There are only a few automobiles in the marketplace which have an indestructible picture to it, one so robust {that a} cult following builds and lives on for generations. The G-Wagon is a kind of automobiles.
We not too long ago received our arms on a 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 for per week lengthy evaluate. We’re greater than accustomed to the outside enchantment of it, its timeless model, and the historical past of its origins as a army transport. We might study it on the freeways of OC, the streets of LA and even a little bit of off-road grime monitor until the cows come dwelling. What we are able to’t do nonetheless is act like we’ve ever owned one, or specific the sensation of being a part of a cult following for one.
Due to this, we requested a couple of of our buddies who at present or beforehand owned one to concentrate on three core points of G-Wagon possession: the design, the performance, and the drive. They guided this evaluate, and we responded on what our expertise of the 2025 iteration felt like based mostly on their path. Is the brand new one only a trendy remake of what made the G-class so nice, or is it a far cry from the unique?
The Design
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“The G-Wagon’s boxy design has develop into the signature component of the G-Class. The design to me prioritizes utility and area over aerodynamics.” – Tim Mar, Social Media Supervisor at Hoonigan, 2000 Mercedes-Benz G 500.
That is maybe the obvious purpose most customers flip to the G-Wagon – its allure is simple, its model is known, and its form is eternally cemented into the minds of the automotive world.
Has this modified with the W465? Largely: no. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 nonetheless holds the boxy form, angular fenders, militant design cues and back-to-basics format of lights and alerts. Nothing really totally different from the sooner iterations fortunately, nonetheless the whole lot is noticeably bigger and stouter.
Its sq. stature is due to a width and top that’s proportionally the identical: roughly 6 and a half ft each vast and excessive. Its size nonetheless is what’s a good departure from its earlier siblings – the 2025 mannequin with its spare tire container on the rear measure simply over 16 ft lengthy, almost a full foot longer than the W461 that Tim owns. This interprets not solely onto the street, however inside as nicely, nonetheless occupants throughout our evaluate interval said the additional foot wasn’t utterly obvious throughout the cabin. As time goes by, exterior design components additionally give strategy to a much bigger, extra expansive search for the Geländewagen, such because the now-20” wheels, the extra-large diameter quad facet exhaust pipes, a gaping entrance fascia grille and others.
Total nonetheless, we’re pleased to report the design has not been sacrificed with the present Gs. What and love – the G-Wagon’s visible identification – is undamaged.
The Performance
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“I exploit mine as my every day for work and low runs; tremendous purposeful, numerous area within the again for my digicam tools. I plan on bringing it on off-road adventures – it’s an off-road king in any case.” – Nick Sims, skilled videographer, 2003 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG.
We needed to sort out what the G-Wagon was constructed for – utility. Our buddies unanimously agreed they bought their second hand G-classes once they wanted its hauling potential, having met their matches of their sports activities automobiles and sedans years in the past. Once more, fortunately, the 2025 G 63 didn’t disappoint… for probably the most half.
Seating for 4 is loads, and all occupants thereafter could be in luxurious consolation with heated seats, separate controls and even massagers up entrance. The rear tailgate trunk whereas permitting for a good quantity of stowage within the type of groceries and baggage comes within the type of a tall vertical capability somewhat than one thing really boxy. Chalk this as much as seat configuration and the G-class’s inherit field aesthetic. No worries – fold the rear seats down (sadly they don’t go absolutely flat) and also you’ll have nearly 70 cubic ft of storage.
Additionally don’t take without any consideration how inventive you will get along with your misshaped cargo, because the sq. form of the automobile will enable for skis, golf baggage, even hockey sticks and so forth. – something can match so so long as your entrance occupants don’t thoughts a little bit of contorting. Our pal was even capable of transport his a complete Harvey Probber loveseat with ease, as soon as it was realistically minimize in half.
Two for 2 – you may nonetheless persuade your home associate that the G-class nonetheless excels to select up the children from soccer apply. However from right here, issues begin to change for the brand new one.
The Drive
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“One of the simplest ways to explain the drive: it was initially a army car. From the metal door latches to the entrance passenger seize bar, the whole lot exudes ruggedness. You hear and really feel each little bit of the street. That’s precisely what you join, and I completely like it.” – Nick Sisombath, founding father of Collegium, 2004 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG.
Let’s handle the elephant within the room – the 2025 AMG G 63 is formally hybrid. Its 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is assisted with a 48-volt electrical motor. This implies the G 63 is granted a complete of 577 horsepower and a whopping 627 lb-ft of torque – the gentle hybrid system is in assist of efficiency, not effectivity.
Our buddies claimed that they prized the G-class’s naturally-aspirated engines, preferring purity over supercharging. So what does that say about one thing as “new-aged” as a hybrid electrical motor, if compelled induction is already an excessive amount of of a compromise? Does it nonetheless really feel “army” and uncooked, or does the posh and electrification give it a complete new character?
The electrical motor works with the car’s torque supply at decrease RPMs, offering a extra instant and deliberate shove when the foot hits the ground. The system is definitely fairly stealthy – we needed to make point out of the hybridization earlier than anybody even knew, and that’s an awesome factor. Nothing concerning the system screams EV, and the sound and urgency of a twin-turbo V8 is just not misplaced within the combine. On the finish of the day, nobody will actually care the place the division of 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque is coming from, and the ability nonetheless feels incredible.
When it comes to ruggedness nonetheless, we’re unhappy to say that every one of it’s gone on this 2025 mannequin. It has nothing to do with our model new, <2000 mile press automobile instance being in tip-top form in comparison with our buddies' 20+ yr previous ones; it is extra in order that the posh of a G-Wagon is now extra prevalent than ever earlier than. Distinctive leather-based contact factors and extraordinary trip high quality is paired with world-class audio, a steering wheel you may flip with one finger, Minority Report-wrapping digital infotainment display screen and massaging seats – all of which don’t convey “rugged.” There’s all the time been a stereotype of the G-Wagon, that the one off-road it’ll ever do is on the garden on the equestrian membership, and fairly frankly the newest fashions dwell as much as this picture.
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However, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 continues to be the G everyone knows, with refinement and an inevitable modernization to its character. Wouldn’t it deter anybody who needed a G-class from chasing after one? Not in our thoughts. For those who ignore the engine and refined luxurious inside, the issues that matter probably the most – the boxy exterior, on a regular basis performance, ultra-satisfying financial institution vault-esque door closures – are nonetheless there, and that’s what the cult of GELÄNDEWAGEN is all about.
