Mercedes-Benz G550 First Drive Review is the automotive equivalent of, "if it ain't broke, do not restoration it." The iconic Geländewagen has been round because 1979, with handiest evolutionary updates keeping it clean during the last four many years price. It's weird and wild, and there is not anything else quite like it with a pedigree so storied, Mercedes specs is aware of it'd be foolish to muck matters up with the 2019 G-Class. Yet this emblem-new version Mercedes-Benz G550 First Drive Review handiest stocks five additives with its predecessor. Five. Aside from the headlight washers, door handles, solar visors Mercedes-Benz G550 First Drive, spare tire cover and some random bracket observed deep inside the internal shape, the whole lot else is different. For a element-relic, element-icon like the G-Class, it truly is a clearly big deal.
Driving
The Languedoc-Roussillon area of France, between the towns of Perpignan and Carcassonne in which the original G-Class was released almost forty years in the past, it all feels very familiar. The steering is type of indistinct. There's a fantastic burble from the side-set up exhaust. An upright windshield sits now not too a long way in the front of me, supplying a commanding view of the SUV's brief, flat hood and chunky corner flip signals. It's an enjoy it is uniquely G-Wagen, and one that no matter huge improvements in consolation, technology and drivability continues to be completely gift.
The biggest visual distinction is undoubtedly up the front, in which the huge, round headlights now have LED walking lamp earrings. And although the front brush defend is now not popular gadget on US-spec G-Class fashions, you may alternative it for each the top and lower fascias, in either the conventional chrome, or in black as part of a brand new Night Package.
Outside the box
A lot of the G-Class' iconic layout elements that might commonly be scrubbed easy on a less recognizable model within the name of aerodynamics continue to be. The uncovered door hinges, the distinguished protecting strip along the body facets, the blocky flip alerts constant atop the hood -- they're all absolutely on point. Even the roof cap contains over, albeit with a bit greater swoop to its form.
Though its outward look is unmistakably G-Class, each unmarried frame panel is new. The doorways, fenders and hood are now crafted from aluminum, which allows make contributions to a 366-pound weight financial savings as opposed to the outgoing G. It's even extra aerodynamic, believe it or not. The windshield has a slightly steeper rake, and the facet windows have the tiniest bit of curvature to their shape.
Interior
The first factor you notice is all of the delivered area. The 2019 G-Class is 4.Eight inches wider than its predecessor, at once ensuing in improved elbow- and shoulder room for both the front and rear passengers. The delivered width method larger, greater comfortable seats are fitted up front, with myriad strength adjustability, now not to say heating, cooling and, of route, rub down. There's a proper middle console among the seats, with real, honest-to-goodness cup holders (even though I'll kind of pass over the charmingly horrible flip-up, internet-coated holders from the antique version -- form of). The G even receives a actual glass moonroof for the first time, changing the strong metallic sunroof unit from before.
Every touchable surface has the kind of appearance and feel you'll assume from a six-determine Mercedes-Benz (pricing continues to be TBD, however anticipate it to begin round $125,000). The correctly shallow dashboard is flanked through two metal Burmester speaker grilles, meant to imitate the manner the turn alerts proudly mark the corners of the hood. Below them, massive air vents are said to rouse the G's headlight layout. Two greater vents within the middle of the center stack use the equal, heavy stylized look, as do the three large buttons for the G-Class' all-vital the front, middle and rear differential locks. The huge expanses of leather are damaged up by natural timber and exquisite brushed metal accents. Taken as an entire, the G-Class boasts one among Mercedes' best interiors, complete prevent. And that's before you get to the richer -tone, AMG Line and Designo alternatives.
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There's more area for 2nd-row riders, thanks to 2.1 additional inches of duration and a rear bench it truly is positioned similarly again within the cabin. The five.Nine extra inches of legroom cross an extended manner toward making the rear space an area you'll happily occupy for lengthy distances, and shifting the bench backward enables with average ingress and egress. Cargo space suffers slightly, however swing open that rear door and you are nonetheless greeted with a wealth of usable cargo room.
COMAND Technology
The infotainment tech housed within is the identical COMAND system you may discover someplace else -- no longer the up to date MBUX device that'll first arrive in the new A-Class sedan and Sprinter van. You can manipulate the gadget via the massive dial or touchpad at the center console, or the two thumb pads on the steering wheel (left for the gauge screen, right for the center display), and whilst it usually works well enough, I can not look forward to MBUX to make its manner into every single Mercedes model. The high-res, reconfigurable shows of COMAND are nice and all, however I'm hooked on the fairly short, contact-responsive interface of MBUX.
Every G-Class comes with a 12.Three-inch infotainment show, front and middle, set lower back inside the sprint. You can alternative two actual speedometer and tachometer gauges without delay in front of the motive force, or you may go large and spec a twin-display setup, just like what you find in Mercedes' CLS-, E- and S-Class fashions.
The G550 on the way to be known as the G500 out of doors the United States uses Mercedes' now-ubiquitous 7.0-liter dual turbo V8 engine, tuned right here to supply 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. That's more than enough hustle to get this big, four-wheel-pressure brute up and moving with a quickness. Mercedes estimates the 0-60 miles according to hour time at underneath 6 seconds, and thinking about the Benz's shape, it really is damned marvelous.
The roads between Perpignan and Carcassonne take you via some absolutely luscious French nation-state. Around each new bend, there's a new vineyard to behold, set returned behind knee-excessive stone partitions older than your grandparents' grandparents. These are tight, technical roads -- the type you'll love to have at your disposal for wringing out a exquisite driving force's automobile. And even as the G-Class does not come near becoming that description, those roads show the splendid development in drivability, completely impartial of the exceptional V8 onboard.
Never in my life have I so willingly cheered the advent of electromechanical guidance. The antique G's recirculating ball setup become horrible in every day use -- heavy and cumbersome, and with precisely no tactile comments from the road far underneath. The new steering system isn't always most effective more current, however definitely feels better to apply; there's a without a doubt quality weight to the action of the wheel. It's nonetheless a chunk vague in terms of typical comments, and the ratio may want to arguably be a chunk quicker in its default setting. But the important thing takeaway is that the G-Class is extensively less difficult and greater strong to manipulate, specially at higher speeds, and electronic guidance way it is simpler to fit driver assistance systems like lane-maintaining help and adaptive cruise control.
Unbiased front suspension plays a large function in on-street self belief, too, as does the G-Class' stiffer chassis shape. Torsional stress is up 55 percent over the outgoing model, and mixed with its extra sophisticated front suspension, the 2019 G-Class feels a long way much less unwieldy in turns. It's not going to usurp a Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne in phrases of splendid SUV dealing with, and genuinely, it should not. These improvements are not about constructing a better sporty SUV, they are all approximately creating a G-Class it really is easier and greater enticing to pressure.
Specs Mercedes-Benz G55
- Fuel Gasoline Fuel
- Engine 4.0L V8 biturbo
- Drivetrain Four Wheel Drive
- Body style SUVs
- Doors 4
Off-road
As a long way as off-road credentials are worried, the 2019 G550 is a bit bit higher in a number of regions. Though it only has an additional 0.2 inches of floor clearance, it is able to ford 4 greater inches of water -- 27.6, in case you've were given a shallow river nearby. The 26-degree breakover attitude is a 1-degree improvement over the vintage G550, and its 30-degree technique and 31-degree departure angles imply you won't threat scraping the ones treasured fenders whilst the going gets steep. But the maximum first rate element about off-roading the G550 is how easy and effortlessly this Mercedes tackles the whole thing in its route.
Mercedes uses an off-avenue park inside the French countryside for G-Class development, and it is the ones very trails where I'm checking out the 2019 G550 nowadays. Three locking differentials mean you will in no way, ever get stuck (if you're not rolling on summer time tires, anyway), and the G550's new G-Mode off-road placing makes it less difficult to function the SUV whilst you're within the thick of some tough stuff. G-Mode is activated as soon as you lock one of the differentials or placed the automobile into low variety, and it adjusts the damping of the chassis and lightens the reaction of the steering and throttle. It also places the transmission into a particular off-street programming that avoids useless equipment shifts, although you may always select your very own gears via guide mode and the steering wheel-set up paddle shifters
Come to a entire stop whilst on a forty five-degree descent, placed the G550 in reverse, and it'll returned right up. Front, rear and 360-diploma cameras show you what is nearby when sight traces are obscured. Use first gear in guide mode and occasional range to routinely spark off a hill descent manipulate. And by all way, enjoy a heated rub down while doing so.
Let's be sincere, the G-Class is as an awful lot a status symbol as it's miles some thing else in recent times. For every G-Wagen mountain climbing an Alpine slope, there are at the least five road-parked in Beverly Hills. Good thing, then, that the 2019 G-Class has enhancements that'll be liked by both varieties of buyers. For folks who are seeking its rugged functionality, it's miles simpler to manipulate off road with out sacrificing whatever in the manner of outright prowess. For the on-road street set, it's appreciably nicer to drive at all speeds, not to mention a ways extra expensive, tech-ahead and outright comfy than earlier than.
Conlution
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