40-years strong.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the recognisable and enigmatic chairman of the board of Mercedes-Benz, says that his history with the company began with the G-Class, having been personally involved with the development of the hardcore all-terrain vehicle from the get-go in 1979. In the last four decades, the G-Class has gone from a representation of the past to an icon of automotive history, and rather successfully holds itself with great esteem both on-road (insofar as image is concerned) and off-road, where its capabilities are largely unrivalled.
“The new G-Class is setting the bar higher still in all relevant areas — in terms of performance both on and off the road, as well as with regard to comfort and telematics. Our longest-serving model series is therefore ideally equipped to continue its success story. In short, the new G is still a G, only better.” — Ola Källenius, Member of the Board, Daimler AG
Mercedes-Benz says that the new 2019 G-Class retains the essence of the G, simply “reinterpreted for today.” Redesigning an icon is a task executed with immense scrutiny out of fear of dilution, but the new G puts fears to rest by arriving in a very distinctive and recognisable shape. Door hinges remain exposed, door handles still open the same way (one of only three things that have been carried over from the old car entirely unchanged), and they close with the same sound. Interestingly, the distinctive indicators up front remain positioned atop the front-fenders, though Mercedes-Benz as built them into a retractable housing, which makes it safer for pedestrian safety.
The new car is now 53mm longer, and a truly significant 121mm wider than the outgoing car, which promises to offer greater accommodation inside, something that the first-generation G was not very good at. However, zooming out again, the G-Class sports a body that looks more refined, and more purposeful than the last car, which will be a point of significance to G-Class aficionados. It’s a new G alright, but not upsettingly so.
The cabin of the new G was also treated with the same reverence, though given that the G’s customer base is far more civilian than it was almost 40 years ago, greater emphasis has been placed towards usability, functionality and comfort this time around. A “fundamental modern redesign” marries the iconic exterior with a more upmarket interior, “combining the two extremes into a harmonious symbiosis.”
The round headlights of the G have been mirrored inside by the air conditioner vents on either side, while the loudspeakers atop the dash mimic the front indicators we mentioned earlier. The grab-handle ahead of the front passenger is retained, as have the chrome switches for the three diff-locks in the centre console.
The biggest change has been to the instrumentation and infotainment systems, though it’s been done carefully. As standard, twin dials will flank an information display ahead of the driver, but on the options list, you have the choice of upgrading to a fully-digital display like the ‘widescreen’ effect you get in the E-Class and S-Class passenger cars, blending twin 12.3-inch displays beautifully beneath a single glass layer. Instrumentation can be displayed in ‘Classic,’ ‘Sport,’ and ‘Progressive’ styles, though what each entails remains a mystery at this point. Input into the system is still via a touchpad controller mounted between the front seats, framed by shortcut keys for easy access to selected functions.
Passenger space is improved all the way round, with a near-40mm improvement in front legroom, and an astonishing 150mm improvement in rear legroom. If you’re considering this as a family car you’ll be pleased to know that shoulder room has been improved by up to 38mm, while elbow room is up by as much as 68mm. The rear seats feature a 60:40 split should you want to transform your G into a van. Seat heating is available on all pews, while the drivers’ seat can be available with memory functionality. Active Multicontour Seats are available as an option, along with things like massage functionality, seat climate control, and adjustable side support.
So far, Mercedes-Benz has detailed only the G500 at launch. This model sees motivation from a 4.0-litre petrol V8 engine, with two turbos on tap to put out a total 310kW and 610Nm, sending power to all-four wheels (of course) via Mercedes-Benz’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. Combined claimed fuel consumption is rated at 11.1L/100km with CO2 emissions of 263g/km, which is astounding for a petrol motor.
The new G promises to be better on- and off-road. On-road performance was never a highlight on the outgoing model (which was fair, given it was designed as a military vehicle), but the new car is vastly improved. Simulations helped engineers identify components within the construction that could be made lighter to improve the G’s on-road ability, and Mercedes claims a weight reduction of up to 170kg.
A new mix of materials, namely high- and ultra-high strength steel and aluminium have served their purpose, also improving body rigidity by up to 55% over the outgoing car. Noise, vibration, and harshness levels (NVH) have been greatly reduced, going a long way to ensuring that the Mercedes-Benz experience isn’t compromised, even when you’re essentially driving a brick on wheels.
If the new G-Class was less off-road capable than the outgoing car, plenty would winge, but not many would blame them, given that the G’s most dominant duty these days is to make cashed-up celebrities stand out in posh postcodes. However, Mercedes-Benz is adamant that they have not compromised the G’s off-road prowess one bit, saying that it’s now “significantly more agile, dynamic, and comfortable” off-road. Front and rear axles were significantly redesigned, and have been engineered to offer the very best ability in demanding circumstances without compromising on-road performance.
A ladder-type frame construction is retained for the new generation, as has the three differential locks and low-range gearing. Collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and AMG have resulted in an independent suspension setup with double-wishbones up front and a rigid rear axle, and the G-Class now touts a 270mm ground clearance figure, contributing to truly impressive off-road stats: The new G can climb 100% inclines, ford water and mud up to 70cm in depth, remain stable at 35-degree tilt angles, and manages a 30-degree departure, 31-degree approach, and 26-degree break-over angle.
Further enhancing the new G’s off-road ability is ‘G-Mode,’ which sits as the fifth available driving mode on the new G-Class (the others being Comfort, Sport, Individual, and Eco). G-Mode is triggered the moment one of the diff-locks is engaged or if low-range gearing is selected.
Working together with the optional adaptive dampers, G-Mode then optimises steering, accelerator, and gearbox characteristics to offer maximum off-road capability, and also triggers a small ‘G’ indicator light in the instrument cluster.
The first of the new G-Classes will be delivered in June in Europe, with prices slated to begin at €107,040.50 (or $164,574.77). Notable standard kit on the new model (which notably, hasn’t received a price hike) includes things like LED headlamps, advanced driver assistance systems, a full-leather interior, and the new suspension setup. Mercedes-Benz notes that an ‘Exclusive Interior Plus’ package is available as an option “for demanding customers,” adding leather to the doors, for “even more exclusivity,” as if the price wasn’t enough.
For more information on Mercedes-Benz, check out our Showroom.
