Few correct off-roaders can match the Geländewagen’s vary. Regardless of its skill to deal with rugged trails out of the field, thanks partly to its body-on-frame construct, three locking differentials, and long-travel suspension, the G-Class can simply as simply crawl the streets of Beverly Hills with out trying misplaced. It’s this versatility, its boxy seems to be, and its visibility as a standing image which have granted this SUV its icon standing.
In the present day, the Mercedes-AMG G63 stays the flagship G-Class. And since the G580 is powered by batteries and the G550 by an inline-six, it’s additionally the one model of this off-roader provided with eight cylinders beneath its hood. Nonetheless, whereas most G63s experience on rubber band tires and enormous wheels, the one I’m on this week embraces a extra rugged method due to its non-compulsory $13,450 Offroad Package deal Professional improve.
With a roof rack, mud flaps, and a smaller 20-inch wheelset wrapped in additional off-road-focused tires, this G63 lastlyadopts an aesthetic that matches its capabilities. And as you’ll quickly study, it doesn’t sacrifice its on-road efficiency to do it.
The G-Class is in a wierd spot in the meanwhile. The G550 I drove a couple of weeks in the past left me lacking its discontinued V8 greater than loving the inline-six that changed it. The G580 I examined earlier than that proved to be a improbable first crack at a battery-powered G. But regardless of its large efficiency, intelligent off-road tech, and stellar experience high quality, new reviews counsel that it’s not flying off the cabinets fairly as Mercedes had hoped.
The truth that I needed to wait a bit to get into the brand new Mercedes-AMG G63 finally turned out to be a blessing in disguise. From the second you press its begin button and listen to its V8 rumble to if you hear the sound of its iconic door latch, the G63 seems like essentially the most genuine G-Class on sale. Beginning at $187,250, together with a $1,150 vacation spot price, it’s additionally the costliest, however extra on that later.
The Geländewagen is outlined by its skill to create a way of event, and that’s exactly the world the $13,450 Offroad Professional package deal improves. Like the remainder of the G-Class lineup, the G63 receives some delicate exterior updates for the 2025 mannequin yr, with many of the modifications residing in its restyled entrance and rear bumpers. The eagle-eyed amongst you may also discover that its rear-view digital camera now sits above its license plate.
The Offroad Professional package deal forgoes any sense of subtlety. It begins with a steel roof rack full with a small ladder bolted to this truck’s rear quarter panel. Its spare wheel holder additionally will get upgraded from plastic to steel, sporting the identical textured black end as the remainder of the brand new gear. You’ll spot entrance and rear underguards adorning its bumpers and dirt flaps positioned simply behind its 20-inch wheels.
This look fits the Geländewagen’s spirit completely, and very like the remainder of this SUV’s attraction, you don’t have to go away paved roads to understand it. Merely put, it seems to be stellar. Even in case you by no means pitch a tent on the roof or see how far its Normal Grabber HTS rubber will take you, you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in how this non-compulsory package deal takes an SUV with a powerful stylistic pull and strengthens its skill to attract you in.
The ultimate piece that makes up this non-compulsory package deal is probably crucial: its inclusion of AMG’s Lively Trip Management suspension. Provided solely for the Mercedes-AMG G63, that is an energetic system that depends on hydraulics reasonably than anti-roll bars to remove extra lateral physique motion. The suspension’s 4 dampers are hydraulically linked, with every damper that includes connections on each the damper and rebound sides.
As such, the system can reply immediately to bumps or street undulations by adjusting every nook of the suspension independently. The result’s a tall SUV that weighs 5,842 kilos however nonetheless manages to deal with corners with out providing you with the impression that it’s ever able to topple over. It’s a big enchancment by way of stability over the outgoing Mercedes-AMG G63, making this latest mannequin each extra balanced and enjoyable to drive.
Extra importantly, the system offers its driver the next sense of confidence when deploying this truck’s 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque output. It squats much less beneath arduous acceleration whereas additionally considerably decreasing nose-dive beneath braking. AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 fortunately sings its burbly muscle automobile tune by way of its side-mounted exhaust ideas whereas a quick-shifting nine-speed computerized transmission and a everlasting all-wheel drive system make it really feel each bit as potent as its stats counsel.
The G63 has by no means had an influence downside, and with this newest mannequin sprinting to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, neither does this one. Nonetheless, its non-compulsory energetic suspension permits you to discover much more of it than earlier iterations. But whilst you method a bend, this truck’s upsized don’t have any challenge slowing it whereas its steering stays completely numb from a suggestions perspective however picks up some newfound precision.
Crucially, the Mercedes-AMG G63 achieves this with out diminishing its on-road consolation or each day usability. As an alternative, this energetic system and thicker tire sidewalls enhance it. Whereas its predecessor didn’t experience harshly, this newest mannequin makes notable enhancements, bringing the G’s experience high quality nearer to what you’d anticipate from a Vary Rover. After all, attaining this implies giving up a few of the old-school rugged and truck-like really feel the G-Class is understood for, however to all however essentially the most hardcore followers, it will come throughout as a big step ahead.
Inside, the Mercedes-AMG G63 continues the delicate improve pattern. This tester incorporates a elegant Tartufo Brown end on its seats, complementing the black leather-based used on its dashboard and steering wheel. A $1,300 ash wooden trim possibility additional elevates the cabin, which pairs effectively with this SUV’s $6,500 Desert Silver metallic exterior end and its $2,350 AMG Evening Package deal general.
On the tech aspect, its twin 12.3-inch instrument cluster and infotainment shows might sound unchanged at first look, however they home Mercedes’ new Offroad Cockpit. It’s a system designed to be used totally on trails, offering very important knowledge at a look, corresponding to altitude, steering angle, and the car’s place because the street grade modifications. It’ll additionally will let you use the G’s cameras to see a transparent view of the street forward and any upcoming rocks or particles.
The Offroad Package deal’s greatest flaw turns into obvious when you’re behind the wheel, particularly its elevated wind noise at freeway speeds. Though tire noise doesn’t improve considerably, the sound generated by this truck’s roof-mounted platform certainly does. It’s sufficient to be distracting, requiring you to show up your music a couple of clicks larger than you normally would. If a whisper-quiet cabin is what you’re after, this rugged G isn’t for you.
As I discussed earlier, the Mercedes-AMG G63 stays the flagship mannequin, beginning at $187,250. For context, the G550 I reviewed earlier this yr has a base value of $149,400, whereas the electrified G580 is available in at $162,650. Think about non-compulsory extras just like the $13,450 Offroad Package deal Professional, $7,400 Unique Inside Plus, and its $2,350 AMG Evening Package deal, and this truck’s as-tested value balloons to $220,300.
The G63 is an off-roader outlined by its skill to create a way of event, and the Offroad Package deal Professional solely strengthens its skill to take action. Regardless of its added ruggedness, it permits this AMG to retain its skill to slot in anyplace. Nonetheless, the upsides from an aesthetic perspective are vital. This SUV now has seems to be that match its off-road functionality significantly better than in its extra frequent kind, that includes giant wheels and tires with thick sidewalls.
Nonetheless, what’s most spectacular is simply how effectively the G63’s energetic suspension improves each its high-speed stability and experience high quality with out considerably detracting from the G-Class expertise. Whereas the G550 takes a step again and the G580 struggles to catch on, the Mercedes-AMG G63 stays the last word G-Class.
