First Drive G 580: Mercedes-Benz electrifies its iconic 4×4

Mercedes-Benz has achieved the unthinkable; it has created an all-electric G-Class luxury 4×4 SUV, which is more capable off-road than its ICE siblings.

Incidentally, it has also beaten the new all-electric Range Rover to market in New Zealand.

Conceived in the late 1970s, the Geländewagen (cross-country vehicle) was a utilitarian off-road capable vehicle for civilian and military use. It has been hand-built at the Magna Steyr production facility in Graz, Austria, since 1979.  

For more than 46 years, the G-Class has relied on petrol or diesel engines, but the introduction of the G 580 adds another battery electric vehicle to the Mercedes-Benz range of EQ models.

Power and performance

The new G 580 has a 116-kilowatt-hour traction battery, which powers the four electric motors, one at each wheel. Together, they produce 432kW of power and 1164Nm of torque. 

Each motor offers a 2-speed transmission with a low-range gear reduction for off-road driving. The G580 is the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to provide single-wheel drive if necessary, enabling its unique G-Turn and G-Steer functions.

For those drivers who miss the sound of an ICE engine, Mercedes-Benz has equipped the G580 with G-Roar. The Burmester speakers can transmit a computer-generated engine roar into the cabin, mimicking the V8 engine of the G 63.

The manufacturer says the G580 will dispatch zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. That’s not bad for a vehicle with a three-tonne tare weight before you add people and luggage. The payload capacity is 410kg, and don’t ask about the towing capacity because it’s not an option with the G580. The gross vehicle mass is 3500kg, according to Mercedes-Benz.

The G580 is further distinguished from its ICE siblings with a rear De Dion-style axle, while the independent front double wishbone suspension has been revised for electric drive.

It offers a 250-mm ride height and an 850-mm wading depth through water, 150mm more than the G 63 S.

Mercedes-Benz has developed a 60 kg carbon composite underbody protection cover that is 26 mm thick and designed to protect the electric drive train from damage.

According to Mercedes-Benz, the composite underbody protection cover is so strong that a 50mm-by-50mm square portion will easily accommodate the entire weight of the vehicle, should you come unstuck when off-road.

Price and specification

Mercedes-Benz New Zealand is launching the limited-production Edition One version of the G580, priced at $276,000. This will be followed by the ‘standard’ version, retailing for $231,400.

The Edition One has five colour options: South Sea Blue Magno, Classic Grey Uni, Opalite White Magno, Opalite White Bright or the Obsidian Black Metallic.

Based on the AMG line, visual highlights include blue brake callipers at the front and rear and inserts in the exterior protective strips in blue. Exterior elements include black 20-inch rims and black door handles. 

The Edition One also includes a new design box on the rear door but no spare wheel, an issue the local distributor says it will address for those customers requiring one.

The interior is upholstered in Nappa leather in silver pearl/black and includes carbon trim elements with blue accents and stitching. Another unique feature of Edition One is the combination of the Superior Line elements with the sporty ‘Loop design’ of the Exclusive Line upholstery.

Driving impressions

The G580’s performance is exhilarating for a three-tonne 4×4 SUV. Thanks to the technology Mercedes-Benz has employed, it is also easily harnessed so that even a complete novice can drive off-road safely and controlled.

Following the stock trail on a sheep and beef farm allowed us to test the three crawl mode functions up and downhill, the G-Steering, and the G-Turn functions.

The G-Turn function is handy if a driver finds themselves in a tight spot and cannot execute a three-point turn off-road. It enables the left and right wheels to spin in opposite directions, allowing the vehicle to perform a complete 360-degree turn on the spot when encountering loose or unpaved surfaces.

Similarly, G-Steering delivers manoeuvrability in tight spots. The wheels turn at different speeds and invoke slight oversteer depending on the situation, allowing a significantly smaller turning circle.

The three-speed offroad crawl function lets the driver maintain complete vehicle control while navigating challenging terrain. Like other G-Class vehicles, the G 580 can traverse 45-degree slopes (both forward and reverse) and drive along 35-degree angles.

The electric G-Wagen exceeded our expectations, but sadly, we think most owners will never fully explore its off-road capability. That’s a real shame because this car is equally at home in the dirt as on the tarmac.