Ever since I attended the Munich debut of the Mercedes-Benz Idea EQG in 2021, the place it premiered with a Buck Rogers–type sci-fi mini movie that featured design head Gorden Wagener alongside individuals in alien costumes, the electrical G-Class has lived hire free in my mind. I can’t consider one other new automotive I’ve been this enthusiastic about, and going to the Beverly Hills reveal of the manufacturing G-wagen EV on the finish of April simply amplified it.
One way or the other, truly driving the electrical G-wagen each on the paved roads round southern France and on some treacherous off-road programs at Mercedes’ world first-drive exceeded my fairly astronomical expectations. Not solely is it higher to drive on the street than gas-powered G-wagens, it’s even higher within the tough stuff. Most significantly, the EV has all the attraction and persona that G-Class homeowners love a lot; if I had been blindfolded and put in a single, I’d immediately comprehend it was a G-Class.
Full disclosure: Mercedes-Benz flew me to Montpellier, France to drive the whole 2025 G-Class lineup, from the brand new inline-6 G550 to the hybridized G63 AMG and, in fact, the electrical G580. They put us up in two completely different fancy wineries, fed us wonderful meals together with G-wagen–formed cookies, and in addition allow us to drive a bunch of heritage G-Class fashions. I used to be grinning from ear-to-ear the whole time. Additionally, I lastly watched Tenet on the aircraft experience house and didn’t prefer it.
The electrical G-wagen’s official title is G580 with EQ Know-how, which is a clunker. Mercedes is shifting away from its EQ branding general, thus why it isn’t known as EQG, however the firm needs to retain a number of the EQ division’s branding and styling parts because it transitions to turning into a totally electric-only model over the following decade. Naming it G580 makes it clear that that is nonetheless only a G-Class on the finish of the day, and Mercedes’ engineers, entrepreneurs and executives have agreed that nobody will check with this automotive by its full title anyway — everybody will simply name it “the electrical G” or one thing comparable. It’s a G-wagen, finish of story.
However beneath the pores and skin the electrical G-Class is a radical departure from each G that got here earlier than it, probably the most thorough transforming of the mannequin for the reason that 2018 redesign (and possibly much more so, actually). The electrical mannequin needed to retain the identical ladder body as the usual G, which was a problem for packaging the batteries and different powertrain elements as you possibly can solely match a lot inside the present platform. The G580 has a two-tiered 116-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that’s just like the one present in the EQS, with all the 216 cells contained inside the ladder body’s construction. The body itself has been strengthened, too.
The G580 makes use of a quad-motor configuration — one of many solely such setups within the trade together with Rimac and Rivian, although Mercedes was first to convey a quad-motor EV to manufacturing with the SLS Electrical Drive again in 2013. Every of the G580’s 145-hp motors has its personal centrally shifted two-speed transmission and the entrance and rear motors are every constructed right into a shared housing that incorporates two motors, transmissions, and a double inverter. Complete output is 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque, 2 hp and 232 lb-ft greater than the brand new mild-hybrid G63 AMG and 136 hp and 446 lb-ft greater than the brand new mild-hybrid six-cylinder G550. The motors are mounted on to the ladder body, with dual-joint driveshafts which have slip joints connecting them to the wheels. Whereas the G580 has an unbiased double-wishbone entrance suspension like different G-wagens, the rear axle makes use of a newly developed De Dion setup, which Mercedes says means camber doesn’t change with compression.
The EV wanted to appear like a G-wagen, so there are solely a few tells that you simply’re an electrical one. As normal it has the identical four-bar grille and entrance air intakes because the G550, which additionally eschews uncovered exhaust ideas. The electrical G has a barely taller hood bulge and air curtains forward of the rear wheels, plus EQ badges on the fenders, however in any other case it appears an identical to the gas-powered G’s. Add the out there AMG Line package deal and also you get wider fender flares, and naturally the G580 could be had with a number of completely different Night time Packages that black out a lot of the trim, in addition to another design packages and exterior trim choices.
If you wish to ensure individuals know your G-wagen is electrical, there are a number of choices you possibly can select. The primary is the black panel grille therapy, which provides the G580 a largely blocked-off grille with 4 skinny horizontal slats and a chrome grille border that illuminates with the headlights, plus a shiny black {surround} that extends to {surround} the headlights. I believe this setup appears extraordinarily cool, particularly in case you go for the non-compulsory black fender flares and bumpers, and it’s a pleasant retro nod to the unique G-wagen’s entrance finish.
The opposite possibility is the Design Field on the rear that replaces the normal spare tire. This rounded rectangle is hinged on the identical aspect because the tailgate itself, opening as much as reveal a surprisingly massive storage compartment that has a devoted house for the charging cable, plus cubbies and nets for different gadgets. At the very least on the Version One fashions, the outside of the field has a cut up colour setup, with the higher part being black to mix in with the strains of the rear window. I actually just like the Design Field, and I believe most homeowners would get extra use out of it than the spare tire, although it’s nice that each can be found. Monster 4×4 Squared fashions apart, the G580 can be the primary G-Class to supply a spare tire delete from the manufacturing facility, placing the Mercedes star low down on the tailgate and including a delicate clean panel the place the spare tire mount can be.
Nearly nothing in regards to the cabin lets you already know this G-wagen is electrical, both. There are some EV-specific data menus and gauge cluster designs… and that’s mainly it. Lastly the G-Class will get a central touchscreen working the MBUX infotainment system, an enormous improve over the outdated Comand setup, and it has Mercedes’ wonderful voice assistant. The dashboard local weather controls have been streamlined, and there’s a brand new steering wheel. Visually zhuzhing up the inside are extra ambient lighting strips, climate-controlled cupholders and new trim parts. In all probability the largest deal for present homeowners is the addition of keyless entry for the primary time on a G-wagen, together with for the swing-out tailgate, with out shedding the bolt-action rifle locks or the heft of the doorways and the tactile expertise you get with the latches.
From the second I set off, the G580 feels similar to every other G-wagen by way of general character, nevertheless it’s improved in some necessary methods. The steering feels heftier than the G550’s, which I believe is a constructive, and it’s nonetheless straightforward to drive with only a few fingers or a light-weight contact. Although it has common metal springs with adaptive dampers, the experience high quality is significantly better than on a G550 or normal G63, it soaks up extra street imperfections, and the suspension has pitch and roll stabilization however nonetheless permits sufficient of the basic G-wagen lean in corners. I want the G580 was out there with the G63’s new Energetic Journey hydraulic suspension, which massively adjustments the G’s dynamics, however the G580 remains to be a greater expertise than the G63 with out it.
Regardless of being about half a second slower to 60 mph than the V8-powered G63 — Mercedes quotes a 4.6-second 0-to-60-mph time, versus 4.2 seconds for the G63 and 5.3 seconds within the six-cylinder G550 — the G580 feels a lot faster in actual life. As you possibly can see from my video under, it doesn’t lose steam because the velocity rises, surging forwards in direction of a 112-mph high velocity. Flooring it’s giggle-inducing; like with different G-wagens the entire entrance finish rises up like a ship beneath acceleration – it’s enjoyable, it nonetheless feels managed. The powertrain is a lot extra responsive than even the G63’s V8, and the torque vectoring capabilities imply I can carry extra velocity right into a nook and speed up tougher popping out of 1 with out worrying about whether or not this huge tank can deal with it. Each G-wagen is giggle-inducing to drive, and the G580 isn’t any exception.
Each 2025 G-Class is way quieter than final 12 months’s mannequin because of a bunch of small aerodynamic tweaks, like a smoother A-pillar and a brand new spoiler at the vanguard of the roof, that had been primarily applied to enhance the EV’s vary. The electrical G additionally has extra sound insulation, and it’s simply the quietest G-wagen ever, with acoustic consolation worthy of the vault feeling you get from slamming the door. At increased speeds some wind noise nonetheless penetrates — there’s no getting round how upright and flat the greenhouse is — nevertheless it’s way more luxurious general.
Aside from the way it appears, probably probably the most essential factor in regards to the G580 is the way it sounds, doubly so with the inside being such a peaceful setting. For many years now G-wagens have been recognized for his or her side-exit exhaust ideas and signature rumbling engine word and each are absent on the EV. As a substitute, Mercedes developed what it calls G-Roar, described as a “a powerful acoustic accompaniment to the acceleration with deep bass and sonorous tones.” The sounds aren’t very intense when tootling round in Consolation, however in Sport mode the G-Roar actually comes alive. It doesn’t sound like an engine, per se, nevertheless it presents most of the similar auditory sensations that the G63’s V8 does. It burbles at low speeds, with an intense waffling sound getting louder beneath acceleration. The sounds are audible from exterior the automotive too. Like different EV sounds it actually received’t be for everybody, however I completely like it.
There are 5 completely different ranges of regenerative braking within the G580, together with a no-regen mode and an auto mode that adjusts the recuperation in accordance with your driving and the visitors forward. Essentially the most intense of the 5 settings doesn’t fairly give the G580 one-pedal driving, which is a disgrace, however with 217 kW of recuperation functionality the regen is powerful sufficient to get nearly all the work performed, and it even takes me a bit to get used to how aggressive the preliminary deceleration is. Fortunately the G580 isn’t plagued with the moving-pedal function that Mercedes’ early EQ fashions had. Regenerative braking is among the most transformative additions to the G-wagen’s driving expertise, and it’s one of many issues I miss probably the most after I leap again right into a G550 after driving the EV.
I don’t have sufficient time within the G580 to get a way of its real-world vary, however it will likely be greater than sufficient for the typical G-wagen proprietor. In Europe the G580 has a most vary of 295 miles on the WLTP cycle, which can seemingly work out to round 250 to 275 miles within the U.S. EPA cycle. Positive, within the grand scheme of EVs that’s not rather a lot, however the gas-powered G-wagens get such shitty gasoline mileage that almost all homeowners will in all probability discover it to be an enchancment. I imply, the present G63 is rated at 13 mpg within the metropolis, and in the actual world it’s a lot worse than that — the 2025 G63’s mild-hybrid setup will assist, however not by a big quantity.
The G580 helps DC fast-charging of speeds as much as 200 kW, ok to go from 10 to 80 % cost in 32 minutes. Mercedes says mainly all homeowners will cost at house anyway, and G-Class homeowners would usually take one in every of their different automobiles if they should do a street journey. But when the vary is known as a concern, like for people who need to do longer-distance off-roading or overlanding, Mercedes says that in a number of years the G580 will change into out there with new silicon-anode batteries that may increase power density by 40 % and enhance vary by round 100 miles.
So, the electrical G-wagen is improbable on street, the place commenters will say that almost all of them will spend all their time anyway, however a G-Class nonetheless must be the perfect off-roader doable irrespective of the powertrain — and the EV is. The G580’s 9.8 inches of floor clearance is 0.3 inches higher than a G550, and its strategy and departure angles are barely higher as effectively, although the breakover angle is 5.7 levels worse. It will possibly climb a 100-percent grade similar to different G-wagens, and it’s secure on sideways slopes of as much as 35 levels.
Mercedes has arrange an hour-long off-road course that snakes across the vineyard’s hills, for which I swap into a special G580, this one painted Sand Beige with the out there 18-inch wheels carrying Falken Wildpeak A/T all-terrain tires. (In order for you this setup, you sadly can’t select the AMG Line that provides wider rear fenders.) That is no newbie’s course, both. It’s been raining all day, so there are extra mud puddles and washed-out sections than Mercedes anticipated, and the course is filled with deep ruts, difficult rock-crawling sections and different hazards.
One of many G-wagen’s longtime signature options are its lockable differentials, of which fashionable fashions have three, however the electrical G580 doesn’t have any diff lockers — no less than, not “actual” ones. Due to the quad-motor setup, the G580 makes use of torque vectoring to create digital differential locks that work mechanically, controlling the torque at every wheel inside fractions of a second. Whether or not you’re sliding round like a rally driver or slowly climbing a rocky hill, the G580 is at all times getting the optimum quantity of energy and traction to every wheel.
What’s not digital is the G580’s Low Vary, an precise off-road 2:1 gear discount that’s out there within the Rock drive mode, which is what I keep in for the entire drive. Low Vary works at as much as 53 mph, and Mercedes says the automotive’s dealing with and response traits change when it’s activated. In Low Vary the motors are placing out 3,319 lb-ft of torque; Mercedes’ engineers say that determine might be a lot increased however that may be pointless.
When Low Vary is activated, utilizing a button within the heart of the sprint the place the diff lockers usually can be, the G580’s crawl management perform is instantly turned on as effectively. It mainly works like an off-road cruise management, managed by the identical steering wheel paddles that usually management regen braking. Within the slowest setting the automotive maintains a velocity of simply 1 mph, whereas within the quickest setting the G580 goes 5 mph on degree or uphill terrain and has no set velocity whereas going downhill, as a substitute utilizing the recuperation to gradual the automobile relying on how steep the grade is. The center setting is named “variable crawl,” and it retains the automotive at a strolling tempo.
In any of the three settings the motive force remains to be in a position to speed up or brake if wanted, and the automotive will return to the crawl velocity after or keep the velocity you’ve adjusted to. The crawl management works in reverse too, because the G580 in entrance of me demonstrates by backing up a really steep, rocky hill. It appears like footage being performed in reverse, prefer it shouldn’t be doable to do in actual life. Not needing to do any acceleration or braking inputs makes off-roading a lot much less worrying, particularly when going up a steep grade or by means of a very difficult part, and the general quietness of the cabin provides to the calmness. I can hear the motors whirring as rocks ping towards the underbody, and it’s straightforward to carry a dialog with my passenger and benefit from the sounds of nature whereas nonetheless specializing in the path. The G-Class additionally has a brand new clear hood function that makes use of the surround-view cameras to indicate a digital view of what’s beneath the entrance finish.
One of the vital frequent considerations with electrical off-roaders is defending the battery pack, and Mercedes has that taken care of. Protecting practically the whole underbody is a one-inch-thick defend panel that’s two skinny items of carbon sandwiching a particular composite that Mercedes received’t speak about but, with a layer of stone-chip safety added on. The panel weighs simply 127 kilos, one-third of what a metal panel can be, it’s bolted onto the body with 50 metal fasteners so it will probably simply get replaced if wanted. The battery, motor housings, suspension elements and different necessary components are additionally designed to face up to mud, water, and different excessive situations and put on.
The G580 may also ford water as much as 33.5 inches deep, 5.9 inches higher than the gas-powered G’s, which I get to expertise by driving by means of an opaque muddy river. My Mercedes engineer co-pilot remarks that due to the rain this water crossing is extra like 35.5 inches deep, however the G580 makes it by means of no downside, utilizing crawl management to wade by means of at a better set velocity. The EV’s silence positively makes water coming as much as the highest of the hood much more nerve-wracking, although.
We come to a cease in a muddy parking zone to check out G-Flip, the electrical G-wagen’s greatest get together trick. It’s straightforward to activate, although it does take a number of steps. With one foot on the brake, first you press the G-Flip button on the sprint subsequent to Low Vary, and you then maintain down the steering wheel paddle that’s within the course you need the automotive to spin. Whereas holding the paddle and preserving the steering wheel completely straight — even a slight flip will cancel the movement — put your proper foot on the accelerator, launch the brake, and the automotive begins spinning completely in place. Most individuals will in all probability use G-Flip to make bystanders stare in awe and snicker (and Mercedes says it shouldn’t be used on pavement), however it will likely be a real assist if it’s worthwhile to flip round on a path or get round an impediment.
If it appears hilarious from exterior the automotive, it’s even funnier whenever you’re contained in the automotive experiencing it. There aren’t any unusual noises or unsettling vibrations, there’s no physique roll or suspension flex. The G-wagen stays completely flat and secure because it spins round — at fairly a excessive velocity, I’d add. It’ll do exactly over two full rotations earlier than coming to a cease, although the motive force can instantly cancel the spin at any time by letting go of the paddle, taking their foot off the accelerator or turning the steering wheel. You may hold activating the G-Flip over and over, too.
Not as spectacular visually however helpful in much more conditions is the G-Steering perform, which is toggled by the third locker-replacing button on the sprint. By controlling the torque being despatched to every wheel and locking one or each of the inside wheels if wanted, G-Steering drastically reduces the G580’s turning radius. The course has a bunch of corners that may be far too tight for a G to get round usually with out making a three-point flip, however with G-Steering lively I’m in a position to drive round them with ease. It really works at as much as 15 mph, and the perform will keep on for a very long time in case you don’t flip it off.
It’s a little bit of a bizarre sensation, form of like drifting however with out the rear finish being truly kicked out. The motion is extraordinarily linear; the quantity that I believe I want to show the steering wheel to get across the nook is the precise correct quantity, I don’t must make any little corrections or changes partway by means of. Mercedes additionally has us do a slalom course by means of the mud, with the cones positioned so shut collectively that mainly no automotive might do it, not to mention a G-wagen. However with G-Steering turned on, the G580 simply rotates round every cone. Mixed with the G-Class’ comparatively small footprint, the G-Steering will open up much more path potentialities that earlier fashions couldn’t navigate. I solely scratch the floor of the G580’s capabilities, so I can’t wait to take one on some lengthy off-roading journeys in California.
Mercedes hasn’t introduced pricing for the U.S. market but, but when it’s something just like the German pricing, the G580 EV may be the perfect deal within the G-Class lineup. With the obligatory 19-percent VAT tax included, the G580 begins at just below €143,000, the equal of about $154,000. That’s solely €11,000 (about $12,000) greater than the brand new G500 (bought because the G550 in America). Within the U.S. the present V8 G550 begins at $144,150 together with vacation spot, and the refreshed inline-6 mannequin may be nearer to $150,000. If the electrical G-wagen is available in at round $170,000 — fifteen grand lower than the G63 — I believe that’ll be a hell of a deal.
When the G580 hits U.S. vendor heaps within the second half of this 12 months, it’ll solely are available Version One type. Mainly the launch version, this mannequin is restricted to simply 5 colours and can come absolutely loaded, with particular badges, blue accents on the outside trim strips and inside carbon fiber, and another distinctive styling bits. Anticipate Version Ones to value no less than $200,000, earlier than you add any markups (and there shall be markups). If you wish to spec your electrical G-wagen your self — and you need to — the 2026 mannequin will in all probability change into out there in early spring. By means of Mercedes’ Manufaktur program, G-Class prospects have over a million doable colour and trim possibility combos, with greater than 20,000 paint colours to select from and the flexibility to create bespoke specs.
Mercedes doesn’t have any particular gross sales targets for the EV, and there aren’t any plans for an growth of the Graz manufacturing facility, although the corporate admits it will be doable sooner or later. No, the G-wagen will keep a purposefully restricted commodity, despite the fact that Mercedes is making greater than ever. In 2023 greater than 10,000 G’s had been bought within the U.S. alone, nearly beating the S-Class, and right here the G63 vastly outsells the G550 — I’ve heard the gross sales cut up presently sits at round 80 % for the AMG. G-Class manufacturing is versatile, so Mercedes is ready for any degree of EV demand and may modify output accordingly.
In a roundtable on the launch, Michael Schiebe, AMG CEO and head of the G-Class division, mentioned he thinks the EV might change into the preferred G-wagen mannequin by the tip of the last decade, particularly in international locations like China, and he expects the EV will each herald new prospects and conquests to the model and maintain main attraction to present G-wagen homeowners. The G-Class has the second-wealthiest homeowners within the Mercedes model, second solely to Maybach, and its common buyer is getting youthful and extra accepting of electrification. As for the potential of an electrical AMG variant, Schiebe wouldn’t speak about any official plans, however the glint in his eye and the smile on his face mainly confirmed it’ll occur ultimately.
The G-wagen appeared like it will be one of many final automobiles to convincingly go electrical, and one of the vital troublesome buyer bases to transform, however the G580 with EQ Know-how proves it’s truly the perfect candidate. The electrical G-Class is simply as lovable as its gas-powered siblings, with its personal distinctive character and unmatched off-road efficiency. I believe it’s a house run, a smash hit, a tour de pressure, no matter different flip of phrase you possibly can consider. I badly need one, no, I want one, and that’s precisely how a G-wagen ought to make you’re feeling.
