Meet the G Class, the rugged offroader for the discerning

Every once in a while, a great car comes our way. It endears itself to many, creating a cult following before it is discontinued. One such vehicle is the Land Rover Defender.

Certain models like the original Land Rover and the Jeep Wrangler have elevated their brand status so high that the simple mention of their names conjures an image of go-anywhere versatility. They have stood the test of time, won numerous awards worldwide and proven that they deserve the title of best 4x4.

Vehicle awards are no longer as hard to come by as they were some years back. Today, many magazines will to dish them out to manufacturers at the drop of a hat.

But is the number of awards received a true test of quality? Perhaps not. Efficiency, safety, durability and practicality as well as cost would be my top pick. I would also put ownership experience very high up my list.

Now picture yourself at the top of the food chain. You are the best in your field and have achieved great success. You are done needing to prove yourself to anyone – peers, neighbours and friends included. You are focused on what works for you and brings you joy.

Which luxury off-roader deserves your hard-earned money and time behind the wheel? Would it be the luxurious Range Rover or perhaps the dependable Toyota Land Cruiser VX?

Now think again. Why would you need a proper offroader? Is it just to earn you bragging rights and to drive around town intimidating motorists in smaller vehicles?

If that is you, then go for the discontinued Hummer or defunct Toyota FJ Cruiser. Better still, settle for a regular SUV like the Mercedes ML, BMW X5 and X6 or even the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

But if you want a real 4x4 that will traverse all terrain without compromising your status, then you might want to take a look at – yes you guessed it – the G63 AMG from Mercedes.

This contraption has been produced in Austria for Mercedes for the last 36 years and during this period, it has won 11 awards. Loved and hated in equal measure, the G Class is arguably the most practical luxury offroader from Mercedes.

It is virtually unstoppable and will go anywhere a good driver dares to venture. AMG, on the other hand, do not joke about engines, they are so serious that every engine built is meticulously assembled by a highly skilled craftsman who offers his personal pledge of accountability via a handwritten signature.

Let’s talk about the flagship G63 AMG 6x6 today for it illustrates what is possible when engineering passion meets technical expertise.

What can it do?

It will do almost anything thrown at it. It has a 5.5-litre biturbo 400kW (544hp) engine that can race to 100kph in about seven seconds. This engine develops 760 Newton metres of torque, weighs in at 3,850kgs and will attain a limited top speed of 162km/h. It has Mercedes’ AMG Speedshift Plus 7G tronic automatic transmission.

It has three drive modes, Controlled Efficiency (C), Manual (M) and Sport (S). In ‘C’ mode, the vehicle applies all measures to give you maximum efficiency. In Sport and Manual, you get more agility. In ‘M’ mode, it will maintain the gear you select until the rev limiter suggest otherwise. This is perfect for climbing steep inclines.

That is just the tip of the iceberg. While the standard G Wagon has a ground clearance of 210mm, this monster clears 460mm and it will wade through 1,000mm of water.

The adjustable and rally-proven gas-pressure shock absorbers work in concert with voluminous tyres. The chassis set-up offers outstanding ride comfort combined with high driving dynamics and safety under all conditions, on and off the road.

This vehicle has five mechanical differential locks with a special locking logic to assist the driver tackle any situation. It is controlled electrically through three differential lock switches on the centre console, same as in every G Class.

Interior comfort

While comfort might not be top of your agenda with this beast, you will find the interior appointments rather lavish. The exterior has remained the same for 36 years but the interior has been improved to meet the discerning taste of the world’s richest individuals.

Its spacious interior has four individual seats decked with natural Designo leather. These are electrically adjustable, ventilated and heated. Two colour screens complete the rear entertainment.

The instrument panel and centre console have been completely redesigned to include new controls and exclusively designed trim elements. The TFT colour display in the instrument cluster between the two round dials gives the vehicle a fresh, modern feel.
The larger colour screen, conveniently positioned in the centre, is part of the COMAND Online system and incorporates a DVD changer and the COMAND Controller.

You get Internet access, a navigation system with special additional off-road functions, the LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system and Bluetooth wireless connectivity just to prove that it maybe 36-years-old but totally tuned to the needs of today’s active lifestyle.

In summary

I believe I have finally found a Mercedes worth my money and time. While the 6x6 is amazingly capable, it may be out of reach for most of us. Let’s be practical and settle for something better that was developed from it. All Mercedes have done is removed one axle and produced the G 500 4x4². It, too, makes a very compelling case for the discerning bundu-basher.

The Mercedes G Class, too, has been awarded ‘Best Luxury Off-road Vehicle’ for 11 years and most notably last year when over 63,000 OFFROAD Magazine readers chose it over the competition.

Will Mercedes continue to produce the G Wagon from Graz in Austria? I hope so because it is, indeed, an icon that would surely give the odd-looking DC100, Land Rover Defender’s successor, a very hard time.

Prices start at Euros 190,000 (Sh19,7 million) for the G500 and Euros 220,000 (Sh22.8 million) for the G63 AMG. In Kenya today, we have six of these beasts on our roads with three imported through local dealers and three brought in privately.

Unconfirmed word on the street has it that you have only two months to place your order through the local dealer DT Dobie as right- hand drive versions will be discontinued in June this year.