There’s no doubt that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, formerly known as the G-Wagen, has reached an iconic status that many carmakers can only wish for their cars. Its tenure as a model line has been one of the longest, and it’s nearly unbelievable how Mercedes-Benz has managed to keep the G-Class this characterful without giving up on modernity. The latest updates, added to the car not too long ago, aren’t revolutionary, but these ensure that you don’t feel short-changed as a Mercedes-Benz customer. However, is that enough, especially in 2024, where one can’t rely just on legacy and brand value to sell a car? We find out in our latest first-drive review of the refreshed Mercedes-AMG G 63.

The moment I laid my eyes on the G 63, it felt straight out of an ultra-high-res video game. We had about a day to experience the latest iteration of the SUV, and it was difficult not to spend hours just looking at its resplendent shade of Electric Blue. It was only a matter of a few minutes that I realised that every moment you spend with the G 63, it’s almost like an adventure, right from when you see it for the first time to when you actually begin to enjoy your time behind the wheel. So, 24 hours wouldn’t feel as short a duration as I thought. I was wrong.

We begin by looking at the car’s design, which hasn’t changed a lot. It is still very much boxy, the flat, slab-like surfaces still exist the way they did on previous-generation models, and the upright windscreen would still look like an oddity if you’re coming from a sports car. None of that matters, though, because despite being largely the same as before, the G-Class promises that its capabilities are more than skin-deep and that Mercedes-Benz won’t disregard tradition for outright modernity. The subtle refinement — and corresponding changes — in the overall styling speaks straight to the heart, though. To sum it up, the G-Class epitomises the ‘why change if not broken’ philosophy.

The G-Class has this superb ability to evoke strong emotions not just from the one behind the wheel but also onlookers. In the latest version, you’ll notice that it’s rounded just a tiny bit more than in the past, adding a layer of sophistication to its unique design. Modern luxury gels rather well with the car’s silhouette and, in the AMG iteration, sporty character. The side-pipe exhausts, body-coloured arch extensions, and the upright stance all come together so brilliantly that I can comfortably say that the G 63 is as peerless as possible.

Not just visually, the G 63 has a fair bit of tangible heft, too. As you approach the car to unlock it, the metallic clunk of the lock is quite possibly unlike any other SUV. The doors feel vault-like, and this gives the G-Class reassurance of its solidity.

Like the exterior, the interior too presents a nice mix of old-school charm and top-class luxury. It’s beautifully crafted and well-equipped to rival the majority of luxury SUVs but doesn’t lose out on ageless charm. Its new touchscreen infotainment system is one of the updates that the latest-generation SUV gets. Powered by Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX platform, the feature-rich infotainment unit gels well with the rest of the upmarket cabin. Complementing that is an impeccable sound system by Burmester, which, with 15 speakers and 640 watts of output, transforms the cabin into a concert hall on wheels. From bass-heavy numbers to ones with heavy vocals, it never fails to reproduce delightful audio. On our test car, the rugged exterior finds a match in the form of quilted Nappa leather seats finished in blue and roof lining in the same pattern.

Apt driving position

Once you get behind the wheel, you’ll notice the apt driving position. While never uncomfortable, the driving position is so high that not only is navigating through traffic easy, you’re pretty much at eye-level with truck/bus drivers. Plus it has so much presence that no one will bully you. Under the bonnet of the G 63 is a 4-litre twin-turbo petrol engine (and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system), which makes 577 bhp and 86.67 kg-m. That much power is good enough to outpace nearly everything, from sports cars to other performance SUVs.

To experience that, you engage launch control, notice how the infotainment display gets a Formula 1-style timer, and witness how effortlessly this 2.5-tonne SUV picks up speed. It’s claimed to reach 0-100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, and you’ll need not more than a dab at the accelerator to believe that figure. Supporting the engine’s raw power is a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, which distributes power to all four wheels, ensuring minimal slippage both on the road and off it. The smooth nine-speed gearbox works in conjunction with it, and we have no complaints about it, either.

Dual nature

The G 63 is based on a ladder-frame chassis, but that’s surprisingly not as evident on the road. This tells you how well-engineered and polished the G 63 truly is. It has advanced suspension, the aforementioned all-wheel-drive system, enough firepower to find its way out of the stickiest of situations, and even three differential locks. From a luxury, high-speed chariot on the road to an off-road warrior, the G 63 transforms without any drama. That speaks for the car’s exceptional dual nature.

All said and done, the G-Class knows how to make its owner feel special, and that shows in how it embraces modernity without abandoning its past. There are some downsides, too, though. The SUV is understandably large and heavy, but it loses out on practicality. The rear seats aren’t the most spacious, and as a 2.5-tonne SUV that runs on petrol, it’s not going to be the most affordable car to run.

You tend to forget all that the moment you see it, though. Getting behind the wheel quashes any further doubts, despite a long wait time and a price tag that is getting worryingly close to ₹4 crore — or ₹3.6 crore to be exact, ex-showroom. It’s an unashamed way to look cool. Buyers love it, and its demand keeps increasing. Plus, in the AMG-powered guise, it just defies logic. It speaks volumes about Mercedes-Benz’s ability to hone a platform so well that it delivers sports-car-shaming performance without having to compromise on overall ruggedness or the ability to go just about anywhere. Its core values haven’t changed, and unsurprisingly, it has stood the test of time. If you want one, there’s nothing else that will satiate your desire. In times when rapid innovation is given preference, the G-Class is a breath of fresh air. May it continue like this forever.