2023 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

When you find yourself with a craving for something, maybe a favorite junk food or movie, only that specific thing will do the trick. No remake, update or substitute will do. It has to be that thing. And it's for that reason that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class exists and continues to thrive. There's literally nothing else that comes close. Mercedes itself knew that when it did its first ground-up redesign of the SUV for the 2019 model year, making sure that quintessential G-Class things were maintained, from the overall brick-like design to the old door latches that clacked. Without them, it just wouldn’t be a G. Like many things we crave, though, they’re not always the best for us, and depending on your needs, you could be regretting caving to the crave. Our test machine is the "lowly," "humble" G 550. This entry-level G-Class starts around $140,000. And for the money, you are getting one of the rare vehicles that can unironically be called iconic. Even though every body panel was changed with the redesign, it still looks just like the SUV that was introduced in the 1970s. The real giveaways are the LED headlights, the integrated brush guard and more elegantly integrated reflectors. Thankfully, the interior is actually very different from the past models. This is most evident in the packaging. There's so much more legroom than the previous generation, in which your knees tended to be jammed up in the dash and center stack. Your tallest hats will also fit under the sky-high roof, regardless of your own prodigious (or not-so-prodigious) height. The more spacious area also means the steering wheel isn't placed awkwardly. The rear seat is also more accommodating, though it still has less legroom than other SUVs of the G’s price tag and exterior dimensions. Even with the better driving position, the G continues to have its trademark high seating position with low sills and the ability to see every corner of the vehicle. Many people tout a “commanding view of the road” as a key reason they purchased an SUV, and it’s hard to get more commanding than the G. The front seats themselves are well sculpted and have lots of adjustment, but they are oddly firm, which can get a little tiresome on long drives. Cargo space is copious, too, particularly in height, though it's frustrating that the rear seats don't fold flat with the cargo floor, and there's nowhere to put the privacy cover when removed. Besides the packaging, the interior showcases superb materials at every corner. It's all leather and real wood trim, even on the dash’s signature grab handle. The look is still modern with the large dual screens for instruments and infotainment. And of course oodles of comfort features are on offer such as massaging seats. Now, while this may be the “new G,” it’s still four years old, which in normal car terms, would be on the back end of its lifecycle. In that way, it’s starting to show …
Hide Full Review