With the departure of the Land Rover Defender, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class would have every right to feel lonely as it’s now the only current model to go through its whole life without any major design changes.
But it’s not in the G-Class’ character to feel lonely. Or to feel things in general, as this is also one of the toughest cars still in production. Don’t be fooled by the luxurious interior and the abundance of amenities: they don’t take anything away from the G-Wagon’s ability to tackle any type of terrain as long as its wheels continue to touch the ground.
This is probably the only Mercedes-Benz car that even the most fanatic BMW or Audi fan can’t actually hate - and that’s because their favorite brand has nothing that comes even close.
The video below isn’t a very good example of what the ultimate Mercedes-Benz SUV (in the truest sense of the word) can do, but it gives a good idea of the ease with which it can cruise over various obstacles.
What we see in the video below is a Mercedes-Benz G500, but all Gs come with three locking differentials (one for each axle plus one in the center), so their ability to crawl over rough terrain is only influenced by the ground clearance and the amount of bodykit present - think G63/G65 AMG, for example.
For those who really need to get the most out of their G-Class, there’s the Professional version. These SUVs are available with very robust diesel engines, snorkels, A/T tires and a no-fuss interior you wouldn’t feel any regret cleaning with a hose. But the four-wheel-drive system is exactly the same as on the G500 you see here or the G63 AMG that rumbled your V8 past you the other day, so they’re all basically just as capable.
Watching it drive over rocky paths and up steep inclines feels as natural as a lion prowling through the African savanna. It’s normal, but it also feels like a privilege.
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