2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 5-door Photos, engines & full specs

Four years after the previous facelift, the G-Class was ready to receive another update, this time to prepare it for stiffer European emission regulations, but also with added safety features.

Unlike most other cars on the road, the G-Class was designed in the ‘70s and constantly upgraded. In the ‘90s, the automaker switched from the previous W460 to the W463 designation, but the SUV’s underpinnings remained largely unchanged. The massive vehicle relied on a ladder-frame chassis with solid axles on both ends. These were perfectly fine while offroad-ing but were not the best for on-road behavior. Despite all that, customers loved the boxy-looking vehicle that required more muscle to drive than any other Mercedes-Benz car. After a refresh in 2008 that introduced more amenities to the interior, the automaker had to work harder to make the vehicle suitable for the Euro 6 emission standards due to enter in 2015. These also required manufacturers to improve their safety systems and add specific items to the vehicles, such as daytime running lights. As a result, the 2012 G-Class came with significant updates, making its customers and the carmaker’s bean counters happy.

The flat front fascia went through some changes. Its grille sported three chromed horizontal slats for the regular version. At the same time, the AMG package and the AMG versions got twin slats. All versions featured Xenon headlights in new clusters, underlined by LED bars for the daytime running lights. Lower, on the bumper, the automaker included a plastic bumper with oval-shaped fog lamps that doubled as cornering lights.

From its profile, the long-wheelbase version of the 2012 G-Class featured new door mirror caps with turn signals that looked like arrows pointing outward. These replaced the previously used line-type blinkers from the 2008 model year. On the front bumpers, the automaker installed fake vents in the rear area, above the waistline. As a tribute to the car’s original design, the automaker kept the long horizontal trim that ran from the front to the back of the vehicle. The door handles, which were grab-type, were visually integrated into it. A set of metallic side steps helped passengers get in and out of the vehicle, especially those seated in the back since the doors were still narrow compared to the sheer size of the G-Class.

Inside, the automaker refreshed the interior. It added a new steering wheel and an instrument panel featuring a binocular system for the speedometer and tachometer. Between these dials, the automaker placed a squared TFT color display that showed additional data from the car’s infotainment system or the onboard computer. Another significant upgrade was the COMAND infotainment system, which featured a free-floating seven-inch screen atop the center stack. Mercedes-Benz installed a controller for it, integrated into the center armrest that separated the front seats. In the back, the split-folding (60/40) bench seat could accommodate three passengers, but with not that much legroom due to the redesigned front seats that integrated side airbags.

Under the hood, Mercedes-Benz offered the G-Class with a choice of two engines: a three-liter turbodiesel or a 5.5-liter gasoline. The former was a V6 and targeted mostly European customers, while the latter aimed at the North American market. Both versions sent their power in all corners via a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission fitted as standard.