Known as the G-Wagen, G-Class, or simply The G, the iconic boxy ladder-frame SUV produced by Mercedes-Benz has relied on petrol or diesel power since its 1979 introduction. But all of that is about to change with the launch of the fully electric G 580, which we drove briefly off-road at the Kauri Bay Boomrock facility in Clevedon, south of Auckland.
Mercedes-Benz initially conceived the Geländewagen (cross-country vehicle) as a utilitarian off-road capable vehicle for civilian and military use. It has been hand-built at the Magna Steyr production facility in Graz, Austria, since 1979. Over two generations, it has morphed into a formidable high-performance luxury SUV, with the top-spec G 63S AMG as comfortable roaring up Queen Street as Skippers Canyon. So, when Mercedes-Benz announced that it would produce a fully electric version of the G, many people thought the brand was losing the plot.
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But a few of us figured that if Stuttgart were going to electrify the G for series production, then it would be the best possible off-road version of the 4×4, and the result is not far off.
Mercedes-Benz New Zealand is launching the Edition One version of the G 580, priced at $276,000. This will be followed by the ‘standard’ version, retailing for $231,400.
Based on the AMG line, visual highlights include blue brake calipers and inserts in the exterior protective strips in blue. Exterior elements include black 20-inch rims and black door handles. The Edition One also includes a new design box on the rear door but no spare wheel, an issue that the local distributor says it will address for those customers requiring one.
The interior is upholstered in Nappa leather in silver pearl/black and includes trim elements in carbon with blue accents and blue stitching. Another unique feature of the Edition One is the combination of the Superior Line elements with the sporty ‘Loop design’ of the Exclusive Line upholstery.
The G 580 has a 116kWh traction battery, which powers the four electric motors, one at each wheel. Together, they produce 432kW of power and 1164Nm of torque. Each motor offers a two-speed transmission with a low-range gear reduction for off-road driving, and the G 580 is the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle that can provide single-wheel drive, if necessary, which also enables its unique G-Turn and G-Steer functions, but more on those later.
For those drivers who miss the sound of an engine, Mercedes-Benz has kindly equipped the G 580 with G-Roar. As you’ve probably guessed, the high-quality Burmester speakers can transmit a computer-generated engine roar into the cabin, mimicking the V8 engine of the G 63.
The manufacturer says the G 580 will dispatch zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. That’s not bad for a vehicle with a three-tonne tare weight before you add people and luggage. The payload capacity is 410kg, and don’t ask about the towing capacity because it’s not an option with the G 580. The gross vehicle mass is 3500kg, according to Mercedes-Benz.
The G 580 is further distinguished from its ICE siblings with a rear De Dion-style axle, while the independent front double wishbone suspension has been revised for electric drive. It offers a 250mm ride height, and the wading depth through water is 850mm, some 150mm more than the G 63S. To protect the electric drive train from damage, Mercedes-Benz has developed a carbon composite underbody protection cover, which is 26mm thick and weighs 60kg.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the composite underbody protection cover is so strong that a 50mm-by-50mm square portion will easily accommodate the entire weight of the vehicle, should you come unstuck when off-road.
For a three-tonne 4×4 SUV, the electrifying performance of the G 580 is exhilarating, but also easily harnessed thanks to the clever technology Mercedes-Benz has employed; even a complete novice can drive off-road in a safe and controlled manner.
Following the fence lines of the working farm at the Kauri Bay Boomrock facility allowed us to test not only the three crawl mode functions up and downhill but also the G-Steering function and the G-Turn function. While it might seem like a gimmick, the G-Turn will come in handy if a driver finds themselves in a tight spot without the ability to execute a three-point turn off-road. G-Turn enables the left and right wheels to spin in opposite directions, allowing the vehicle to perform a complete 360-degree turn on the spot when encountering loose or unpaved surfaces off-road.
Similarly, G-Steering delivers manoeuvrability in tight spots as the wheels turn at different speeds and invoke slight oversteer depending on the situation, allowing a significantly smaller turning circle.
The three-speed offroad crawl function lets the driver maintain complete vehicle control while navigating challenging terrain. Like other G-Class vehicles, the G 580 can traverse 45-degree slopes (both forward and reverse) and drive along 35-degree angles. But its wading depth is something else. We swear the water in the pond on the four-wheel track drive was almost at the window line, but the G 580 kept moving forward without hesitation. The capability is impressive, but the crew needed a water blaster to clean the muck off afterwards.
The electric G-Wagen absolutely exceeded our expectations, but sadly, we think most owners will never fully explore its off-road capability, and that’s a real shame because this car will be equally at home in the dirt as it is on the tarmac.
