Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
Segment: Premium SUV
Production years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
After a decade since the introduction of the G-Class W460, Mercedes-Benz finally unveiled the second generation of this iconic model, which was produced in several shapes and sizes, including a three-door convertible.
The new generation of the G-Class was more than just a refresh for the older generation, even though, at first sight, they looked identical. But the German automaker gave it a new code, the W463, and dramatically improved the vehicle. While the exterior hasn’t changed too much since the SUV’s boxy shape was highly appreciated, the interior was entirely new, the engine lineup was significantly upgraded, and the drivetrain switched from a part-time four-wheel drive to an all-wheel drive setup. In addition, the suspension was improved so the G-Class could provide enhanced on-road behavior. It still drove like a utility vehicle, but not just any truck, one that wore the three-pointed star badge on its grille.
Since the lineup was based on a ladder-frame chassis, it was easier for the automaker to create new shapes. But still, the convertible was kept available only for the short wheelbase version shared with its three-door sibling. As a result, the front fascia remained similar to its brothers. It meant that it featured a new, body-colored grille flanked by new round headlights with plastic trims around them. The parking lights and the blinkers were still placed on the upper side of the front fenders. Furthermore, the front bumper was replaced, and a set of integrated rectangular fog lamps was available.
From its profile, the 1990 G-Class Cabriolet featured similar flat panels at the front and on the sides. But unlike its predecessor or the rest of the range, the B-post was triangular and integrated a narrow, tilted forward window. Mercedes-Benz considered installing a safety arch to protect occupants in case of a rollover accident. SUVs were more prone to tip over than regular convertibles due to their higher center of gravity. Depending on the trim and options, the G-Class cabriolet featured side steps and alloy wheels, albeit the door mirrors were still black. These were later upgraded after the lineup’s facelift. Out back, the side-hinged half-door supported the spare wheel.
Inside, the G-Class cabriolet was a far departure from the 1979 model year. Unlike its older sibling, which barely had any amenities, this one was available with luxurious features. Besides the power windows and the stereo, it also had air conditioning. Furthermore, customers could equip it with wood trims and leather upholstery on the dashboard. The dashboard itself was completely new. It was still narrow but featured a larger instrument cluster fronting the driver, where the speedometer took center stage and was flanked by the tachometer on the right and by the fuel and temperature gauges on the left. In addition, the center stack housed the buttons for the three locking differentials, while the center console housed the gear selector and the lever for the transfer case.
Under the slightly refreshed bodywork, the automaker installed a new range of turbodiesel and gasoline engines. The transmission was via a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, while the two-speed transfer box sent the power to both axles via a manual locking center differential. As a result, the G-Class was much safer to drive on pavement and without the fear of damaging driveshafts or tires.
ENGINE SPECS - 200 GE 5MT AWD (118 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1996 cm3 |
Power: | 87 KW @ 5200 RPM 118 HP @ 5200 RPM 117 BHP @ 5200 RPM |
Torque: | 127 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM 172 Nm @ 3500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Mechanical Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205 R16 M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 166.3 in (4224 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 56.1/56.1 in (1,425/1,425 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4420 lbs (2005 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5776 lbs (2620 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 230 GE 5MT AWD (126 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2298 cm3 |
Power: | 93 KW @ 5000 RPM 126 HP @ 5000 RPM 125 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 140 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 190 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Mechanical Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 91 mph (146 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 17.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205 R16 M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 166.3 in (4224 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 56.1/56.1 in (1,425/1,425 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4420 lbs (2005 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5776 lbs (2620 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 15.5 mpg US (15.2 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 362 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 300 GE 5MT AWD (170 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2960 cm3 |
Power: | 125 KW @ 5500 RPM 170 HP @ 5500 RPM 168 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 173 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM 235 Nm @ 4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Mechanical Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 102 mph (164 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205 R16 M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 166.3 in (4224 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 56.1/56.1 in (1,425/1,425 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4475 lbs (2030 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5776 lbs (2620 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - G 320 4AT AWD (211 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 3199 cm3 |
Power: | 155 KW @ 5500 RPM 211 HP @ 5500 RPM 208 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 221 lb-ft @ 3750 RPM 300 Nm @ 3750 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 106 mph (171 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/65 R16 109 H M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.3 in (4275 mm) |
Width: | 69.3 in (1760 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.1/58.1 in (1,476/1,476 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4795 lbs (2175 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6062 lbs (2750 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - G 320 V6 5AT AWD (215 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3199 cm3 |
Power: | 158 KW @ 5500 RPM 215 HP @ 5500 RPM 212 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 221 lb-ft @ 2800-4800 RPM 300 Nm @ 2800-4800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 107 mph (172 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/65 R16 109 H M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.3 in (4275 mm) |
Width: | 69.3 in (1760 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.1/58.1 in (1,476/1,476 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4795 lbs (2175 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6195 lbs (2810 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 12.3 mpg US (19.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 18 mpg US (13.1 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 15.4 mpg US (15.3 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 363 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - G 500 V8 5AT AWD (296 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4966 cm3 |
Power: | 218 KW @ 5500 RPM 296 HP @ 5500 RPM 292 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 336 lb-ft @ 2800-4000 RPM 456 Nm @ 2800-4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 118 mph (190 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 265/60 R18 H |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.3 in (4275 mm) |
Width: | 69.3 in (1760 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.1/58.1 in (1,476/1,476 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 5181 lbs (2350 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6195 lbs (2810 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 10.8 mpg US (21.8 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 17.2 mpg US (13.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 14.1 mpg US (16.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 397 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 250 GD 5MT AWD (94 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L5 |
Displacement: | 2497 cm3 |
Power: | 69 KW @ 4600 RPM 94 HP @ 4600 RPM 93 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 117 lb-ft @ 2600-3100 RPM 158 Nm @ 2600-3100 RPM |
Fuel System: | Indirect Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 81 mph (130 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205 R16 M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 166.3 in (4224 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 56.1/56.1 in (1,425/1,425 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4442 lbs (2015 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5776 lbs (2620 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 300 GD 5MT AWD (113 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2996 cm3 |
Power: | 83 KW @ 4600 RPM 113 HP @ 4600 RPM 111 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 141 lb-ft @ 2700-2900 RPM 191 Nm @ 2700-2900 RPM |
Fuel System: | Indirect Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 88 mph (142 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205 R16 M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 166.3 in (4224 mm) |
Width: | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 56.1/56.1 in (1,425/1,425 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4486 lbs (2035 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5776 lbs (2620 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 16.9 mpg US (13.9 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 368 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 300 Turbodiesel 5AT AWD (177 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2996 cm3 |
Power: | 130 KW @ 4600 RPM 177 HP @ 4600 RPM 174 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 243 lb-ft @ 1600-3600 RPM 330 Nm @ 1600-3600 RPM |
Fuel System: | Indirect Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 101 mph (163 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 14.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/65 R16 109 H M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.3 in (4275 mm) |
Width: | 69.3 in (1760 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.1/58.1 in (1,476/1,476 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4894 lbs (2220 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6195 lbs (2810 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 350 GD Turbo 4AT AWD (136 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 3449 cm3 |
Power: | 100 KW @ 4600 RPM 136 HP @ 4600 RPM 134 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 225 lb-ft @ 1800 RPM 305 Nm @ 1800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Indirect Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 91 mph (146 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 16 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 255/65 R16 109 H M+S |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 168.3 in (4275 mm) |
Width: | 69.3 in (1760 mm) |
Height: | 76.4 in (1941 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 58.1/58.1 in (1,476/1,476 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 94.5 in (2400 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 8.7 in (221 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 8.8-55.8 cuFT (249 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4662 lbs (2115 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 5974 lbs (2710 kg) |