I’m sitting in an electrical blue hyper-luxury automotive developed from a utilitarian army automobile, however outfitted with a supercar’s engine, and I’m fascinated by classes.
Most automobiles are comparatively much like their competitors. The variations are sufficient to make one purchaser desire the sporty dealing with of a Mazda3, whereas one other purchaser could love the reliability and resale worth of a Toyota Corolla. But the 2 are basically alike. They compete on the margins.
Just a tiny handful of automobiles are so completely distinctive that they don’t actually examine to anything. Take the 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 AMG, for example.
Sure, you may argue that there are different off-road-oriented high-performance luxurious SUVs. But not even a Range Rover from the model’s SV Bespoke customization store is really comparable.
This factor is an unholy mixture of rugged, luxurious, and brutally fast. And it’s completely distinctive. No one might mistake it for something however what it’s. It matches no single class.
That makes it straightforward to determine in order for you one. I spent per week driving the G 63 round Washington, D.C, and its suburbs, together with numerous freeway miles.
Which Trim Level
AMG is an in-house tuner store that builds high-performance variations of Mercedes-Benz automobiles.
Mercedes builds the G-Class in G 550, G 580 with EQ Technology (that’s Mercedes for “electrical”) and AMG G 63 variations. If you spring for the AMG, you’ll have loads of selections to make (it is available in 38 colours and with a alternative of 11 wheel designs).
The selections add up quick. My tester’s Hyper Blue Magno paint, for example, was beautiful and attention-grabbing, however added an astonishing $6,550 to the sticker value. See the window sticker within the gallery beneath for full particulars.
New 2025 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG G-Class Prices
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Retail Price
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Fair Purchase Price (92620)
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AMG G 63
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$187,250
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TBD
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Favorite Feature
Everything concerning the Mercedes-AMG G 63 feels substantial. The doorways shut with a heavy thunk. The locks click on into place with a satisfying ka-chink. It’s all so analog and deeply reassuring.
Most luxurious automobiles as of late do the whole lot for you – some even resist letting you shut the rear liftgate by your self, making it simpler to push a button and let the automotive transfer it electrically than to close the door your self. The G-Wagon isn’t like that.
The contact surfaces really feel weighty and everlasting. This is just not quick trend. It’s the automotive equal of a dear coat that can look higher after 5 onerous winters than it did on the rack.
In 2025, many automobiles really feel stuffed with shiny high-tech gimmicks that can put on out their welcome or could also be out of date by the point the guarantee ends. The G-Wagon feels constructed to endure.
What It’s Like to Drive
The AMG G 63 has the bones of a rugged off-roader, however a 577-horsepower twin-turbo V8 worthy of the drag strip. It’s one of many solely automobiles I’ve ever pushed with each a observe mode and a number of off-road modes for various terrains.
That a lot functionality in a single automobile feels surprisingly tame except you spur it a bit of. In day-to-day driving, the G 63 is nice and informal. But set it into Dynamic mode, bounce from zero to 60 mph in slightly below 4 seconds in a tall, blocky SUV, and your senses really feel scrambled for a second.
But it’s a bit like an old-school muscle automotive – numerous energy with out numerous finesse. The present era has an impartial entrance suspension relatively than the stable entrance axle of prior years. That prevents it from feeling fully just like the tall, tippy field it appears like. But this isn’t a automotive you throw right into a nook.
Steering is barely heavy, however solely to a level that feels applicable to the scale. Braking is agency for such a heavy automobile.
I didn’t get to take the G off-road, the place its full-time 4-wheel drive is meant to shine greatest.
Interior Comfort and Technology
The AMG G 63 combines utilitarian operate and luxurious finishes in distinctive methods. The dashboard is upright and sq. in a approach that implies its army background – the primary G-Wagons had been provided on the market to militaries.
Yet that utilitarian operate is wrapped in quilted leather-based, lending the automotive an ultra-luxury really feel. The mixture calls to thoughts bespoke marketing campaign furnishings, Coach leather-based duffle luggage, and different luxurious items constructed to faux slumming it.
The boxy confines and tall greenhouse additionally create a sense of immense area. It’s cliché to notice that this factor is in style with NBA gamers, however it’s, as a result of they match.
Modern applied sciences are right here, in fact. A 12-inch digital instrument panel and matching central touchscreen run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. A Burmester 3D encompass sound system is very customizable and sounds pretty from each seating place.
The switchgear is satisfying. In a 12 months when touch-capacitive controls and touchscreens are all the fashion, the machined metallic of the G 63’s HVAC controls appears like weighty luxurious. A trackpad constructed into the middle console is difficult to make use of successfully, however there are different methods to manage the whole lot it operates.
Limitations
Some buyers can have accessibility considerations with the G-Class. It’s constructed on a big body, and we’d prefer to see seize handles mounted the place shorter drivers might use them simply when climbing in. Permanent operating boards are fairly slim and should not present ample step floor for some.
The very solidity of the automobile, which is what I beloved about it most, might show a problem for some. The side-opening rear hatch is kind of heavy, carrying a spare tire in a metallic holder, and requires a agency slam to shut.
Key Considerations
If you desire a high-luxe SUV with wonderful 4-wheel drive (4WD) however don’t just like the boxy model and utilitarian character of the G-Class, take into account the Land Rover Range Rover. The Lexus GX is equally a mountain goat off-road and lots luxurious for many, however not almost as unique because the one-of-a-kind G-Wagon.
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