The G-Class is at its core a nearly 40-year-old military vehicle that's been gradually metamorphosed into a luxury vehicle. Ultimately these mutations have resulted in something that's optimized for neither luxury nor off-road adventure. The G-Class is hilariously hard to get into and out of, steering inputs are met with indifference, and the usefulness of its cargo and storage areas is limited.

Yet this iconic truck has experienced a boost in popularity in recent years that has defied logic. In European markets the G-Class is offered in a somewhat rational configuration with a diesel engine and tires with taller sidewalls. There, you could reasonably take a G-Class off-road and expect it to perform admirably, what with its full complement of locking differentials, high ground clearance, and steep approach and departure angles.

Here in the U.S., however, the G-Class offsets these purpose-driven attributes for the trappings of a luxury vehicle — powerful engines that demand plenty of fuel, relatively low-profile all-season tires (and high-performance summer tires on AMG variants!), acres of leather and precariously low-hanging exhaust pipes. AMG variants offer more power but only modest increases in swiftness. The G-Class is dripping with character but finds itself in a no-man's land of compromise. Maybe that's part of its appeal, twisted though it may be.

Trim levels & features

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a five-passenger SUV that is offered in four trim levels: G550, AMG G63, AMG G65 and G550 4x4² (as in "squared"). All versions are equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission, live axles at both ends, full-time four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case and three locking differentials, and they can tow up to 7,000 pounds. The G550 is entry-level only in a relative sense. It's extremely well-equipped — beyond its prodigious drivetrain hardware, it has leather-upholstered 10-way power-adjustable and heated seats, heated backseats, power-folding and heated mirrors, adaptive cruise, dual-zone climate control, navigation and premium audio. It's equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (416 horsepower, 450 pound-feet of torque).

Stepping up to the AMG G63 nets you a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 (563 hp, 561 lb-ft of torque), 20-inch wheels, larger brakes and a performance-tuned suspension. It also grants access to the AMG Performance Studio, whereby near-endless customization is available. The next step in the G-Class lineup goes from merely silly to truly absurd: the AMG G65, which slots in a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 (621 hp, 738 lb-ft of torque) and adds 21-inch wheels and revised upholstery.

Then there's the G550 4x4², for which words do not do justice. This has the 4.0-liter V8 but swaps the standard axles for portal axles, which dramatically increase ground clearance. It also adds 22-inch wheels, larger-diameter tires, twin coilover-damper assemblies at each wheel, wider fender flares and skid plates.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG (5.5L twin-turbo V8; 4x4; 7-speed automatic).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current G-Class has received only minor, mostly cosmetic revisions and the addition of the G550 4x4² trim level. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's G-Class.

Driving

2.0

The G63's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ton of power; unfortunately, it's very hard to actually drive this thing. Steering is comically bad, handling is worse, and thanks to high-performance tires and silly exhaust placement, it's a liability off-road.

Acceleration

2.5

The 563-horsepower G63 gets out of its own way better than anything this shape should (0-60 mph takes 5.3 seconds). The seven-speed automatic shifts quickly, but the steering gets light and the G becomes hard to control at wide-open throttle. What a noise, though!

Braking

2.5

Tons of nosedive and a strong pull left, but a pretty good stopping distance of only 120 feet from 60 mph. The brakes are very touchy, which makes for lurchy stop-and-go driving and isn't great for off-road either.

Steering

1.0

The steering constantly reminds you that this is a nearly 40-year-old military truck with working roots. The steering is terribly vague with seemingly random results. It also fails to center, causing constant, abnormal extra steering inputs.

Handling

1.0

Thanks to seriously aggressive stability control that you'll encounter every day, the G63 is almost foolproof. It's also slow, ponderous and top-heavy, and every body motion is grossly exaggerated.

Drivability

1.0

Twitchy brakes, tractor steering, tons of power and a mile of body roll make for an exciting but not necessarily good driving experience.

Off-road

2.5

What should be a strong point for the G-Class isn't. Summer performance tires, touchy brakes, exposed catalytic converters and side-mounted exhaust in the crush zone add up to a vehicle that's more suited for the country club than the Rubicon.

Comfort

2.0

When the G-Class was designed for the world's armies in the 1970s, comfort wasn't a priority, and it still isn't. Nevertheless, the G63 is a remarkably quiet place to spend time, and the front seats are well built and well contoured.

Seat comfort

2.0

The front seats themselves are actually quite nice. Lots of adjustment, good bolstering and nice leather. The rear seats are wide and featureless. Unfortunately, neither position really has enough legroom for humans of average height or taller.

Ride comfort

2.0

One of the bounciest, most active rides in memory. There's no impact harshness, but the springiness and lack of steering control make every road feel like a Disney ride. Fun, but not good.

Noise & vibration

5.0

Extremely quiet on the road. Minimal wind noise. No road noise. Near total isolation.

Interior

1.0

The G63's interior has a new display screen, a user-friendly tech interface and a host of other features, but that still doesn't fix the fact that there's no space. Even average-sized drivers don't fit well, it's hard to climb into, there's no lateral space and the back seats are worse.

Ease of use

3.0

With the caveat that the seating position puts you a little too close to stuff, the ergonomics of the G are actually quite good. Stalks and switches are well labeled and placed where you expect them to be, the tech interface is easy to use, and the big-dial HVAC switches are great.

Getting in/getting out

1.0

It's a huge step up into a relatively small seat. You need to be active and flexible to get into this vehicle. Getting out is just as bad. Miss the skinny step, and you're overextended and on the ground. May explain why we see so many parked at yoga classes.

Roominess

1.0

There's lots of headroom but no space for your arms, and the seats don't slide back far enough for even average-height drivers. The steering wheel and windscreen are always very close. The backseats are compromised in the same ways but have no adjustability.

Visibility

5.0

The seating position is compromised for this reason: Forward visibility is exceptional. You can see the front corners and know where the tires are. The rearview camera and sonar make the G easy to park anywhere.

Quality

3.0

Build quality on the G63 is quite good, but you'd expect that from something this expensive. Panel gaps are big but even. The doors shut with a pleasing thunk.

Utility

2.5

Surprisingly subpar cargo area and cabin storage. The cargo area is tall, but the backseat leaves a large step when folded and doesn't fold horizontally. Awkward cabin storage, though there is a smattering of it.

Small-item storage

2.5

No real front cupholder to speak of — one is behind you; the other a weird mesh pouch. The glovebox barely holds our logbook. Inconvenient door pockets. The center console bin is narrow and deep.

Cargo space

2.5

With the rear seats raised, 40.3 cubic feet of space is dead-flat and offers handy tie-downs. The seats flop forward, but they crash into the front seats doing so. Not terribly useful.

Top consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

2 reviews

2017 G550 Nightmare

julianfrancishill@gmail.com,07/19/2017

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.

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Features & Specs

MSRP

$122,400

MPG

13 city / 14 hwy

Seats 5

7-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

416 hp @ 5250 rpm

MSRP

$141,400

MPG

12 city / 14 hwy

Seats 5

7-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

563 hp @ 5500 rpm

MSRP

$220,400

MPG

11 city / 13 hwy

Seats 5

7-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

621 hp @ 5000 rpm

MSRP

$225,000

MPG

11 city / 11 hwy

Seats 5

7-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

416 hp @ 5250 rpm

See all 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV features & specs

Safety

Our experts’ favorite G-Class safety features:

Mbrace2 Emergency Telematics: Includes automatic collision notification, an emergency response button, stolen vehicle location, and remote locking and unlocking.
Blind-Spot Assist: Provides a visual cue if a car is traveling in an adjacent lane and sounds an auditory alarm if you switch on the turn signal.
Parking Assist: Provides visual and auditory indications of parking distance to cars or objects located in front and rear.

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More about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has maintained largely the same shape for decades, and it's become an iconic profile. There's no mistaking a G-Class on the road, and the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is no exception.

The designers who first worked on the G-Class, which was initially built as a variant of a European military service nearly a half-century ago, had no inkling of the cultlike following this midsize luxury SUV would develop decades later among civilians in certain affluent corners of the U.S. — where it’s also referred to as the Geländewagen by those in the know.

The result is a unique vehicle: a high-riding off-roader loaded with luxury and gifted with massive power. In the end, the G-Class doesn't excel at either on- or off-road performance. Of course, its appeal doesn't lie in its capabilities but its impressive extremes — a fact Mercedes-Benz understands very well.

The new-for-2017 G550 4x4² is a perfect example of the G-Class' appeal. It's been raised even higher thanks to a reworked suspension, and given skid plates, larger tires, a roaring, quad-tip side-exit exhaust and a twin-turbo V8. It's the G-Class, only bigger.

Two AMG versions of the G-Class are also available. The AMG G 63 and AMG G 65 are definitely road-going vehicles, with sticky tires with low sidewalls. The former's 563-hp twin-turbocharged V8 and the latter's 621-hp twin-turbo V12 might be thought of as the poster children for automotive overkill. But overkill is what the G-Class is meant to do. EPA fuel economy estimates are about what you'd expect, with the entry-level G550 rated at 13 mpg combined (13 city/14 highway) and the fire-breathing AMG G 65 returning 12 mpg combined (11 city/13 highway).

The G-Class passenger cabin is nicely turned out in top-quality leather upholstery and wood trim. It's also a surprisingly quiet place, save for those times you decide to turn all those AMG-produced horses loose to gallop freely. It also features a user-friendly technology interface and well-sized functional knobs for the climate control system.

This is an old vehicle underneath, having mostly carried over for 40 years, which shows through in handling and interior space. The G-Class design is known for being difficult to get into and out of, for starters. Once inside, both front and rear seat passengers of anything more than average height are bound to feel crowded. There's not even as much cargo room as you might expect in an SUV that makes such a great pretense out of its practicality. The entry-level G550 will tow a 7,000-pound trailer, which is at least some concession to utility.

Ultimately, the G-Class is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, but either way it's undeniably eye-catching, and Edmunds can help you find the right 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class for you.

2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV Overview

What do people think of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 G-Class SUV 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 G-Class SUV.

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV and all model years in our database. Our rich analysis includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 G-Class SUV featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Read our full review of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV here.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV Listings and Inventory

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Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including all models of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV and all available trim types. Rich, trim-level features & specs and options data tracked for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV include (but are not limited to): MSRP, available incentives and deals, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (interior and exterior color, upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, cruise control, parking assistance, lane sensing, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy and MPG (city, highway, and combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (interior cabin space, vehicle length and width, seating capacity, cargo space). Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds expert review, safety rating, and color.

Should I lease or buy a 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

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2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV

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Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

Trim levels & features

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Off-road

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Features & Specs

Safety

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