Mercedes-Benz G-Class review

Quite small, truth be told. Although the G-Class itself isn’t actually as big as you think. There’s still a quite upright feel – so you can still see those indicator lights on top of the front wings – a big Jesus handle on the dash in front of the passenger, and it’s still relatively tight for room in the back, the seating rather upright and pious. And no option to sit small ones in the boot.

The G580 doesn’t suffer in particular for space compared to the ICE variants either: just a 10mm rise in the boot floor, but nothing to write home about. Everything just seems very square. The windscreen is all but vertical, the driving position fairly pew-like but not uncomfortable. Even the boot is basically a cube. Just not as big a cube as you were expecting.

What about connectivity and screens?

This is probably where the biggest interior change lies, common across all of these next-generation G-Classes. There’s now a big 12.3-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash, complementing the driver’s information screen directly up front. Connectivity is good, ADAS all present and correct. Textures and materials are all still top-notch, though Mercedes’ light obsession with silver trim still irritates.

There’s a load of features, too. An ‘off-road cockpit’ that displays all the relevant functions (tyre pressures, inclination, compass, torque-to-wheel), that camera-based ‘transparent bonnet’ so you can see which rocks you're about to scrape over, off-road cruise control… everything you might need.

And the screens are clear, crisp and fast. Maybe a little bit grandiose, but we’ll take it. The MBUX system that’s familiar to most modern Mercedes owners is pretty good. And there’s some nice options like heated/cooled cupholders, a Burmester sound system and £3,495 rear-seat entertainment.

Anything else?

If you want to really pump up your G-Wagen price, you can basically have it trimmed by the Manufaktur Programme. Their paints start at £6,000, but beyond that paint of any colour (paint-to-sample) is possible, plus interior leather and colour, two-tones, stitching, trims and woods and technical fabrics, headliners, wheel rim designs and all sorts of things are all available, beyond MB’s basic ‘Night Package’ blackout options and the like.

And if you buy a G-Wagen, you have the option of picking it up from the factory in Graz and have a bash at the Experience Centre - which is basically a playground for G owners - before having your new G presented to you in a giant glass cube.