Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 2017 Review

The basic recipe for Mercedes-Benz’s Geländewagen (German for cross-country vehicle), or G-Class as we know it, has remained largely unchanged since its 1979 debut, and it’s a formula that continues to find favour with armed forces around the world – including Down Under -- as well as businesses operating in harsh environments.

Of course, there are also thousands of well-heeled enthusiasts across the globe who opt for up-spec versions of the G-Wagen (based on the civilian W463 chassis) as their personal vehicle, such as the G 350d and G 63 AMG. But our focus here is on the utilitarian, military-inspired G 300 CDI Professional Wagon (built on the rugged W461 chassis), which in now available to order here, joining the Cab Chassis ute version released last year. This puts Aussie buyers in a unique position as the G Professional is not offered to civilian buyers in any other country in the world

It’s a remarkable feat that Mercedes-Benz has managed to find buyers for its boxy, body-on-frame, live-axle workhorse for the past 38 years without having to significantly re-engineer and redesign the vehicle even once in its almost-four-decade (and counting) lifespan.

Sure, there have been cosmetic tweaks and comprehensive upgrades to the drivetrain and cabin (especially in the luxo-spec versions) along the way, but the basic platform of the G is still largely as it was in 1979.

The newly launched G300 CDI Professional workhorse is a niche addition to the range, with pricing for the wagon version starting at a cool $109,900 and the cab-chassis ute kicking off at $119,900 (both excluding dealer delivery and on-road costs).

However, Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says sales expectations for both variants are relatively modest given their very specific focus.

“Both the G300 Professional Wagon and Cab Chassis do not have specific set targets -- they are order-only and are specialised vehicles. The majority of the sales will come from businesses rather than from private buyers,” he told motoring.com.au.

Our first drive of the latest G Professional is in rather unique circumstances as we join extreme adventurer/explorer Mike Horn on the trans-Australian leg of Pole2Pole – a two-year circumnavigation of the globe via the two poles.

The South African-born Swiss has literally gone where no man has gone before, having completed a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle in 2004 as well as an 18-month journey around the equator without any motorised transport.

Accompanying Horn are a pair of left-hand-drive G500 wagons that he’s using as land-crossing vehicles for much of his current expedition, and his long association with the G-Class makes him well qualified to serve as a hands-on brand ambassador for the model.

We join the expedition at Mount Dare, from where we’ll be completing a 1000km-plus trek via Dalhousie Springs, Old Andado Cattle Station and Finke before ending up at our final destination of Uluru.

Barracks inspection
The G300 CDI Professional is utilitarian in every sense of the word and, fittingly, its propulsion comes from a fairly rudimentary 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that ekes out a modest 135kW and 400Nm (compared to 180kW/600Nm for the G350d).

But the big plus with this motor is that it can run on relatively low-quality diesel without any issues. This is obviously vital given the far-flung locations the vehicle is more than likely to find itself in.

Drive goes through a five-speed automatic (permanently relayed to all four wheels in a 50:50 split), and there is low-range gearing and three 100 per cent lockable differentials (front, centre and rear) that are selectable on the move.

The G Professional’s standard kit also includes a bull bar, snorkel, fog lights and black-painted 16-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres.

Befitting its workhorse job description, the vehicles comes a water drain plug in the floor (there are rubber mats in lieu of carpeting) so you can hose out the cabin after a cross-Simpson dash.

The interior is barebones, to say the least, with wind-up windows and basic plastic trim everywhere. There is no keyless entry either, so you have to use the key the old-fashioned way to unlock the door.

Also in keeping with the Professional’s intended purpose is a 96-litre fuel tank, two 12-volt batteries, tyre-pressure warning system, dirty air-filter warning, brake pad wear indicator for the front axle brake, headlight and indicator stone guards, and radiator and oil sump shields.

Standard safety kit includes front airbags for the driver and passenger, anti-lock braking, brake assist and electronic stability control (it can be switched off).

Unlike the mainstream versions of the G, the Professional wagon has a four-seat layout with walk-through access to the luggage compartment. The Cab Chassis has two seats, is fitted with eight mounting points on the rear chassis, and has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating of 4490kg.

There are various options and packages on offer, and among these is the Edition PUR package, which comprises a walk-on bonnet, electric door mirrors, a roof rack, heat-insulated tinted glass behind the B-pillar, side running boards, a towbar, a headlight cleaning system, heated leather seats and a radio/CD player for $9900 (MRLP).

There’s also a Winch Preparation Package ($1700 Wagon/$1500 Cab Chassis MRLP) while the Cab Chassis can be specified with the Body Building Enhancement Package ($2500 MRLP) or Electrical Enhancement Package ($4900 MRLP).

The walk-on bonnet ($1900 MRLP) and heated seats ($900 MRLP) can be separately selected for either model, as can tinted rear windows ($700 MRLP) and a wire mesh partition behind the rear seats ($1200 MRLP) for the wagon.

Forward march
The G Professional’s tool-of-the-trade persona becomes evident from the outset, with the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 lazily chugging into life once you turn the key.

The vehicle is clearly no racehorse, and it takes a firm prod on the throttle to get the thing moving. The five-speed auto, too, is an old-school unit with a staggered shift, as was the norm with yesteryear Mercs.

That said, the V6 is a willing performer once you get going, and there’s enough torque in the lower end of the rev range to get it up and across large obstacles – not that we encounter many of these on our safari.

Our trek is predominantly across hundreds of kilometres of bone-jarring corrugations, tracks coated in fine red bulldust and weaving ruts. We make a couple of minor off-road excursions, but nothing to seriously test the axle articulation, clearance angles or traction of the G. It’s more about maintaining a brisk steady cruise across the relatively flat – yet still punishing – terrain.

The sharp corrugations and ruts are seemingly endless, but the G Professional soaks it all up without any apparent ill effects or losing its composure. Interestingly, there isn’t a single puncture in any of the vehicles in our convoy over the entire eight-day expedition.

A stint in one of Horn’s G 500s (equipped with aftermarket dampers) provides an interesting basis for comparison. The petrol V8-powered G is obviously a much gruntier, more luxurious and softer-riding entity, but it doesn’t feel quite as well tied down as the G Professional across the weaving ruts we encounter.

There’s no doubt a vehicle with far lesser off-road chops than the G Professional could tackle the route we’re on, but perhaps with not quite as much effortlessness as the Merc. It seems as though it could eat this up all day for its entire working life, which is doubtless why Australian armed forces have about 2400 of them in service.

The G Professional is clearly no bargain-basement special, as an entry-price of $110K (plus on-roads) is a lot of money for a vehicle with little in the way of mod-cons or refinement.

You could snare a Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser or Jeep Wrangler Unlimited for a significantly smaller outlay, and each of these vehicles could fulfil largely the same function.

However, neither the Toyota nor the Jeep have the cachet of the Benz, which is backed by arguably the ultimate endorsement for its ruggedness (ie: the numerous defence contracts it’s earned around the world).

The G Professional is a capable workhorse that would – in all likelihood – not miss a beat over years of hard use in harsh environs. But more than that, it’s a slice of history, and you’d have a bona-fide collector’s item on your hands as a significantly overhauled G-Wagen (rumoured to gain independent front suspension) is due to debut next year.

2018 Mercedes-Benz G 300 CDI Professional pricing and specifications:
Price: $109,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 135kW/400Nm
Transmission: Five-speed auto
Fuel: 11.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 299g/km; (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: NA