Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen update

Most people tend to get softer as they get older and in Mercedes-Benz-land, that’s the way they feel with cars, too.

At 33-years-old, its G-Wagen is trending towards ancient in automotive terms, with only Land Rover’s doddery Defender and its hand-chiseled birth certificate boasting a longer SUV production history.

Mercedes began to soften the G-Class off about a decade after it started life as a hard-core, military-oriented off-roader in 1979. Now, in probably its last facelift, Benz has softened it off even more.

"Our G-Class has been a force to be reckoned with for the last 33 years,” Mercedes-Benz boss, Dr Dieter Zetsche, said.

“In its latest evolutionary stage, it offers state-of-the-art, powerful engines, a further improved range of luxurious appointments and the very latest safety features, as well, of course, as its now legendary off-road capabilities. At the same time the design remains true to its down-to-earth, unmistakable style." 

The interior now feels and looks more like any other modern Benz than a mud-plugging off-roader, and now comes complete with a pair of coloured, rounded dials in front of the driver in an-all new instrument cluster.

It doesn’t stop there. Figuring that an all-new instrument cluster would demand new electronics, Benz went the whole hog, throwing in options like blind-spot assist, automatic parking and Distronic Plus, the radar cruise control that can stop the car as hard as possible under emergency braking.

It has a new centre console and dash area, too, complete with the same COMAND online infotainment system you get on the E-Class, which means it runs on-board internet and satnav, too.

It might seem more refined (indeed, Benz has also softened off the springs to make it feel that way), but the G-Wagen is no less capable off-road, at least when it’s on proper off-road tyres. The three locking switches for its three differentials are prominently displayed on the dash and are within easy reach of the driver so he can get more grip in a hurry.

They are also swinging in the latest range of engines, too, so the entry-level G-Wagen will now be (in Europe, at least) the G350 BlueTEC diesel, with only 155kW of power but an impressive 540Nm of torque from 1600rpm.

It’s the most miserly of the Gs, but don’t expect it to be anything resembling a fuel sipper. It runs slab sides, no aero tuning whatsoever and so it sucks down 11.2 litres of diesel per 100km. Even Benz’s acclaimed seven-speed auto doesn’t help it better 295 grams of CO2/km.

It gets thirstier with the G500, complete with its 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine and 285kW of power. It falls only just short of the diesel on torque, with 530Nm from 2800rpm, but uncomfortably exceeds it on fuel consumption by gulping 14.9 litres/100km. Cars of this nature often use more fuel – by some margin – in the real world than they do on the combined city/highway cycle, too.

There’s also a short-wheelbase Cabrio version of the G500, which will be €100,900 in Europe – or about €1000 more than its long-wheelbase sibling. The diesel is €85,311 in Germany.

But that’s not the end of the story. There are two AMG versions waiting in the wings…

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