What’s this new car all about then?
Looks like just another Mercedes-Benz G-Class 4x4. Nothing to see here... move along.
Or don’t. Because this is in fact the new pure-electric version of Mercedes-Benz’s iconic-and-very-expensive hand-built adventure SUV.
A lot about it is relatively subtle in a G-Class context, including the name: G580 doesn’t really give a clue about its unique selling proposition. From a distance, it could just be another G-Wagen; it even has a conventional grille, although you can option-in a more solid Black Panel replacement that makes it look more electrically appropriate.
Just to be clear, this is not an all-new model (it's often hard to tell with the G), but rather a thorough factory conversion of the existing G-Class to 100% electric; same ladder-frame chassis, mostly the same exterior bodywork. Mostly.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a simple powertrain swap. The G580 has enough technology on board to make any automotive electro-nerd go weak at the knees.
There’s a monster 116kWh (usable) battery nestled in the ladder-chassis, but what’s really remarkable is the network of electric motors. There are four of them, one for each wheel, and each has its own 2-speed transmission to give a true low-range off-road mode.
There are a few party tricks. The off-road crawl mode is unique to the electric model (basically cruise control for 4x4 use), wading depth rises from 700m to 850mm and the G580 offers two useful/hilarious features called G-Steer and G-Turn. More about those in a minute.
While the basic platform is carried over, hardware changes include a different rear axle because it no longer has to accommodate a locking differential; it’s not one piece, but it does still act as a rigid link. There’s also 26mm-thick carbon composite underbody protection for the battery.
Believe it or not, this electric apartment block does have extra aero to help with range. The bonnet is slightly taller than the combustion version and there are air curtains in the rear wheel arches.
The range is 567km, by the way; but that's an NEDC figure, which is much less stringent than the WLTP used for NZ. There's no local figure as yet, but local M-B people reckon it'll be around 450km; the battery can be charged at up to 200kW (or 11kW on AC).
How much is it?
The G580 is being launched in Edition 1 form (Mercedes-Benz loves stuff like this) at $276,000. You can buy one of those right now, although the company is being a bit secretive about how many there are for NZ, while also saying Edition 1 production is now finished and you can no longer order one from the factory. It’s almost as if it’s trying to pressure you to buy right now.
Anyway, all the cars you see here are Edition 1. They come with lots of special detailing, including a bespoke colour option of South Seas Blue Magno (it’s very, very bright), blue exterior elements including pinstripes and brake calipers, special interior trim with blue-tinged carbon-fibre inserts, aero-optimised black wheels and a novel exterior accessory called Design Box, which looks like a spare wheel cover but is in fact a storage unit for charging cables… or whatever you’d like, really.
That reminds us: the G580 doesn’t actually have a full-sized spare wheel, but the local M-B people say they’re working on a solution for that because we’re a bit picky about that kind of stuff in this part of the world.
Another couple of downsides to the G580 while we’re at it: it’s not rated for towing at all, which probably doesn’t matter because it weighs 3080kg, so you couldn’t haul much without a heavy-vehicle licence.
And given it can’t have a towbar, questions about where you might attach a mountain bike were left hanging at the media launch. There’s no roof rack certified for the G580, so you’ll just have to throw the bike in the back. Plenty of room for that, but it's a shame to dirty up the nice interior.
Beyond Edition 1, the standard G580 will be $231,400. But that needn’t be dull, as the G-Class is a prime candidate for M-B’s Manufaktur customisation packages, with more than 600,000 combinations of colour, trim and accessories available.
The company says a G-Class without factory customisation is “not that common” and the beauty is that because these SUVs are hand-built (in Graz, Austria), one to your personal specification takes no longer than a completely standard vehicle. Order today and you’ll get it in 6-8 months.
What’s it like to drive?
The G580 doesn’t just have a monster battery, it has monster performance. The electric motors add up to 432kW/1164Nm, so it’s more powerful than the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Much heavier too, of course, which is why it’s very fast (0-100km/h 4.7sec) but not as fast as the AMG product (4.4sec).
There’s a G-Roar function that simulates a petrol-engine sound in Sport mode, but… nah. Not needed.
None of the above is really relevant today, because we didn’t reach much more than 30km/h on a special 4x4 course laid out to showcase what makes the G580 special.
A fair call actually, because a car for full review will follow and this is a chance to see some of the G580’s special talents at work... and not get in trouble if we break it.
In general, electric-drive can be well-suited to off-road driving because there’s such precise control of each axle. Put a motor on each wheel and you’re really ramping things up. The way each corner of the electric-G can pretty much do its own thing on tricky terrain makes this 4x4 lark feel ridiculously easy.
The off-road crawl function can be modulated with the steering wheel paddles and, well, frankly… we switched it off and took manual control after a while, because it just felt lazy not to be contributing to forward progress in some way.
Yes, the G580 is big and very heavy and those two things are not ideal for off-roading. But the technology simply takes over when the going gets tough. It's incredible.
Electric drive is key to the G580’s two most amusing, sorry useful abilities. They’re both accessed via the Off Road Cockpit control centre, on the console.
To the left is the G-Steer button. Essentially, it helps you turn in a very tight space by doing a computer-controlled handbrake turn when lots of steering lock is on, sliding the rear of the car around without you having to do anything.
And to the right is G-Turn, a feature which M-B pretends is functional for off-road driving but is really just for showing off. Activate, hold a steering-wheel paddle to tell the car which way you want to go and on full-throttle the G580 will use those four individual motors to spin on the spot for up to 720 degrees. Go on, you know you want to.
What’s the pick of the range?
Depends how showy you want to be. The Edition 1 is tempting with its EV-signature detailing, but you could equally stick with the standard car and go crazy with the Manufaktur options list to create something that’s all your own.
What other cars should I consider?
The G-Class has few true rivals, so an electric G-Class has even fewer (none?). For a combination of luxury, heritage, raw 4x4-ability and zero-emissions power, you could perhaps compare the G580 to the forthcoming Range Rover Electric. But they’re still such different things.
