Used 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Consumer Reviews

2005 - G500 Grand Edition

Sold it for $20k USD. This car is bulletproof. Rides like a luxury sedan. Handles like a beast in the snow and bad weather. Mine is at 190+k miles and going strong and looks great! Wish it had navigation, blue tooth and a usb port. Things starting to go wrong and it's $500- $1,000 each time. All 4 door lock malfunction - one goes the others go at $300 each, Windshield wiper motor, worn out belts...pitted window is common here in the mountains, etc. Oh, did I tell you that if your headlamp goes out you just don't replace at $10, you have to take apart the front end and that can be $400+. But here's the bottom line...I walk out, jump in and it starts and goes and goes and goes.

You are buying a G63 for a reason.

This is one of the most iconic vehicles on the road and if you are buying one you have a reason..it’s just plain cool and you clearly have fu money to back it up. People consistently stop me and want to talk about it. If you want a pure comfort luxury SUV with lots of cup holders to haul around the kids, buy a GSL 550 or Escalade. If you have an extra $155k and want a fast and loud, stiff/tight, climb up into it, classic German engineered and pretty reasonably comfortable for an off-road capable vehicle that can climb at 40 degrees in the Austrian Alps (that you probably won’t use it for), buy this. Pure fun at 3 feet off the ground.

A Beautiful Tank on the outside, Harsh on the inside

My wife got this car as her ultimate SUV dream vehicle. She had wanted one for 15 years. We got a good deal and she traded in her Lexus LX 570. We went from a peaceful cocoon of luxury to a rough and randy tank. She absolutely loves it. There is truly nothing else like it on the road. However, it is not very comfortable to drive. Steering is heavy. Acceleration is slow. The engine is loud. The seats are not comfortable. And yet everytime she looks at it, she loves it a little more. I don't like driving it at all, but that's why she tells me its her car, not mine.

2005 Grand Edition G55

This is supposed to be a SUV, with excellent off road capabilities, by far probably the best, for vehicle on sale for civilian use. Any one expecting a ride quality and or comfort of a sedan, will be disappointed. I have about 125,000 miles on my vehicle, and can report an average of 13:5 MPG, compared to my previous Chevy Suburban which averaged about 14 MPG, over the same number of miles, one reason, the suburban used 87 octane gas and the G uses 91 octane so a more expensive vehicle to drive. Parts and or repairs are comparable, or have been to me. Probably depends on one's driving habits. It's the same design since 1979. People who like it love it, for other it grows on one. One thing in a situation where it's to be valet parked, they park it up front and center. People actually come and want to discuss the vehicle in parking lots, so because of its rarity, it certainly turns heads. It came with Yokohama AVS 18" tires, apparently it's not been made any more, it was a very comfortable quite tire, I would like opinions on replacement. The G55 looks as good as new, I ave changed the rear lights to LED, and the fronts to BiXenon, I have also upgraded to a sattelite based GPS audio unit., the result, the controls on the steering wheel does not work. The heated steering wheel, and heated seats for the passenger in the front and two in the back will bless you on chilly days. The vault like doors give a level of safety, unlike any other. It is known to jar the electric window regulators and make them malfunction I have read elsewhere, I have been spared so far , though the rear right has started to show some sluggishness supposed to be a $400+ fix.

Update to previous review

I've had this vehicle now for 5 months. It has been in the shop several times. It is not reliable and I cannot recommend it. The steering wheel shock absorber was replaced and front end was aligned, the entire headlight bulb assembly had to be reworked to fix an electrical short (this took 3 trips to the dealer) and the passenger side door had to be realigned since it would not close properly. This was all within the 1st. week of ownership. Then the rear door lock went and now the rear window washer does not work. Car is a time bomb. The dealer is now offering to buy it back after my complaints. It was supposed to be CPO'd, but problems since day 1 have been occurring.

2009 G-CLASS

I bought the new G because i was tired of all the 09 vehicles looking alike. well the G is all I hoped it would be as well as fun to own and drive. its not for everyone but its the ideal vehicle for me. THE ONLY NEGATIVE- IT GETS TOO MUCH ATTENTION.

2017 G550 Nightmare

I have slaved through school for the past 14 years to finally purchase the car of my dreams. I spent countless hours test driving and convincing my wife to buy this car. It was a special order designed by the dealer. It just so happened to be the exact color and some options I preferred. I made a down payment. En route to the US from germany, the cargo ship had a fire. This caused a +1 month hold up on my car at the port of Baltimore. Thinking to myself????? "Should I buy a car like this?" The car was released and finally arrives!!! Yes! I go to the dealer for pickup and drive it for 15 minutes and enjoyed finally being able to see the most beautiful hand crafted piece of artwork ever made. I cruised at low speeds, talked to my salesman, played the radio. Of course, no one is paging attention to fine details at this point. The car went straight from the dealer to my friend who has placed Xpel ultimate on other vehicles of mine. He did an amazing job. 1 week worth of hard work and dedication, The day finally arrives to return the loaner and pick up my car. From the start I heard an intermittent "booting" noise, almost like a baby owl. It would mainly occur between shifts or let up off of the gas. Higher temperatures outside produced a more defined and constant noise. The biggest issue besides the "most" annoying noise was a very hard rumbly and shaking shift when I would brake from 4th to 3rd gear. This was always constant. I finally got the car to my local detailed (whom has been more than professional and kind) to have the service manager drive my car. He noted all of the complaints and the car went in for service. Adaptations (computer updates) were performed which actually made the shifting and hard shakes worse. This is week 3 and there has been no fix. I was told today that, corporate engineers, told my local service team to tear apart the transmission and check everything. They respectfully disagreed and deferred this treatment. They know it's a transmission issue and a case was opened. Meanwhile, they have captured the noise and recorded what I described as "hooting" earlier. They hear it and also agree that this is "NOT" normal. They have no idea what is causing it. With this, I was told today that the service team have been in contact with corporate and they have planned to order a new transmission...... from Germany. 2 more weeks, plus delivery, plus installation. I have involved and contacted MB customer service. These messages have been relayed up the hierachal chain. They were great about getting back to me in a very efficient time. I was told today that they assure their engineers are trying to fix this problem quickly. I have assured and assured that no one in their right mind would pay 129k for a car and want the transmission replaced and to have a noise that can't be fixed. Without anymore complaining and painful details, I am still dealing with this and to let others know, I am not the only one with these issues. A new "befriended" friend of mine and I have been in contact, and he has the same noises. He has also had his brand new 2017 G550 rear end replaced because they thought the noise was coming from there. It's been a disaster and no one who pays this sort of money on a high end luxury vehicle deserves this. The car should be taken back without any question.

G Class Rules

I have had my G for quite some time. It is quality throughout. No plastic and thin metal. Go and drive the best. It's better than my BMW 5 series and the best vehicle I have ever driven. See for yourself. The Hummer owners wish they had one! Its for real.

Porsche to G wagon

Robust is not the word to describe this. Steel frame, heavy steel, massive hinges. You'd think it was built for military use. It turns heads everywhere. I've been wanting one for 2 years, and am not in any way disapointed, except I wish service could be thru MB trucks and not the car dealer.

Awesome Power and Looks

Amazing performance, sound, and looks. Not the mileage or rear seat room for a family touring vehicle but excellent around town runner. Front driver and passenger room and comfort is excellent. This SUV is like no other and draws a lot of attention wherever you drive it.

infamous G wagon

Looks great. Very macho vehicle. Driving was a different story. Steering was numb. Ergonomics were dated. Uncomfortable seating position for long trips.

shaspa

Such a solid drive. Extremely comfortable. The quality of the vehicle is so amazing. We feel much safer with this heavy vehicle.

The Best !!!!!!!!!!

Love this truck, 5000 miles no problems !!! strong acceleration!! exterior styling!!!! and many more !!

Canadian Military's Finest

Our second G. My wife wanted one of the last ones to make it to North America. She loves it and places me second place in our home. Great ride and commands the road. The new 2006 being built in Alabama does not deserve the G CLASS name!! It is an embarassment to us G lovers!! (maybe Pacifica 2 would be more appropriate!)

Solid. Over-engineered and an investment

This thing doesn't drive great and gets poor gas mileage. But you know that.... It sounds tough with the dual exhaust under the running boards. It's completely impractical unless you are driving in the Arctic or Sub-saharan Africa but emotionally feels great and should last a lot longer than you do. This is the car you can pass down and remember how they made real cars that a human had to operate!

Military vehicle

Having seen the G-Wagon in the miltary service, it is kind of odd to see them as a luxury car. These tanks are made to take all kind of abuses. Unless you are taking them off-road in the Pac West or somewhere, you will be better off driving a smaller SUV.

2005 G55

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING TRUCK ON THE MARKET. THE SPEED IS UNBELIEVABLE. NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THIS SUPERB VEHICLE.

Mercedes Saved The Best For The Last

With a 469hp twin turbo V8 Kompressor engine this vehicle has prodigious power. The dual side exhaust sounds incredible. This beast will do zero to sixty in a little under 5.5 seconds which makes it the ultimate sleeper until they hear the substantial roar of the exhaust rattle their ear drums. However when the windows are up you can barely hear it. This is a tight vehicle to say the least. Mercedes teased us all by putting the V8 Kompressor in the last model year for the G - (or is it? - I have heard rumors of possibly continuing the G series under a different manufacturer)

The best vehicle ever!!

You will love the ride and experience...

Great car

Why go with some lower middle class vehicle liek the Lexus or the H2? The G500 defines luxury and is used all over the world for military, industrial and civilian use. This is a tested SUV, not something marketed to soccer moms.

G-Wagon

This truck can go anywhere and through anything. It can also tow my 32 foot boat without a thought. I also like the fact that it is solid and NOT made of plastic. It is made to go 1,000,000 miles.

G55 is a solid luxury SUV

I bought this G55 for my wife. While it is not a typical squshy SUV,it is everything else and more. The power is amazing, Motor trend shows it at 0- 60MPH in 4.7 seconds agianst the cayanne S, bmx x series.It is very well built, handles very well and I feel safe with my wife and 3 children driving in it daily. The interior has superior finishes. The rear seats are great with 3 dedicated true seats, logs of leg room and a tall roof make it spacious. The trunk is very deep and easy to put strollers and groceries into. As the car breaks in, it is getting quicker in performance. I would buy it again in a minute. Once you drive it, you won't drive any other suv. No problems thus far at all.

Mixed bag like most cars

I own it because I appreciate iconic industrial design. It makes me smile every time I walk up to it. It rides fine. Its turning radius surprisingly tight. Steering and breaks are also fine despite the weight. Don't listen to folks who never spend time with a G. As far as reliability, it is below average. If you expect Toyota reliability you will be disappointed. It prone to develop rust very quickly on door hinges & under the windshield gasket. It is not stable on icy paved roads. CONS: 1.Large but has limited cargo and interior space. 2. Freezing door locks in the Winter. 3. Worst folding mechanism for rear seats in the car industry. 3. You will have to check height clearance of every public parking before going out. 4. Will never stay in lane, constant steering input required. 5. Getting very dirty very fast due to square shape. 6. Unless you have diesel you will have Tesla driving range of 450km.

End of the world car

Plenty of power, off road prowess in a luxurious package. If you want to feel the confidence of owning a vehicle that can take it all, that it's fast and responsive, this is the one.

It owns the road

in 07' the G was upgraded with xenon's and a 7 speed transmission. It looks like a huge car, but it's actually smaller than full size suv's like the Expedition, Navigator and Escalade. It is quite tall though. You either like the look or you don't. Inside, the interior is top notch. The controls are easy to operate, but the car needs steering wheel mounted volume controls. You have to reach over a ways to get to the radio. Plenty of foot room, lots of cargo room. Get moving and the doors lock with the sound of a 12 guage cocking, the car turns very tight, handles well at low speeds, on the highway it loves rough roads. It doesn't handle too well on turns at speed, it's a huge tall SUV after all

If you want a tank, here's your baby

This is a weird car, but I love it. It is solid, mighty and odd, but it commands attention, it is safe, and you get a workout while you drive it. It isn't for everyone, it takes time to get used to and the mileage is awful. But it is the best car I have ever driven. Only fault besides mileage is middle seat needs a shoulder seatbelt and not just a lep belt.

Silver Monster

We love our silver monster, it's like a bad tempered pet

Overrated car

It's a fun car, I would not think of buying another though. I truly think its overrated. For an SUV it's too fancy, but it has great on road handling.

Love it or hate it

This is a car you always wanted or a car you can’t understand why people buy. I think these cars are amazing. It’s a military tool used in civilian life so it won’t be as refined as other lux SUV’s but people don’t use this for what it’s intended purpose is. Great cars if you want one buy one.

Great suv

Nothing to dislike

maximus

Good SUV

This car is excellent off road, tackling anything that it comes upon. Roomy in all the areas except front legroom. Buttons aren't that logically laid out either.

Do it if you can!

Bullet proof

I like this truck in every way.

A dream!

Literally a dream to own this car! I’ve had it for a week so am pretty much in the honeymoon phase still but its everything you want it to be! It makes no sense, and yet its the best car decision i’ve ever made. Fingers crossed that will stay the case (:

Check Engine Light issues - Buyer be aware

Meticulously maintenance my 2017 G63. All services done on time. At 49,000 miles, right after the 50,000 mi A Service, Check Engine Light comes on after 200 mi. Had car 3 times at dealership and dealer was not able to fix the issue. First they fixed the Charcoal Filter ($1,000) and on 3rd attempt they recommended Fuel Filter and Fuel Tank Hose repair ($4,100). No guarantee that it would be fixed after that. At 49,000 mi Mercedes Benz should have covered this issues under their Good Will system. Every dealer has access to that. But they didn’t. Never buying a Mercedes again. Prices are high, reliability is very low once warranty expires.