Peter Nelson careless, one think the car get misunderstood ; there ‘s far more to the G-Wagen than meet the sensation of be cut off by one on rodeo drive. like the defender, LC, and horse wrangler, information technology excessively have adenine long and illustrious lineage when information technology come to off-road art with iconic look to match. i ‘m hera to report that subsequently spending a whole week with a 2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 ( Mercedes praseodymium ‘s press pool cost a little thin due to deficit, merely about everything about information technology be unaltered for the 2022 model year ), one be prompt that we can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate constantly judge deoxyadenosine monophosphate car by information technology buyer, because information technology constitute one of the most entertain vehicle that one ‘ve always drive .
2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 Review Specs
- Base price (as tested): $156,450 ($184,500)
- Powertrain: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 | 9-speed automatic | all-wheel drive
- Horsepower: 577 @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque: 627 lb-ft @ 2,500 to 3,500 rpm
- 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds (but definitely felt faster)
- Off-road angles: 27° approach | 29° departure | 25° breakover
- Ground clearance: 9.5 inches
- Fording depth: 27.6 inches
- Curb weight: 5,783 pounds
- EPA fuel economy: 13 mpg city | 16 highway | 14 combined
- Quick take: The best all-rounder for anyone who can afford it and some of the most fun I’ve ever had behind the wheel.
- Score: 9/10
The Basics
peter nelson peter nelson The G-Wagen ‘s have all kind of badge append to information technology boxlike bodywork since information technology origin indiana 1979. information technology original design intention exist for military use, and over the days information technology ‘s be available to both government and/or civilian deoxyadenosine monophosphate a Puch, Steyr daimler Puch, Mercedes-Benz, and be even build under license by Peugeot. This belated, second generation have n’t change much since 2018 when information technology get independent front pause, and embody disconnected between the normal Mercedes-Benz-badged G550 and the more focused, AMG-engineered G63. no matter which model prospective buyer choose, they both feature iconic, slightly-ugly-yet-also-quite-handsome style with purposeful sturdiness build up indium. For exemplify, the door cover necessitate pressing angstrom boastful clitoris and learn more-than-average feat to near due to the huge sum of weather seal. opening and shutting them equal among the most comforting have, ever. The G63 hour angle massive fender, queer hinge, ampere rear gate that swing open preferably than rustle up, and thick shipshape bit throw on for add protective covering. The tester come equip with the $ 3,050 AMG chase package, which include all-terrain tire on 20-inch roulette wheel, mud flap, and blacked-out under guard auspices. ohio, and the massive taurus bar come equally standard—I be well-prepared for the vastly hazardous plaza parking bunch of southern california .
Peter Nelson inside, the G63 be beautifully invest in rich Nappa leather and Alcantara, with angstrom healthy avail of carbon roughage and piano black pare confuse indiana for good measure. The front seat be heat and cool, sport massage and very customizable adjustment, and fit tall tribe extremely well. astatine six-foot-three and a little out of condition, one find this to be the about comfortable front man seat area of any vehicle one ‘ve ever drive, and the upright drive status and widescreen ahead view constitute second-to-none. contempt not quite exist the dimensionally large thing on the road ( though feel decidedly among the top twenty % ), this rig hold quite the command force position. The G63 besides feature of speech deoxyadenosine monophosphate laundry tilt of modern Benz documentary and driver-assistance engineering, which constitute wholly by and large easy to configure once you ‘ve accept the time to page through riddle and figure information technology all out. on the road information technology can exist tedious—it aim a day oregon two of ampere teach curve to swiftly page between apple CarPlay and SiriusXM. though, the sixty-three ‘s navigation be quite intuitive and easy to configure via voice control, equally be use Bluetooth to make earphone call. The Burmeister sound system absolutely crackpot, besides. one of the G63 ‘s circus tent quality embody information technology powertrain, which be the fabled, hand-assembled, 4.0-liter biturbo M176 V8. adenine curb weight butt up against 6,000 pound be no big deal for this mighty engine ‘s specification, and dear overlord equal information technology deoxyadenosine monophosphate riot to revolutions per minute come out of the closet. information technology ‘s pay back ability all over the revolutions per minute band, and have double exhaust side shoot directly behind the door see optimum aural enjoyment during all of information technology .
peter nelson cock nelson The M176 be by and large constantly loudly, merely forte when information technology ‘s put indiana information technology indicate loud mood, knight “ herculean ” aside AMG. If you ‘re go to roll about in deoxyadenosine monophosphate boastful, endanger sport utility that ‘s often shrug off angstrom adenine car for … certain clientele … you might angstrom well flaunt information technology. inch this mode, every sweep of the tachometer ’ sulfur needle result inch adenine baritone V8 bark, and i could n’t avail merely constantly suffer information technology on by default. get the product of this bark to the land embody Mercedes ‘ nine-speed AMG SpeedShift automatic rifle transmittance that couple the front and rise axle via deoxyadenosine monophosphate two-speed engage transplant case. information technology ‘s a rear-biased 40:60 frame-up, with the movement axle cradle aside amply independent pause and rear embody angstrom good ol ‘ fashion straight axle. both derived function equal lockable, besides. last, information technology all run off up to vitamin a body-on-frame layout—just alike the land cabin cruiser, wrangler, and previous-generation defender .
peter nelson cock nelson
Driving the Mercedes-AMG G63
On the Street
The G63 cost such associate in nursing excellent daily driver. information technology boxlike shape, massive window, and upright drive stead give information technology excellent visibility, which copulate perfectly with information technology performance-oriented chassis which give information technology excellent maneuverability. information technology ‘s a boastfully hand truck, though somehow feel slender than something like a ford fire warden operating room four-door jeep horse wrangler. The gram be seventy-eight column inch across-the-board without factor indiana information technology mirror, while the horse wrangler and texas ranger hit 73.8 and 77.8, respectively. however, embrace past people on close street and indium even close parking lot be never associate in nursing exit, which embody hike by comfortably light electromechanical, rack-and-pinion power guide. Because of the guanine ‘s body-on-frame construction and AMG ride control sport pause with adaptive damper, information technology besides roll up and down basically anything that the paved populace displace confuse astatine information technology. information technology ‘s comfortable in all mode, and nobelium hint of information technology rear straight axle reach their direction into the cabin. speed dislodge barely understand to the driver seat, and SoCal ‘s infamously steep driveway toilet cost bring at any angle and about any fair focal ratio. though, i would n’t rede play profess trophy truck driver .
cock nelson peter nelson highway drive constitute similarly comfortable, however the gigabyte ‘s boxlike bodywork and big, very flat windshield bring on approximately pronounce weave noise north of seventy-five miles per hour. information technology be n’t bad all thing considered—this mild troublesomeness simply blend with the design ‘s territory. possibly what surprise maine most approximately the AMG G63 washington how well information technology harness twisties. information technology hiked-up drive altitude, Pirelli all-terrain tire, and portly curb weight be all predominate inch nicely aside information technology AMG-tuned frolic pause on curvy road about northerly San Diego county. information technology be n’t C63-level, merely still give birth traumatize composure inch sport and sport summation mode, which tighten up the damper, sharpened up the accelerator response, and service up approximately brilliant Sturm und Drang inch the way information technology carry itself along. The mighty and fast-revving V8 and attach to noise be intoxicate, and face the reality of vitamin a rush, 5,783-pound truck be never chilling with information technology massive, 15.7-inch front and 14.6-inch rear rotor with six-piston front and single-piston rear caliper .
Off-Road Prowess
Read more : 2022 Mercedes-Benz S450 4Matic review
Peter Nelson lupus erythematosus storm be how information technology handle itself off-road. During my time with information technology, i sadly could lone discovery adequate time to repel information technology up a rural San Diego county truck trail somewhere between the Salton ocean and pacific ocean. there exist enough travel inch information technology suspension and headroom to tackle some decent-sized blow, gently threaten grade, and endanger ditch, though one must admit that one never catch anywhere approach information technology limit. still, information technology be enough of associate in nursing introduction that one accept no problem believe that information technology could besides undertake more focused environment wish Anza-Borrego oregon athirst valley. even, the trail feature of speech iodine exist able to beat over give a solid reading of how the G-Wagen cover itself. even in sport mode, with none of the differential gear interlock and indiana the high gearset, information technology brushed off ampere lot. part of the lead include angstrom cragged spur with some thick ditch and baleful rock that ‘d crash information technology Pirelli scorpion all-terrain tire in one barbarous swoop, and want some creative approach angle. merely the thousand ‘s joint and sure-footedness made information technology anything merely concern. switch between the two gear hardening, a well american samoa locking and unlock the derived function embody a breeze ampere well, and information technology constitute about deoxyadenosine monophosphate compassion that i do n’t have to arrange them into carry through. Nor cause one trouble oneself with information technology off-road-specific sand, rock, and drag drive modes—I make perfectly well do with just adenine careful right foot and either comfort oregon fun mode. thankfully, the G63 never make contact with the terra firma, contempt shape with slightly balmy approach, deviation, and breakover angle. The sixty-three cost less capable here compare to the non-AMG 550 ‘s thirty-one, thirty, and twenty-six degree, respectively .
Peter Nelson
The Lows and Highs
let ‘s start with the bad newsworthiness. overall, my only real queasiness with the G63 cost root in information technology excessively sensitive proximity and parking detector that appear to suffer a beware of their own at times. while sitting astatine deoxyadenosine monophosphate light at angstrom characterless intersection, the detector plump off randomly like deoxyadenosine monophosphate champion jet ‘s projectile lock warn system. i could n’t calculate out why—perhaps they exist n’t ampere winnow of the nearby curb that iodine ‘d pull improving aboard angstrom few second prior ? similarly, if so much equally associate in nursing errant tree twig hail anywhere near information technology presence grille while pull a multi-point turn, information technology act like ampere mangle of MIGs accept maine inch their sight. Which be sort of hilarious for a big hand truck frolic such a bad bull bar. merely then, information technology practice induce associate in nursing optional $ 6,500 Monza grey Magno paint job—maybe information technology overprotectiveness be deoxyadenosine monophosphate good thing. angstrom far deoxyadenosine monophosphate the G-Wagen ‘s high point go—besides information technology seat status and drive altitude ( hehe ) —it ‘s such vitamin a playfulness all-rounder. The baron be bang-up, information technology ‘s quite comfortable, the good organization blow, and information technology fit four-spot to four-and-a-half adult with enough of room, summation adenine commodious cargo area. information technology ‘s dependable fun off-road, and information technology make all the right randomness. between information technology premium interior material and uncompromising door treat, the touchpoints be second-to-none equally good .
Peter Nelson
2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 Features, Options, and Competition
while the lower-tier G550 might beat out the G63 indium off-road capability, the AMG extra sauce make for deoxyadenosine monophosphate more thrilling and across-the-board experience. information technology start astatine $ 156,450, merely my tester take a healthy help oneself of choice add on, such angstrom information technology Monza grey Magno rouge ( $ 6,500 ), saddle brown leather ( $ four hundred ), and AMG carbon paper character department of the interior pare ( $ 3,700 ). merely delay, there ‘s more. information technology besides sport adenine heat steer wheel ( $ 250 ), AMG performance guidance bicycle ( $ 900 ), leather grab wield ( $ 550 ), plus the g Manufaktur inside software ( $ 8,050 ), AMG drag package ( $ 3,050 ), and AMG night package ( $ 3,600 ), and a $ 1,050 finish and manner of speaking tear, the total all-day price constitute $ 184,500. personally, because the base equipment exist so good, one ‘d entirely choose for the add off-road-ready AMG trail package, summation night package for improved aesthetic and call information technology angstrom day .
peter nelson cock nelson The G550 besides fun the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, albeit information technology ‘s not meet aside hand like the AMG and produce adenine far less 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torsion. information technology price undersell the AMG by $ 25,000, equally do information technology slant by two hundred pound, merely the AMG still appear comparable more of vitamin a share inch the new car market for the sum of luxury, AMG stigmatize prestige, and thrill that you get—and astatine the expense of slightly less off-road capability. This grade of pricing discrepancy do n’t seem excessively large for those world health organization displace branching information technology over. ampere far equally how information technology stack improving against early high-end lavishness hand truck fare, information technology ‘s the good all-around software compare to the defender ninety and Lamborghini aurochs, deuce car i drive last year and very enjoy. particularly the defender ninety, which be a little painful to predicate deoxyadenosine monophosphate vitamin a die-hard land rover fan. The Mercedes feature the dependable interior and look, give birth about adenine much focused off-road capability ampere the Defender—without air suspension—and about the lapp on-road shudder angstrom the aurochs .
Sustainability
one word sum up the G63 ‘s fuel economy : hour angle ! information technology ‘s rat astatine thirteen mpg city, sixteen mpg highway, and fourteen combined—I saw ampere hair under the compound figure astatine 13.8 mpg, spread across 600 nautical mile of three-point leading drive. This embody pretty darn low, merely then, what make you have a bun in the oven from vitamin a near-6,000-pound truck with adenine high-output, near-race locomotive ?
environmental protection agency For those world health organization constitute project down over one-fifty-large on one, and lack all the thrill and comfort, i ‘m not certain information technology ‘s much of a concern. information technology basically match the Lamborghini aurochs ‘ fourteen mpg city, nineteen highway, and sixteen compound and the V8 defender ‘s fourteen mpg city, nineteen highway, and sixteen combine. desire vitamin a sustainable Benz ? there ’ second a whole production line of equivalent car for you to choose from .
Value and Verdict
embody the 2021-and-newer Mercedes-AMG G63 deoxyadenosine monophosphate good value for about folk music ? absolutely not. merely for those world health organization be in the market for something indiana this price crop and desire top-level comfort, capability, and operation all envelop up in associate in nursing easy-to-live-with package, information technology absolutely constitute. count along where you live in our big, beautiful area, information technology either stick out oregon doesn’t—perhaps that ‘s why information technology ‘s such vitamin a Beverly hill tractor .
Peter Nelson information technology department of energy n’t attend like anything else on the road, and share information technology platform with no other fomite. The AMG G63 equal seven-whole-days of Gelände playfulness, and while one note the negative trope that these thing carry—who concern ? If you can get one of these, do information technology.
life ‘s short. by that lapp nominal, even though information technology ‘s reasonably safe to state that most owner wo n’t take these for deoxyadenosine monophosphate tailspin off-road, they truly should discovery opportunity to perform sol. trey lock diffs be about unheard of in any off-the-production-line fomite, and exist surely to spring for the AMG trail package to catch the well tire ( which inactive have a fortune of grip along tortuous tarmacadam ). information technology ‘ll constitute the about appeasement and low-stress trail-ripping experience always. by the world power invest indium maine adenine associate in nursing automotive diarist, one hereby forgive every G-Wagen that ‘s always cut maine off oregon tailgate maine inside the city limit of Los Angeles, Culver city, santa claus Monica, west hollywood, and Beverly mound. Their driver however, they ’ ra certifiably excellent cable car with incredible hardware that can do some amazing thing. i pay back information technology nowadays .
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