Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The G-Class is a midsize luxury SUV with room for up to five passengers. It’s one of the larger sport-utes from Mercedes-Benz, roughly the same length as the midsize GLE and about a foot shorter than the full-size GLS.

Mercedes has sold the G-Class in a variety of trims, which generally correspond to engine output. Most common is the entry-level G550, which through the 2015 model year utilized a 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8; 2016 and later models get a boost to 416 hp courtesy of a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8. If that’s not quite enough thrust, two sportier versions have been produced by Mercedes’ AMG performance division in recent years. The G63 debuted in 2013, offering a 5.5-liter turbo V8 with 536 hp, and got a 27 hp bump (to 563) in 2017. Two years later, AMG upped its output by another 14 ponies (to 577 hp) using a high-output version of the G550’s turbo V8. The most powerful G-wagen of them all, though, is the mighty G65, which AMG produced from 2016 through 2018. It boasts a 621-hp twin-turbo V12. Meanwhile, for hardcore off-roaders, there’s also the G550 4x4 Squared. Produced only for the 2017 and 2018 model years, it takes the regular G550 and adds an additional 7.9 inches of ground clearance (through the use of portal axles and larger wheels) plus a host of other hardware to create the ultimate G-wagen to take off the beaten path.

Despite its utilitarian roots, the G-Class offers luxurious interior accommodations. The standard-equipment list is long and includes leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a sunroof, navigation, and parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning have long been standard active safety features; they were joined in 2019 by forward collision mitigation and lane-centering assist. That’s also the year that the G-wagen first got Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Options are somewhat scarce but do include ventilated and massaging front seats as well as a rear-seat entertainment system.