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The G-wagon has fans who border on zealots, and Mercedes has just handed them a way to keep the swagger and drop the gas-guzzling guilt (assuming they have any).
The Mercedes (MBG.DE) G 580 with EQ Technology — the official name for the electric G-Class — delivers everything that makes the truck, for lack of a better term, bad ass — minus the 15-mpg consumption and cloud of carbon dioxide spewing out the tailpipe.
From the outside, this is a G-wagon through and through. Mercedes resisted the swoopy, egg-shaped blob style that afflicts many EVs. The only real change is the closed-off grille, sealed for aerodynamics — and you can option it back to the traditional louvered grille if you want the original look. The “dark blue non-metallic” paint gave our test vehicle a low-key but luxurious appearance.
This particular G 580 was also a MANUFAKTUR build, which is Mercedes-speak for a more upmarket, bespoke look inside and out. Inside, this means quilted leather, carbon-fiber trim, and a Burmester 3D surround sound system that ranks among the best I’ve heard in any car — period. The fit, finish, and materials put Mercedes in the conversation with Bentley.
Then you drive it, and it might be the best G Wagon coming out of Germany. AMG loyalists will defend the twin-turbo V8, but the EQ tech here is for real: four individually controlled electric motors, one near each wheel, combining for 579 horsepower and 859 lb-ft of torque, all of it available instantly.
Mercedes quotes a 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 112 mph. What the numbers don’t capture is how nimble it feels — genuinely agile for a vehicle that weighs 6,746 pounds. The G is supposed to be big and brawny, but this one’s quick too.
The catch, predictably, is range. With a 116-kWh battery hauling three-plus tons, combined with brick-shaped aerodynamics, the EPA rates it at 239 miles, though I was getting around 250 miles.
But I don’t see the problem. This isn’t a road-trip machine, and nobody buying it thinks it is — these owners have other cars in the garage. As an urban and suburban daily, it’s ideal because EVs do their best work at lower speeds, where the G actually returns more range than on the highway.
For how most people actually drive, it’s entirely livable. And when you do need to cover ground, the DC fast-charging system runs up to 200 kW and takes the battery from 10% to 80% in about 32 minutes. It’s not earth-shattering charging speeds, but good enough, and it just takes a little planning.
