2025 MERCEDES G-CLASS: EVERYTHING CONFIRMED SO FAR

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the few vehicles in the industry whose design has remained largely similar and seemingly unchanged for decades. It's the same recipe that the Porsche 911 has stuck to, but that's a story for another day. The current generation of the G-Class first came out in 2018, and the generation before that was produced from 1990 to 2018. To say that the G-Class has one of the strongest identities in the automotive industry is an understatement, which is why, even with this facelift, the new 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class has barely changed.

But, that's probably a good thing because you only need a few refinements to improve what is already a successful formula. Where most of the news lies is what's underneath that boxy and angular sheet metal. That's because for the 2025 model year of this Mercedes off-roader, the engine range is a bit different, and the two engine choices come as standard with electrification.

Electrification Through A Mild Hybrid System

However, if you were expecting a full hybrid or even a plug-in hybrid, then you won't be impressed to hear that the G-Class is being offered with a choice of two engines with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Yes, two engines are arriving in the United States, in the form of the G550 and the AMG G63, but the model that has received the most drastic change is the G550, despite having the same variant nomenclature.

G550 Downsizes To An Inline-Six

That's because the G550 has downsized to an inline-six or a straight-six, a 3.0-liter turbocharged unit with a 48-volt mild hybrid system at that. However, thanks to that 48-volt system, which adds 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet to that inline-six, the downsized but electrified drivetrain produces 27 more horses than the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 it replaces, now at 443 horsepower. Torque, however, is down by 37 pound-feet, now at 413 pound-feet, but with the re-tuned nine-speed automatic, it should help sort things out for the G550 in terms of power delivery and fuel economy--not that a G-Class buyer cares about fuel economy in the first place.

As with every G-Class, the new 2025 models also come with three locking differentials that enable them to traverse any terrain. Finally, a low-range gearbox should make easy work of being able to modulate your throttle during low grip, steep angle situations.

The AMG G63 Also Comes With Mild Hybrid Assistance, But...

Finally, we now get to the AMG G63, whose 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 produces 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. But wait a minute, doesn't the 48-volt mild-hybrid system produce 20 additional horses and 148 pound-feet of added torque? Why, yes, yes it does, but it contributes nothing to the on-paper total system figures of the AMG G63.

While it doesn't add anything to the power equation, Mercedes-Benz says it improves the low-end power delivery of the V-8, which should help in fuel economy. Again, not that a G-Class buyer--let alone someone splurging for the obscenely powerful AMG G63 is concerned about fuel economy, right? Then again, this is all in pursuit of lowering the brand's overall average CO2 emissions in whichever markets the brand operates, so it's still all good nonetheless.

Everything Else That's New In The G-Class

Because this is a mid-cycle facelift, don't expect anything radically different from the G-Class in 2025. However, it does come with meaningful upgrades that improve its drivability and usability, especially when going off-road.

No Anti-Roll Bars, No Problem

If you step up to the AMG G63, the anti-roll bars are ditched in favor of a new AMG Active Ride Control suspension, which is an optional extra that's part of the AMG Offroad Package Pro. Instead, what you get is hydraulic roll stabilization and adaptive adjustable damping, which improves handling and enhances ride comfort. As part of an ongoing trend with adaptive suspension, the adaptive shock absorbers are equipped with two hydraulic connections--one for compression and the other for rebound. The damper chambers on all four wheels are connected via hydraulic lines and the control valves of the adaptive dampers.

While the adaptive shock absorbers on each wheel can work independently, the interconnection of the four suspension struts and pressure regulation of the pump and control valves allows for a wide breadth of capabilities. The system can work to reduce body roll, while during off-road driving, improved wheel articulation allows all four wheels to maintain contact with the uneven terrain, thereby maximizing traction.

A Hood That Disappears From View, Sort Of

Continuing on the theme of improving drivability and usability, the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class can be equipped with the optional Offroad Cockpit, which is another layer in the MBUX infotainment system that displays off-roading information at a glance. This also introduces the Transparent Hood function, wherein a camera under the vehicle provides a clear, unobstructed view of what's under the vehicle--as if the hood wasn't there.

Since we're still on the topic of drivability, the new G-Class now comes with three new advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The first one is Active Steering Assist, which is Mercedes-Benz's enhanced version of lane centering. Next is the Route-Based Speed Adaptation, which is basically full-speed adaptive cruise control that works in conjunction with the navigation system to slow the vehicle in advance if it's coming to a bend or a roundabout, and then accelerates when the system deems appropriate. Lastly, the Active Emergency Stop Assist brings the vehicle to a stop in its own lane if the vehicle thinks that the driver is no longer responsive to the driving situation.

Arriving At Dealers In The Second Half Of 2024

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is arriving in dealers in the second half of 2024, which means there's still plenty of time to wait and cherry-pick optional extras to suit your needs. Actually, that's something worth talking about because the new G-Class is more customizable than ever, thanks to the brand widening the scope of the Manufaktur personalization program of the G-Class.

Without Manufaktur, The G-Class Doesn't Look Any Different

Perhaps the reason for Mercedes-Benz extending the personalization scope of Manufaktur in the G-Class is because the exterior changes are so subtle, that you'll probably have a hard time spotting the differences between this G-Class and the pre-facelift model. These are limited to a new grille with four bars in the G550, a redesigned front bumper on both the G550 and an AMG-specific one for the G63, as well as subtle measures to help aerodynamics. Notice the new black trim on the A-pillar and the spoiler lip on the roof edge, which both lessen wind noise as well as improve the aerodynamics of what is essentially a box with wheels.

As you move inside, most of the updates are likewise concentrated on the extended customization scope of Manufaktur. MBUX finally comes to the G-Class range (albeit the first-generation system), because the G-Class was one of the last Mercedes-Benz models to still use the rotary dial-based COMAND infotainment.

As usual, this comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while some of the new interior features include wireless charging, climate-controlled cupholders, and an optional MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System. This is composed of two 11.6-inch touch displays, which enable rear seat passengers to watch movies, browse the internet, access trip information, and more.

Wait A Bit Longer For The Fully Electric EQG

What the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class also previews is the upcoming fully electric EQG. While the EQG is expected to look much more different with its enclosed grille and square-shaped spare tire cover, most of the minor aesthetic updates you see here actually came from lessons learned when developing the EQG. The EQG will be fitted with large batteries, but Mercedes-Benz has also revealed that the EQG will be the first model in the brand's stable to feature a silicon anode battery chemistry. This allows for an increase in energy density by around 20-40 percent compared to using graphite.

Expect the EQG to also come with quad-motor all-wheel drive (AWD), which will have the ability to simulate having three locking differentials like the mild hybrid G-Class models that just debuted. What we can also expect is a high price tag. While Mercedes-Benz has not yet revealed prices for the 2025 G550 and AMG G63, the current models cost $143,000 or $179,000, respectively.

2024-03-29T08:09:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd