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VIDEO | Mercedes G580 Electric: Is It Still a True G-Class?
Check out our video review of the ell-electric new Mercedes G-Wagen
Words by: Mark Nichol
Published on 19 February 2025 | 0 min read
You know the G-Class, right? "THE G-WAGEN!" (It’s essential to shout the name while also doing that Ali-G wrist flick thing). If you don't know, it's a two-and-a-half-tonne box of pure intimidation, powered by a V12 or V8 petrol engine and seemingly designed specifically to take premier league footballers to wherever premier league footballers go.
So with ‘sustainability’ being such a buzzword these days, and a ban on cars that burn fuel just around the corner, how come a brand-new G-Class has turned up? It’s gone electric. Of course it has. (Well... one of them has.) It’s still dichotomously old school, though. It uses a separate ladder chassis like an old Land Rover or an Ineos Grenadier because that's still the best way to build a hardcore off-roader, but then it shoehorns four electric motors in, for a near 600 horsepower total. It therefore gets to 62mph in 4.7 seconds. It also has a sound emulator called “G-Roar” (ugh) that’s supposed to emulate a V8 engine. And it can literally spin on the spot. Good party trick, that. An extremely exciting zero emissions G-Wagen for the electric age, then? We’ll leave Rory to answer that. But one thing to know from the off is that the massive battery and all those motors make for a 3.2-tonne car. That's insane. A Range Rover Evoque with another Range Rover Evoque strapped on top of it, basically. The G-Class was never light, but the electric version's lardy kerb weight has certainly had an impact - and in at least one surprising way. So, click play above for Rory’s take on the G580 Electric. And don’t forget to hit subscribe if you’re not already a subscriber. Assuming you want to, obviously.
So with ‘sustainability’ being such a buzzword these days, and a ban on cars that burn fuel just around the corner, how come a brand-new G-Class has turned up? It’s gone electric. Of course it has. (Well... one of them has.) It’s still dichotomously old school, though. It uses a separate ladder chassis like an old Land Rover or an Ineos Grenadier because that's still the best way to build a hardcore off-roader, but then it shoehorns four electric motors in, for a near 600 horsepower total. It therefore gets to 62mph in 4.7 seconds. It also has a sound emulator called “G-Roar” (ugh) that’s supposed to emulate a V8 engine. And it can literally spin on the spot. Good party trick, that. An extremely exciting zero emissions G-Wagen for the electric age, then? We’ll leave Rory to answer that. But one thing to know from the off is that the massive battery and all those motors make for a 3.2-tonne car. That's insane. A Range Rover Evoque with another Range Rover Evoque strapped on top of it, basically. The G-Class was never light, but the electric version's lardy kerb weight has certainly had an impact - and in at least one surprising way. So, click play above for Rory’s take on the G580 Electric. And don’t forget to hit subscribe if you’re not already a subscriber. Assuming you want to, obviously.