MERCEDES BENZ G-Klasse Review

Magic. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term "magic", when used as an adjective, as something that "has seemingly supernatural qualities or powers" or that "gives a feeling of enchantment". With these two meanings in mind, the Mercedes-Benz is truly magical. From both point of views. A vehicle that combines the retro look of the '70s with the top-notch technologies we only get to see in luxurious vehicles built these days and, after only a few seconds spent inside the G-Klasse it's as clear as black and white that this mix goes beyond the limits of our imagination.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse is that type of vehicle that makes you wonder why all cars aren't the same. The history of the Geländewagen, as it was known in Germany in the past, can be traced back to 1972 when the first idea of building a car that's both potent in off-road environments but also capable to make passengers feel like on a very comfortable sofa popped out. It was the beginning of a very successful project that has managed to draw fans in every corner of the world.

Chief executives of Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch thus had a meeting to discuss the possibility of building a durable and rugged off-roader that would not only be addressed to civilians but also to military forces from all over the world. An agreement was reached pretty fast, with Mercedes-Benz in charge of design and testings, while the Austrian engineers had to deal with production plans.

It was one year later when the first model took shape, only that it was made of wood and was specifically created to see whether it would get the go-ahead from the board of management. In 1974, the prototype was finally put on wheels, while five years later, after lots of testings conducted in the most extreme conditions such as the Sahara Desert and the Arctic Circle, production of the new G-Klasse commenced.

It was the moment when Germans over at Mercedes-Benz wrote a new page in the history books, proving the whole world that a vehicle that can climb basically on everything is also capable of providing the best when it comes to comfort and safety. The Geländewagen received new upgrades year by year as it continued its impressive popularity growth. An automatic transmission, air conditioning, protective headlamp grilles and a second fuel tank were included in 1981, while power windows, a power antenna and other options joined the range seven years later.

In the meantime, the vehicle has gone through very important moments, winning the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983, becoming the official Popemobile in 1980 and serving as a very safe companion for military forces from more than 30 countries worldwide.

We couldn't miss the occasion to drive a G-Klasse so, after a whole night without any sleep because we were so eager to drive it, we jumped into a 350 CDI Station-Wagon version equipped with the latest amenities in the range. The overall price of our tester was EUR93,500, with VAT included, so we also got a few options to make the whole adventure even more enjoyable.

From the outside, many bystanders think it's just a box on wheels, but nobody ever said it's ugly. In fact, it's not ugly, it's not unconventional and it's not old, it's just retro and it is exactly the way it is supposed to be. The boxy styling is what makes the G-Klasse so special and this is probably the main reason why the German engineers decided to keep the original lines even on a model sold in 2011.

Its rugged look perfectly symbolizes the origins of the car and what it's been made for. The boxy shape looks like you could even pop a balloon in some corners of the car but, at a closer look, each G-Klasse part has its very own role. For example, the round headlights and the front fascia altogether is what makes it retro, while the side profile express the toughness the car is able to develop on uneven terrain.

Although it boasts a purely retro styling, the G-Wagen is as modern as it gets. It does have front turning signals mounted on the edges on the hood but, at the same time, it comes with side turning signals integrated into the casing of the lateral mirrors. It features protective headlamp grilles but it also has xenon headlights for better visibility. And examples do not stop here because, as we said, the G-Klasse seems to be a perfect combination of original and modern ideas.

The rear of the car could not be more appropriate for this kind of vehicle. A tiny rear window to let you see what's happening in the back, although that's really not important when it comes to the G, and a great deal of metal to continue the rugged line started by the front fascia and continued by the side profile. The taillights are placed at the bottom outer edges of the rear, thus making the car look just like an armored car ready for a lot of action.

The new generation Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse sets itself apart from its older predecessors with the help of a three-fin radiator grille, while the G 500 also gets new 18-inch light-alloy wheels. Furthermore, our test car came with an optional exterior chrome package, as well as with privacy rear windows and black bars at both the front and the rear.

Even if we've never had the chance to drive the G-Wagen, we knew everything about it. Still, we actually knew nothing, as the moment we jumped in was some sort of stepping in the unknown. What was most impressive was the fact that the car came with so many amazing things that it took us almost a half an hour to discover them all.

Basically, every part inside the cabin could have its very own story but, leaving all these fantasies aside, the perfect blend of retro elements with modern parts is what gives you the feeling that you're driving an original Merc. The whole interior design reminds you of the older model launched in 1979, but this doesn't mean that drivers won't benefit from cruise control, power windows, heated seats, automatic air conditioning and many, many other features which we'll detail later.

Leather seats, wooden accents and buttons that feel pretty good to the touch contribute to that special aura you get inside the car. But the real hardcore version comes from another universe. For a 100 percent original off-roading adventure, the front passenger could maintain his position (if that's really possible given the abilities of the car) in the seat using some sort of handle mounted right above the glove box.

At first, we initially thought that there's no storage compartment for things such as bottles, wallets and mobile phones. Well, we've searched for a little bit and we've found more than that. The door of the lockable glovebox can be used as a mini table, just like the ones in airplanes, thus letting you keep two glasses in a safe place or even use your laptop during a longer trip.

And because laptops are becoming a lot more popular these days, a dedicated 12V outlet is also installed underneath the center console. More storage compartments are available either below the front seats or near the center console with elastic nets. Truth is, the model we tested also came with a EUR40 optional feature that provided us with cup holders for both the front and the rear seats.

Other than that, the interior is very roomy and seems just appropriate for off-roading experience. And, with a little imagination, many more things can be done, as the G-Klasse seems to be the perfect model for the "Pimp my ride" folks.

An off-roader in the city? Hell, no! While many would be tempted to believe that driving the G-Klasse inside a city should be a forbidden activity, Mercedes' G-Wagen is just the thing you want to be different. The look of the car clearly sets you apart in the crowd traffic we have to deal with every day and that doesn't cost much at all. The 350 CDI engine fitted on the vehicle is more fuel efficient than most large SUVs out there that claim themselves "potent" in both on- and off-road environments.

The 7G Tronic transmission offered by Mercedes is impressively flexible and not only provides the necessary power whenever the driver pushes the throttle hard, but also has a significant contribution to fuel efficiency in city traffic.

At first, we were a bit disappointed that the only G-Klasse we got wasn't the ultra powerful AMG version but the 350 CDI which, in our view, wasn't exactly the first option when it comes to engines for a pure off-roader. Well, how about that? The 3.0-liter V6 unit pushes the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 8.8 seconds for the short-wheelbase version and in 9.1 seconds for the long-wheelbase station wagon.

And although you could think that the G 350 CDI is at least as thirsty as a camel that lives in the desert, it's not. Efficiency was probably Mercedes' main concern on the new G-Klasse, so figures of 13.6 l/100km (17.2 mpg) could really be achieved. In reality, things aren't quite far from that point, as we managed to get between 14.5 - 15.0 l/100km (16.2 - 15.6 mpg), depending on traffic conditions.

The G-Klasse costs more than EUR90,000 but the feeling you get when driving one is priceless. We know, it does sound like a Mastercard commercial, but the G-Wagen is really able to conquer the city. The suspension setup makes speed limiters, road kerbs and uneven roads almost unnoticeable and it happened to us more than one time to get a suicidal thought and think about pushing the throttle hard and climb on all the other cars waiting for the green light.

Visibility is just great and, if you think that parking could lead to bumping into some dogs, cars or other pieces of metal, be sure this won't happen. The car comes equipped with parking sensors which sound just like an old modem connecting to a dial-up Internet account but really help you to squeeze the beast into the cage. Options such as rear view cameras are available as well if your parking skills are at the same level as our math currently is.

Probably the best thing about the car is that it's incredibly fun to drive. Sure, it's not too exciting to wait for the traffic light to turn green, advance for a few meters and then wait for a couple more minutes, not even if you're sitting on your sofa, but you can spend this "spare" time on some other activities. The audio system is clearly above the average of what you'll find in today's auto industry and, for EUR200, you'll also get a so-called media interface that lets you connect devices such as MP3s to the audio system.

It's hard to find the right words to describe how you feel when you finally have the chance to leave the city at the wheel of the G-Wagen. Just imagine a 4.5 meter long box stuck to the road and racing along the country's public streets. It's just like you'd put a magnet on your fridge and drive it around with another magnet from the other side of the door.

Anyway, the G 350 CDI is much more powerful in reality than it seems when looking on the paper sheet. As we told you earlier, the transmission box reacts very fast, so acceleration times are pretty impressive for such a non-aerodynamic vehicle (its drag coefficient is just 0.54). This specific configuration flies from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.1 seconds, while topping at 175 km/h (108.7 mph).

But the fun only begins when leaving the paved road in favor of mud or snow. We were damn lucky to test the G-Klasse during winter because this was the only way to find out that the off-roader is much more stable on ice than we are on our feet. Yep, that's right, the car reacts in an astonishing way when driven on icy roads, regardless if we're talking about acceleration, braking or left or right steering. The real surprise came when we actually stepped out of the car and saw that the road was so icy that we could even see ourselves in it!

The G-Wagen has almost anything you want to make yourselves feel comfortable, especially when it comes to longer trips. Comfy seats, automatic air conditioning, cruise control for highway driving, heated seats and a pretty silent engine that lets two of you chit-chat for the whole duration of the trip. What could only be considered a small problem is the navigation system that comes only with a small screen and with a phone-like keyboard which, of course, takes a while to get used to.

Leaving all these things aside, the boxy vehicle is surprising from any point of view but, above all, it's fun to drive. Throw it in the snow and it will feel like a little kid inside a toy store. Find a riverbed and you'll make the car as happy as your wife was when you finally had the guts to propose her. And, after that, you'll be happy too.

Traction control is absolutely amazing, of course, if the car is shoed with the appropriate tires. Steer right and the car will go that way, it doesn't really matter if the road is full of ice, sand, mud or anything else. Brake and the car will stop for sure, just be sure to hold yourselves in the seats.

The suspension system proves to be the solution for an off-road, so it uses front and rear rigid axles with longitudinal and transverse links, coil springs and gas-pressurized shock absorbers. In plain English, you steer, it goes. Plain and simple.

The trunk has a capacity of 480 liters but it can be increased to up to 2250 liters depending on the seat configuration, which means you have enough space to almost move your furniture from one place to another.