Mercedes-Benz G-Class Experience - Living the Dream

As longtime readers of the magazine will know, I’ve been an unabashed G-Wagon fan for decades. The G is one of those perplexing machines that don’t really make any sense, but at the same time, they are the best choices you can make. Why, after all, would anyone need a twin-turbo V8 engine in a car that was designed to go off-road and has three differential locks to make sure that it can tackle any terrain? Or why would anyone need side-exit exhausts that make an absolutely beautiful racket when you rev the car?

And yet, that’s exactly what makes the G so special. The mechanical feel, the sheer solidity of its construction – well, it’s all intoxicating, really. Take the doors, for instance. As our instructor at the G Experience centre joked, ‘You can’t slam a G-Wagon’s door too hard – you simply need to use your strength to close it.’ When it shuts, with a solid sound of the central locking, it feels like you’ve sealed a vault full of precious jewels.

A Glimpse into History

Before participating in the G-Class experience, we toured the assembly line that’s been manufacturing every single G-Wagon since 1979. In fact, the G is exclusively built by Magna for Mercedes at the Graz plant – the only facility in the world to do so from day one.

And we witnessed the whole plant and the processes through which a G-Wagon is built. Watching all of it in motion was fascinating. From various exterior colours to different interior trims, each G-Wagon feels like it’s made to a personal brief rather than a production quota. The pride that Graz takes in being home to the production of the G-Wagon is palpable – locals even boast about custom-built versions, like the ‘Popemobile’ based on the G580 electric, which was created for Pope Francis.

Proof is in the Pudding

But the real magic began at the G-Class Experience Centre, tucked away in a corner of Graz Airport. It’s here that the G’s mettle can be tested across an array of brutal challenges. Before we hit the course, though, we were greeted by an extraordinary sight – the original 1979 G-Wagon encased in the world’s largest single piece of amber. Created for the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, it weighs a mind-boggling 44 tonnes – a fitting tribute to a machine that has become a legend in its own right.

After a quick briefing, it was time to get serious and drive the G through challenging conditions and see how it fares. Behind the wheel of the G 500 and G 450d, we tackled the articulation course first. With the centre differential locked, the G simply drove through obstacles with ease. Next came the side-incline test. We tilted the G up to a dizzying 36 degrees, the maximum Mercedes claims it can handle under standard test conditions. And yes, it felt every bit as dramatic as it sounds.

Flooded Roads?

The next driving challenge was perhaps the most relatable one for Indian conditions – deep-water wading. It effectively mimicked the monsoon chaos that we witness every year in cities like Delhi, Gurugram, and Mumbai. We drove through 700mm of standing water, which effectively demonstrated how the G-Wagon might just be the perfect car for anyone living on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road. Despite the water level, all we had to do was slot the G in gear – it simply glided through the water as if it were a puddle.

After the off-roading and water wading, things got a bit more interesting and challenging. We switched to the G580 EV and attempted some serious climbs and drops that were designed to showcase the its off-road capabilities. We began with a climb on an 80% incline, which the G handled effortlessly, except for some traction and slippage issues caused by the rubber deposits left by other cars. I took another run at it, and this time, I managed to get it to climb the incline without any issue. Immediately after came a 70% descent – nearly vertical – and though it looked terrifying, the G’s hill descent system handled it immaculately.

From there, we switched to the G63 AMG and experienced its dynamic capabilities on a stretch of the airport’s tarmac. We tested its acceleration, braking, and even performed the Elk Test manoeuvre. It was a thrilling experience to push such a large, heavy machine to its limits and see how it behaves. Add to all this the V8’s amazing exhaust note, and it was pure mechanical theatre.

Reality Check

While we couldn’t tackle the legendary Schöckl Mountain course this time, it was still an amazing experience. In fact, the G-Class Experience Centre has plenty to offer for both customers and enthusiasts. From the off-road course to the G-Class EV experience and the dynamic section with the G63 AMG, there was no shortage of adrenaline. But just when we thought the day was done, the team at the G Experience Centre had a surprise in store – a ride with one of their instructors across the entire course.

Now, since all the instructors have a racing background, we should’ve known what was coming. Still, nothing could have prepared us for what followed. Our instructor took the same course we’d spent all day carefully crawling through – water wading, inclines, descents, and the dynamic section – and drove it like a full-blown rally car. He blasted through water wading sections at nearly 100km/h, flew up and down inclines we had tiptoed over at 6km/h, and even drifted the G-Wagon through the tarmac section while taking U-turns, casually chatting the entire time. He did it all and in style!

After spending the day feeling rather proud of my on- and off-road driving skills, that ride was a brutal, and hilarious, reality check. Still, getting to drive one my favourite cars, experience its full range of abilities, and live the G-Wagon life – even for a day – was an experience that I will never forget. And given the chance, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.