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Video: Mercedes G-Wagen vs. Paramount MBOMBE 4 Off-Road Showdown
Rory & Alex travel to South Africa to test the new Mercedes G400D against the absolutely enormous Mbombe 4 from Paramount Group. Can the 'little' G topple the giant Mbombe?
Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Published on 6 February 2024 | 0 min read
Our team took two titanic off-roaders into the heart of South Africa, pitting the Mercedes G-Wagen against the Paramount MBOMBE 4 over a diverse range of terrain to test their mettle.
Can the MBOMBE 4 beat the G-Wagen in a straight race? How will they both fare in one of our biggest challenges to date, namely towing a 27-tonne aircraft? Watch the full video to find out, and learn more about the competitors below.
Can the MBOMBE 4 beat the G-Wagen in a straight race? How will they both fare in one of our biggest challenges to date, namely towing a 27-tonne aircraft? Watch the full video to find out, and learn more about the competitors below.
Paramount MBOMBE 4
The Paramount MBOMBE 4 is an armoured personnel carrier designed by South Africa's Paramount Group, a global aerospace and technology company focusing on defence, security and peacekeeping.
The MBOMBE 4 is not a simple vehicle; it's a four-wheeled armoured fortress designed to transport troops through extreme environments. The 20-inch wheels tower higher than the bonnet of the G-Wagen, and the vehicle is decked out with bulletproof glass, armoured wing mirrors, reinforced metal doors, and specialised features like water taps for wilderness survival. The 8.9-litre, straight-six turbodiesel engine delivers 450 horsepower – an off-road monster engineered for up to eight people to take on the wilderness. Or anything else.
The MBOMBE 4 is not a simple vehicle; it's a four-wheeled armoured fortress designed to transport troops through extreme environments. The 20-inch wheels tower higher than the bonnet of the G-Wagen, and the vehicle is decked out with bulletproof glass, armoured wing mirrors, reinforced metal doors, and specialised features like water taps for wilderness survival. The 8.9-litre, straight-six turbodiesel engine delivers 450 horsepower – an off-road monster engineered for up to eight people to take on the wilderness. Or anything else.
Mercedes G-Wagen
The Mercedes G-Wagen, while also originally developed as a military off-roader, meanwhile offers a more real-world blend of luxury and performance in a relatively more compact package.
With a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder engine boasting 326 horsepower and 20-inch twin spoke alloy wheels, the G-Wagen still offers a robust off-road experience, but it balances performance with comfort. A lavish interior includes a widescreen cockpit, privacy glass, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof. Unlike the MBOMBE 4, which is built for military purposes, the G-Wagen caters to broader audience, from celebrities to regular school-run SUV drivers, all of whom can take comfort in its off-road abilities, even if they rarely (if ever) get mud on the tyres themselves. Two very different off-roaders in a head-to-head: the G-Wagen, with its luxurious yet performance-oriented design, and the MBOMBE 4, with its military-grade features and raw power. Find out how they fare against one another, and whether the 'little' G can topple the giant MBOMBE. Watch the full film on YouTube, and subscribe for more exclusive videos from Rory and the team.
With a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder engine boasting 326 horsepower and 20-inch twin spoke alloy wheels, the G-Wagen still offers a robust off-road experience, but it balances performance with comfort. A lavish interior includes a widescreen cockpit, privacy glass, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof. Unlike the MBOMBE 4, which is built for military purposes, the G-Wagen caters to broader audience, from celebrities to regular school-run SUV drivers, all of whom can take comfort in its off-road abilities, even if they rarely (if ever) get mud on the tyres themselves. Two very different off-roaders in a head-to-head: the G-Wagen, with its luxurious yet performance-oriented design, and the MBOMBE 4, with its military-grade features and raw power. Find out how they fare against one another, and whether the 'little' G can topple the giant MBOMBE. Watch the full film on YouTube, and subscribe for more exclusive videos from Rory and the team.