General Motors’ Hummer began life as the military Humvee in 1984. It was designed for rugged and treacherous conditions, delivering personnel and light cargo behind the battlefield’s front lines. Eight years after production began, in 1992, General Motors announced the civilian version known as the Hummer. The Hummer immortalised the Humvee amongst the patriotic American public, who’d seen the vehicle standby their beloved troops in the Gulf War.
So what’s the Hummer got to do with the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class? Well, simply that the Germans built the similarly purposed Geländewagen in 1979 already and unlike Hummer, the G-Wagon is still going strong some 33 years later. In fact, it is the is the longest produced Mercedes-Benz in Daimler’s history. The vehicle proved so popular with the military and off-road enthusiasts in its first decade of production, that more than 50 000 units where built. The popularity of the G-Class hasn’t waned either, with the Australian military having ordered 1 200 vehicles in 2007 and increasing that number to 2 146 as of this year.
The secret to the success of the G-Class has been its steady evolution over the years as a no-nonsense all-terrain vehicle. The G-Class has moved with the times, by keeping up with the latest engine technology and creature comforts, yet not compromising on its steadfast four-wheel drive capabilities and build quality.
For the 2012 model year, the G-Class is being brought up-to-date with a modest exterior makeover, a new range of engines, as well as a new level of luxury and convenience.
While the outward profile of the G-Class remains as iconic as ever, Mercedes have seen fit to add a few more contemporary elements to the SUV’s styling, which are subtle to say the least, yet immediately identify the new G-Class as the youngest on the road. It’s as simple as a set of LED daytime running lights and new exterior mirror housings.
For the new G 63 AMG, however, the styling is far more elaborate and plays to the G-Class’ unspoken and implied authority. A new AMG radiator grille with double louvres, new bumpers with large air intakes, together with red brake callipers residing behind 20-inch wheels, give the bi-turbo V8′s game away.
The interior is where the biggest changes have taken place and the G-Class now features the best of Mercedes’ comfort and convenience features. The instrument panel and centre console have been completely redesigned to include new controls, which add a fresh look to the interior. A thin-film technology (TFT) colour display is found within the driver’s instrument panel, while a far larger colour screen is mounted above the centre console. This central display provides the interface to numerous infotainment functions, such as the Command Online system, Command Controller, DVD player, Internet access, sat-nav system, Linguatronic voice-operated control system and Bluetooth connectivity.
The G-Class retains the grab handle on the front-passenger side, individual switches for each of the three differential locks and a redesigned shift lever below the centre console; all elements that hint at the character of the original.
Standard features now include Blind Spot Assist and the Parktronic park assistance. Optional extras include Distronic Plus and a reversing camera, while safety has been enhanced with a revised ESP system that now incorporates Trailer Stability Assist and a hill-hold function.
In light of all this new luxury and convenience, has the G-Class gone soft you might be asking. Far from it. Beneath the sheet metal the G-Class remains a combination of steel ladder chassis, with 6 400 welds and all put together by hand at Mercedes’ production partner, Magna Steyr, in Graz, Austria. Mercedes claim it to be virtually indestructible and it’s been said that you only buy a G-Wagon once in your lifetime, such is its longevity.
Powering this bastion of the bush, or boulevard as has become popular, are three different engines. These include the G 350 BlueTEC, the G 500 and the mighty G 63 AMG, all in a long-wheelbase five-door version.
The entry-level and only diesel-powered G-Class, the G 350 BlueTEC, is motivated by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, which produces 155 kW and 540 Nm of torque between 1 600 and 2 400 r/min. The BlueTEC element includes ‘AdBlue’, which is an aqueous urea solution injected into the flow of exhaust gases to reduce harmful emissions, including nitrogen oxide. Fuel consumption is rated at an average of 11.2 L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 295 g/km.
The first of the petrol models is the G 500. Employing a naturally-aspirated 5.5-litre V8, the engine offers 285 kW and 530 Nm of torque between 2 800 and 4 800 r/min. The G 63 AMG with its V8 twin-turbocharged engine delivers 400 kW and 760 Nm of torque, with engine stop/start as standard. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 14.9 L/100km and 13.8 L/100km for the G 500 and G 63 respectively.
Both the G 350 and the G 500 feature the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission as standard, while the G 63 AMG swaps cogs using an AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission.
The launch took place in Kwa-Zulu Natal where impenetrable mist forced a slow pace for the majority of our paved route. When the fog faded, however, the 2.5-tonne SUV reached cruising speed with little effort, regardless of what engine lay beneath the bonnet. Highway driving is not the G-Class’ forte though, with constant small steering corrections required to keep the big brute on the straight and narrow. Similarly, the vehicle’s tall stature, 205 mm ride height and long travel suspension, mean cornering is done in a reserved manner with steering that’s heavy and slow. After a few kilometers in the G-Class though, you become comfortable with the great all-round visibility and its relatively small footprint – at 2 850 mm the wheelbase is 24 mm shorter than the E-Class sedan.
It should come as no surprise, however, to hear that it’s off-road where the G-Class excels. Driven with little sympathy and much flamboyance around our allocated 4×4 route in Cato Ridge, Austrian training and development driver Erwin Wonisch, showed off the G-Wagon’s robust engineering in no uncertain terms. Through cross-axle situations, ascents with the front wheels launching into the air upon reaching the summit, mud, clay and water, the G-Class romped through the course, often sideways, and all while sending a V8 soundtrack rolling like thunder across the hills of KZN.
With zero evidence of chassis flex, the G-Class laughed through it all, until it got stuck that is. What?! Yes, in a bath of slush puppy-like clay, the G-Class was buried above its front headlights in mud. Disappointing? Not in the least. The fact that the G-Class even got to that point on the course at the speeds and indifference in which it did, left many wide-eyed. Plus, it was hardly surprising, as the ground had already been under attack from thousands of Newton meters worth of torque for many laps prior, not to mention torrential rain.
Mercedes’ fearless development driver, whose job it has been to push the G-Class to breaking point for the last 33 years, showed off the SUV’s three electrically controlled and 100-percent lockable diff-locks in spectacular fashion, switching the front on and off at speed so as to negotiate sharp turns, often with an extra dab of the power from the snarling V8 to bring the tail-end around too. It was a masterful display and one that demonstrated the purpose-built off-road nature of the G-Class.
Starting at R1.3 million, the “yes, but is it worth it?” debate is an ongoing one because, in the case of the G-Class, apart from its engineering excellence, it stands on another pillar of success, that of the status symbol. Mercedes has been able to establish the G-Class as a ‘must have’ among celebrities, from where many take their cue on what’s hot and what’s not. Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to own two G 500s and the ladies seem to love them too, with Renee Zellweger, Megan Fox and Hilary Duff, each owning an example.
Luxurious, rugged, hand-built and with a character that’s been formed over 30 years, the G-Class is like no other.
| Pricing (Incl. VAT and CO2 Tax) | |
| Mercedes-Benz G 300 Professional | R786 900 |
| Mercedes-Benz G 350 BlueTEC | R1 335 000 |
| Mercedes-Benz G 500 | R1 494 000 |
| Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG | R2 047 000 |
Prices include a 2-year/unlimited km warranty and 6-year/120 000 km maintenance plan, except the G 300 which is available with an optional 5-year/120 000km service plan.
