Massively capable, the 2023 G-Class boasts a pair of exceptional V-8 engines and can go farther off-road than nearly any vehicle short of a Jeep Wrangler. It’s a 7 on the TCC scale.
Yes, of course. With a trio of differential locks that can be engaged to better distribute power between the axles in particularly rough situations, the G-Wagen is matched by only a few vehicles available to consumers when it comes to its four-wheeling ability. The coil-sprung suspension offers up lots of travel, too.
Unlike Land Rover—and even Lexus, to an extent—Mercedes-Benz doesn’t fit the G-Class with a huge roster of four-wheeling electronics. Mercedes figures that G-Wagen owners who actually venture off-road will be more interested in flexing their experience rather than their ability to press buttons and watch the vehicle do all of the hard work.
One suggestion: The G550 with its softer suspension and taller standard tire sidewalls makes a better 4×4 choice than the stiff G63, unless you spring for the bonkers G63 4×4^2. That model has portal axles front and rear, which is a simple way of saying that the mechanical bits that usually hang down the lowest are raised as high as possible to improve clearance. It’s tech more often deployed in military applications, though drivers willing to part with $350,000 for this big off-roader may very well have their own mercenaries on staff.
How fast is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
It’s zippy with the 416-hp twin-turbo V-8 in the G550 and downright rapid with the AMG G63’s 577-hp version. A 9-speed automatic gearbox shifts power to all four corners, and big brakes (upsized for the G63) bring these big SUVs to a halt.
Underneath, the G63 uses an independent front suspension and a solid rear axle to balance off-road ability with on-road comfort. There’s little compromise here, though, as the G-Class remains as capable as most owners are likely to ever explore, and it’s decently tolerable on-road.
While the G’s steering is quick-witted, there’s still plenty of body lean thanks to the relatively low-tech suspension.
