2019 Mercedes G-Class Unveiled
When Mercedes-Benz released the G-Wagen back in 1979, no one could have predicted it would eventually become a pop-culture icon garnering a cult following. Mercedes has now sold more than 300,000 of these G-Wagen’s, now known as the G-Class. Throughout the years, it has seen continuous improvement from safety and comfort, to handling and technology.
One thing that hasn’t changed much has been the boxy exterior shape of the vehicle. This new G-Class retains much of the previous icon. You can still hear the click of the doors when closing, as well as the push-button door opening on the exterior handle. The spare tire is still hung on the outside of the rear door.
This is where many of the comparisons end though. New for 2019, the G-Class is longer and wider, measuring an extra 2.1 inches from stem to stem. It is also 4.8 inches thicker in the middle. You also get LED headlights as standard.
Inside, you can tell Mercedes has engineered the G-Class for the 21st century. Upon opening the front doors, you are welcomed with ultra-high quality interior materials, as well a dual 12.3-inch display digital cockpit. The famous differential lock switches are still placed in the middle of the cabin. The passenger grab bar on the dash is nicely retained.
For those wishing for a little more luxury, you can tack on an optional Active Multi-contour Seat Package that adds additional power adjustments, massage, ventilation, and rapid heating functions.
The 2019 G-Class will come to the US market as a G550. For this, you get a carryover 4.0-liter V8 engine making 416 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft of torque. Mercedes has paired this engine with their new quicker shifting 9-speed automatic transmission that we have been seeing deployed in much of their newer models. The G-Class has also dropped about 375 pounds of weight.
You can control all of that power through the Mercedes Dynamic Select driving modes. On this model, you can choose between Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual. There is also a special G-Mode that is activated when the driver engages 4-wheel-drive Low or one of the three differential locks. G-Mode adjusts throttle responses, steering sensitivity, and transmission for off-roading capability.
Mercedes-AMG helped develop a new double-wishbone front and solid axle rear suspension. It retains its ladder-frame construction, but Mercedes obtains the weight savings on the truck through use of different high-strength steels and aluminum.
Handling has been improved with a front suspension that has been fortified by a strut tower brace for greater rigidity, and the suspension components have been directly mounted to the frame. This yields 10.6 inches of front ground clearance. The rear suspension has four trailing arms on each side, plus a Panhard rod, for extra comfort. The rear has 9.5 inches of ground clearance. These changes all support better off-road handling, but it should also make for a more enjoyable on-road driving experience.
Pricing has not yet been announced (the previous models are priced around $125,000), but the new 2019 G-Class is expected to arrive in showrooms in late 2018. Time to look under those seat cushions for extra coin!
