With four electric motors and 579-HP on tap, the G-Wagen is a technological powerhouse, but it’s a Geländewagen first.
There are few luxury buyers more particular than G-Wagen owners. The Rolls-Royce and Pagani crowd certainly compare, but nothing else will do for those who’ve fallen under the G’s spell. There’s a good reason for the fanaticism. Even as the luxury off-roader market swells, the Geländewagen remains the most characterful. From its boxy shape to its upright driving position, even down to its doors’ satisfying sound as they lock into place, the G’s cult following isn’t accidental.
Yet this heightened level of fanaticism creates a unique problem for Mercedes-Benz. Given the current regulations sweeping across Europe, the German carmaker has to build an electric variant of what is arguably the model most closely associated with its brand. However, as vehicles such as the EQS demonstrate, the three-pointed star isn’t afraid of taking risks with radical new designs, but as that car has also proven, big changes don’t always result in big sales.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, its name a result of the marque partially ditching the “EQ” moniker in favor of the numeric designations it’s used for years, is the first-ever electric G-Wagen. However, it’s unlike any Mercedes EV before it in that it doesn’t dive headfirst into the future by completely ditching the past. It rides on a modified version of the ladder-frame platform that underpins the refreshed W465-generation truck, itself largely a carry-over from the W464-gen that debuted in late 2021.
Despite mainly being used as a luxury SUV, the G580’s retention of this ladder frame design means that going electric doesn’t come at the cost of off-roading prowess. Its battery, a pack with a 116 kilowatt-hour usable capacity, sits sandwiched within the frame to save space. Mercedes-Benz encased it in a torsion-resistant cage to protect it, allowing you to confidently tackle an off-roading trail worry-free. Additional underbody protection exists to ensure that this $162,650 ($192,690) offroader always comes home intact.
Four electric motors, one for each wheel, deliver a substantial output of 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque. Each is paired with its own transmission, and despite lacking traditional locking differentials, it achieves the same effect via its torque vectoring system. This setup also enables its G-Turn mode, which allows you to complete a full rotation on the spot, a helpful trick if you find yourself on a trail unable to proceed forward.
Yet while its 4.6-second 0-60 mph time is rapid for a vehicle that weighs 6,746 pounds, 1,102 lb more than a Rolls-Royce Phantom for those keeping score, the range-topping G63 is still king thanks to its even quicker 4.2-second time.
In the real world, however, the EV feels like the swifter sibling, thanks to the instant response of its powertrain. Despite its weight, its excellently tuned dampers mean you don’t feel its extra heft in most scenarios. And like the broader W465-generation range, its ride is more compliant than previous models, achieving near Range Rover ride quality. Of course, the G’s quirks remain, such as a tall-riding body that leans hilariously and an upright driving position that makes you feel like you’re sitting more on the G than in it.
Yet herein lies its greatest strength. The G580 might be a technological powerhouse, but it’s a G-Wagen first. If you don’t catch its slightly smoothed-out grille, cladded A-pillars, or slightly flared wheel arches, you’d be hard-pressed to tell that you’re not looking at its gas-powered twin. Its steering remains heavy, its doors require a proper closing slam, and its interior space is unchanged.
There are some drawbacks, of course. Its EPA-estimated 239-mile range falls well short of the tri-motor R1S’s 371-mile figure, despite the Rivian producing significantly more power at 850 hp while offering comparable off-roading chops. The G’s 400-volt architecture means it’ll charge at a maximum of 200 kilowatts, taking 32 minutes to jump from 10 to 80%, and some of its regenerative braking settings could use some fine-tuning as coming to a smooth stop can be challenging.
For those for whom only a G-Wagen will do, the G580 nails the fundamentals of what makes a great electric vehicle. Its adoption of batteries doesn’t diminish its character. Regardless of the setting, it feels like a Geländewagen first and an EV second. One of the criticisms most often directed towards EVs is that their character is diminished by ditching their internal combustion powerplant. Yet, as the first electric Geländewagen demonstrates, the personality that built its cult-following lives on.
Stats:
Motors: 4, one by each wheel
Battery: 116 Kilowatt-hour
Range: 239 Miles EPA
Weight: 6,746 Pounds
0-60 MPH: 4.6 Seconds
Base Price: $162,650
As-Tested Price: $192,690
This article appeared in our September 2025 Issue.
Introducing the August 2025 issue of duPont REGISTRY, #484, starring McLaren Automotive’s 2027 Le Mans Hypercar. To get your hands on a copy, either buy a single issue or subscribe.
