The G63's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ton of power; unfortunately, it's very hard to actually drive this thing. The steering is comically bad; the handling is worse; and thanks to high-performance tires and silly exhaust placement, it's a liability off-road.

　　

Acceleration

6.0

　　The 563-horsepower G63 gets out of its own way better than anything this shape should (0-60 mph takes 5.3 seconds). The seven-speed automatic shifts quickly, but the steering gets light, and the G becomes hard to control at wide-open throttle. What a noise, though!

　　

Braking

6.0

　　Tons of nosedive and a strong pull left, but it has a pretty good stopping distance of only 120 feet from 60 mph. The brakes are very touchy, which makes for lurchy stop-and-go driving and isn't great for off-road either.

　　

Steering

4.0

　　The steering constantly reminds you that this is a nearly 40-year-old military truck with working roots. The steering is terribly vague with seemingly random results. It also fails to center, causing constant, abnormal extra steering inputs.

　　

Handling

4.0

　　Thanks to seriously aggressive stability control that you'll encounter every day, the G63 is almost foolproof. It's also slow, ponderous and top-heavy, and every body motion is grossly exaggerated.

　　

Drivability

4.0

　　Twitchy brakes, tractor steering, tons of power and a mile of body roll make for an exciting but not necessarily good driving experience.

　　

Off-road

6.0

　　What should be a strong point for the G-Class isn't. Summer performance tires, touchy brakes, exposed catalytic converters, and a side-mounted exhaust in the crush zone add up to a vehicle that's more suited for the country club than the Rubicon.

　　

Comfort

5.5

　　When the G-Class was designed for the world's armies in the 1970s, comfort wasn't a priority, and it still isn't. Nevertheless, the G63 is a remarkably quiet place to spend time, and the front seats are well-built and well-contoured.

　　

Seat comfort

5.0

　　The front seats themselves are actually quite nice. They offer lots of adjustment, good bolstering and nice leather. The rear seats are wide and featureless. Unfortunately, neither position really has enough legroom for humans of average height or taller.

　　

Ride comfort

5.0

　　One of the bounciest, most active rides in memory. There's no impact harshness, but the springiness and lack of steering control make every road feel like a Disney ride. Fun but not good.

　　

Noise & vibration

9.5

　　It's extremely quiet on the road. There's minimal wind noise and no road noise. Near total isolation.

　　

Interior

4.5

　　The G63's interior has a new display screen, a user-friendly tech interface and a host of other features, but that still doesn't fix the fact that there's no space. Even average-size drivers don't fit well, it's hard to climb into, there's no lateral space, and the back seats are worse.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　With the caveat that the seating position puts you a little too close to the front, the ergonomics of the G are actually quite good. The stalks and switches are well-labeled and placed where you expect them to be, the tech interface is easy to use, and the big-dial HVAC switches are great.

　　

Getting in/getting out

4.0

　　It's a huge step up into a relatively small seat. You need to be active and flexible to get into this vehicle. Getting out is just as bad. Miss the skinny step, and you're overextended and on the ground. It may explain why we see so many parked at yoga classes.

　　

Roominess

3.5

　　There's lots of headroom but no space for your arms, and the seats don't slide back far enough for even average-height drivers. The steering wheel and windscreen are always very close. The back seats are compromised in the same ways but have no adjustability.

　　

Visibility

9.0

　　The seating position is compromised for this reason: Forward visibility is exceptional. You can see the front corners and know where the tires are. The rearview camera and sonar make the G easy to park anywhere.

　　

Quality

7.0

　　The build quality on the G63 is quite good, but you'd expect that from something this expensive. The panel gaps are big but even. The doors shut with a pleasing thunk.

　　

Utility

6.0

　　The cargo area and cabin storage are surprisingly subpar. The cargo area is tall, but the back seat leaves a large step when folded and doesn't fold horizontally. There is a smattering of awkward cabin storage.

　　

Small-item storage

　　There's no real front cupholder to speak of — one is behind you; the other a weird mesh pouch. The glovebox barely holds our logbook. The door pockets are inconvenient. The center console bin is narrow and deep.

　　

Cargo space

　　With the rear seats raised, the 40.3 cubic feet of space is dead-flat and offers handy tie-downs. The seats flop forward, but they crash into the front seats doing so. Not terribly useful.

　　

Which G-Class does zzdcar recommend?

　　The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is rife with compromises and drawbacks, yet it remains a darling of status-seeking wealthy shoppers. If you absolutely must have one before the introduction of the fully redesigned 2019 model and plan on using it off-road as it was intended, we suggest the entry-level G550 or the top-of-the-line G550 4x42 model. The AMG variants replace the all-terrain capabilities with otherworldly power and exclusivity.

　　

2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class models

　　The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a five-passenger SUV that is offered in four trim levels: G550, AMG G63, AMG G65 and G550 4x42 (as in "squared"). All versions are equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission, live axles at both ends, full-time four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case and three locking differentials, and they can tow up to 7,000 pounds. The G550 is entry-level only in a relative sense. It's extremely well-equipped — beyond its prodigious drivetrain hardware, it has leather-upholstered 10-way power-adjustable and heated seats, heated back seats, power-folding and heated mirrors, adaptive cruise, dual-zone climate control, navigation and premium audio. It's equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (416 horsepower, 450 pound-feet of torque).

　　Stepping up to the AMG G63 nets you a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 (563 hp, 561 lb-ft of torque), 20-inch wheels, larger brakes and a performance-tuned suspension. It also grants access to the AMG Performance Studio, whereby near-endless customization is available. The next step in the G-Class lineup goes from merely silly to truly absurd: the AMG G65, which slots in a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 (621 hp, 738 lb-ft of torque) and adds 21-inch wheels and revised upholstery.

　　Then there's the G550 4x42 for which words do not do justice. This has the 4.0-liter V8 but swaps the standard axles for portal axles, which dramatically increase ground clearance. It also adds 22-inch wheels, larger-diameter tires, twin coilover-damper assemblies at each wheel, wider fender flares and skid plates.

　　

2018 G-Class Highlights

Type: SUVAMG G 63AMG G 65SUV

　　Trim: G 550AMG G 63AMG G 65G 550 4x4 SquaredG 550

　　

Base MSRP	$123,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	13 MPG
Cost to Drive	$351/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	38.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles