The 2022 Mercedes-AMG G 63 now costs an eye-watering $365,900 plus on-road costs in Australia – almost $120K more than its original launch price announced in 2018 ($247,700 plus ORCs) – but the order book for the thunderous off-road cult classic remains closed due to unprecedented global demand.
According to Mercedes-Benz Australia, the latest price increase ($51,003) coincides with a model year update that adds a few extra goodies to the standard equipment list but, more importantly, ensures the ongoing availability of the ballistic German 4x4 Down Under.
“Although I’m unable to give specific details about how vehicle pricing is determined, I can confirm that due to the level of demand globally it has been necessary to increase the vehicle price of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 to ensure its ongoing availability in the Australian market,” Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia media relations and product communications manager Ryan Lewis told carsales.
“The price change coincides with a model year update, which also introduces new standard equipment including the AMG performance steering wheel in carbon-fibre and microfibre with additional AMG controls, and an extensive new selection of ‘G manufaktur’ personalisation options to choose from.”
According to Redbook, this is the G 63’s fifth (and biggest) price increase since the current generation launched in Australia in late 2018 – each coinciding with subtle updates here and there as well as supply chain pressures – but, crucially for consumers, Mercedes-AMG is honouring the previous vehicle list prices for existing orders.
While a facelifted Mercedes-AMG G 63 has already been spied testing in Europe, Lewis wouldn’t be drawn on how much longer the order books would be closed for, but late 2022 was the anticipated timeframe back when they closed this time last year.
Nevertheless, 333 examples of the latest-generation G-Class AMG were sold in Australia in the first six months of 2022, accounting for 18.6 per cent of the $100,000-plus upper large SUV sales segment – just two units and 0.1 per cent short of the flagship seven-seat Mercedes-Benz GLS luxury SUV (335/18.7%).
For reference, the soon to be updated BMW X7 holds a dominant 27.4 per cent stranglehold on the lucrative segment with 491 deliveries during the same period.
Only time will tell whether the order book reopens before the next price increase, and how long the waiting list will be at that point, but another major price hike is expected when the facelifted G 63 arrives in Australia.
How much does the 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class cost?
G 400d (a) – $246,500
G 63 AMG (a) – $365,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs