For those who prefer grinding gravel and bounding over rocks while surrounded by luxurious Nappa leather – and can't imagine emitting even a single molecule of carbon dioxide while doing so – the all-electric Mercedes G-Wagen is for you.
The expensive, boxy symbol is now a status symbol thanks to a 116 kWh battery and an all-electric drivetrain, complete with four individually controlled motors with a total maximum output of 432 kW – or the equivalent of around 580 hp – and peak torque of 1,164 Nm.
“I recently joked that it looks like a Mercedes Birkin bag,” said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz. Decryption The podcast returns in 2022. “Everyone wants one, and the wait time is really long. “It may even be the most popular car in our portfolio.”
But with great power comes great cost. A Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ (an uncomfortable name for an exotic electric car, but I'll allow it) will do the trick. Begins At a price of 142,621.50 euros (152,184.27 US dollars), while the price of the First Edition reaches 192,524.15 euros (205,432.89 US dollars). That's a premium over gas models, which typically start around $143,000. At launch, the Edition One will be exclusive to the US market and will arrive in dealers in the second half of 2024.
The G 580, or EQG if you will, will be built on a ladder frame concept, which the automaker says is essential for off-roading. As with its gas-powered counterparts, the ladder frame includes an independent front suspension with double wishbones, as well as a newly developed solid rear axle to provide a lower center of gravity. The battery will push the EQG to an estimated WLTP range of 473 kilometers (293 miles), which is likely to be even less when relying on the less optimistic EPA rating.
The electric G-Wagen will come with a whole cavalcade of stylish circus tricks, including a tank spin (which Mercedes calls a G-Turn) for a more pronounced spin on the axle. G-Turn will operate on unpaved roads and trails and at low speeds only. The intelligent three-speed off-road crawl function will keep the electric SUV at the ideal speed while traveling on uneven surfaces. Mercedes boasts that the EQG will remain stable on slopes of up to 35 degrees and has a maximum crossing depth of 850 mm (33 inches).
Of course, all that off-roading requires extra protection for the battery, which is stored in the car's floor for its low center of gravity. Every grain of gravel represents a potential hazard when you're walking around with a two-level 216-cell lithium-ion battery mounted in 12 unit cells between three cooling levels under your feet.
The company says that the skid plate under the body, which is unique to the electric G-Class, is made of a “smart material mix” that includes carbon, which “increases rigidity compared to alternatives made of steel or aluminum.” It also ensures long-lasting corrosion protection and saves weight. The plate is 26 mm thick, weighs 57.6 kg, and is attached to the ladder frame with more than 50 steel nails.
In what is becoming increasingly normal with new electric cars, Mercedes decided to give its G-Wagen electric motor a fake sound, which is branded G-Roar. Inspired by the Gas range's “emotional V8 sounds”, the G-Roar will use external speakers to produce a sound that mimics the “deep bass and resonant tones” of its gas-sipping sibling. The sounds can change when you switch between driving modes: Comfort produces a more restrained pseudo-engine noise, while Sport will hit you directly in the emotions (Mercedes also describes it as “emotional”).
Even with an emphasis on off-roading more than performance, the EQ-equipped G 580 (no, it's still uncomfortable, back to EQG) is no slouch on pavement. The electric SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and its top speed will be electronically limited to 180 km/h (or 112 mph).
The exterior appearance is almost identical to current model gas-powered G-Wagens. You get illuminated accents on the grille, which can also be replaced with an optional blacked-out front panel. The hood is slightly raised, and the rear wheel wells include air curtains to improve aerodynamic performance. There's also new A-pillar cladding and a roof spoiler lip. But otherwise, it would be difficult to choose an electric car within the entire G-Class lineup.
The rear-mounted design box looks perfect for a spare tire, but open it and – surprise! -It's charging cables and other optional things, like snow chains. Of course, if you want to be traditional, you can certainly store your spare tire there. No judgement.
Inside, the electric G-Wagen sticks to what works, keeping passengers gripped and surrounding everything in carbon fibre. There are plenty of physical buttons, and the air vents are pleasantly circular and tactile. The pedals are covered with raised spikes because, you know, they're meant for off-roading. The 12.3-inch digital display runs Mercedes' well-received MBUX infotainment system – but also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Rear seat passengers can enjoy a variety of media on their 11.6-inch touchscreens mounted on the back of the front seats. Content can be moved from the rear screen to the front screen – but video watching and web browsing are for pause mode only.
The electric G-Wagen debuted in concept form in 2021 and then again in 2022, though the company lacks clarity on production plans. (To compensate, Mercedes released a ridiculous promotional video set in a 1970s-era space opera with aliens.)
But since then, plenty of electric off-roaders have emerged, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, Hummer EV, and the Rivian R1T and R1S. Whether any of these vehicles actually spend a single second doing real off-road stuff—rather than picking up lawn fertilizer from The Home Depot—is entirely up for debate. The electric G-Wagen will likely be no different, as the boxy SUV has always been seen more frequently in the driveways of the wealthy than in the driveways of Moab.
However, the EQG is a sign that despite backing away from some of its early predictions about electric cars, Mercedes still recognizes that even its luxury status symbols will need to go electric.
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