Mercedes G-Class: Analysis of the German electric SUV

It has four motors and a 116 kW battery with revolutionary cells. It promises 282 miles of range and first-class off-road performance

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

By: Francesco Barontini

Dec 29, 2024 at 3:49am ET

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There are two types of electric Mercedes which are all distinguished by similar abbreviations consisting of the letters EQ followed by the name of the corresponding combustion model ('EQA', 'EQB', 'EQE'...). Built upon different platforms and technologies, the small models use the adapted MFA platform, whilst the big ones use the EVA, which is a brand new platform designed specifically for zero-emission flagships.

On this same platform is the Mercedes G 580 with EQ-Technology, the official name of the model initially presented as the EQG. This is the exclusively battery-powered version of the G-Class, the Stuttgart brand's famous off-roader SUV. The vehicle has the difficult task of convincing an audience of old-fashioned luxury 4x4 loyalists that switching to electric will not mean giving anything up. On the contrary, it will open up new frontiers in terms of both comfort and off-road mobility.

Mercedes G electric: platform and dimensions

We have already mentioned the platform. Mercedes' EVA is the same platform used in the EQE and EQS (both saloons and SUVs). The name stands for Electric Vehicle Architecture and was brought to debut by the EQS in 2021.

The Mercedes EQG concept presented in 2021

Scalable, though designed specifically for generously sized cars, it has the classic skateboard architecture with the batteries (large and very large) in the middle and the motors, from 2 to 4, divided between the two axles.

Specifically, the Mercedes G 580 with EQ-Technology has a length of 4.62 metres, a width of 1.93 metres and a height of 1.99 metres, with a wheelbase of 2.89 metres. Available in only one mechanical variant, it weighs 3,085 kg.

Length: 4.62 metres
Width: 1.93 metres
Height: 1.99 metres
Wheelbase: 2.89 metres
Weight: 3,085 kg

The Mercedes G-Class during an off-road test

Electric Mercedes G: space on board

Taller than it is wide and with contours that can only be described as square, the Mercedes G-Class has always offered plenty of space for the occupants. Although the length is not exaggerated (a Mercedes EQE SUV comes in at 4.88 metres, an EQS SUV even at 5.13 metres), thanks to fairly upright seats and a flat floor it accommodates up to five occupants without sacrifice.

In addition, the car has a boot capacity of 640 litres, which increases to 1,990 litres when the second row of seats are folded down. The only problem: with the tailgate hinged to the left due to the presence of the external spare wheel, loading can sometimes be more complicated than in a normal car.

Mercedes G electric: software

All models built on the EVA platform have the same digital ecosystem. It features state-of-the-art software that can be updated over-the-air for both infotainment and powertrain.

The dashboard with the dual monitor for instrumentation and infotainment

Speaking of infotainment, the car has a large panel that occupies a large part of the dashboard and houses two monitors of equal size, 12.3-inch each, dedicated respectively to instrumentation and MBUX entertainment with advanced voice assistant.

Mercedes G electric: battery and range

The electric Mercedes G 580 has a huge 116 kWh battery. It is made with cells produced by Sila, an American company that uses anodes in a patented material called Titan Silicon which, as you can guess, has a high silicon content. They provide 20% higher energy density than conventional cells with graphite anodes.

The battery powers four electric motors, two placed at the front and two at the rear, which each drive a single wheel for maximum freedom in managing torque distribution. The car, which delivers 587 PS and an impressive 1,164 Nm of torque, claims 282 miles of range.

Electric Mercedes G: recharging

One of the advantages of adopting the new battery is its recharging capacity. The electric Mercedes G-Class, in fact, achieves a direct current output of 200 kW. Other cars on the EVA platform do not exceed 170 kW. This means that the car takes around 32 minutes to go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent, which is a remarkable amount of time considering the size of the battery.

The Mercedes G-Class battery

In alternating current, on the other hand, the G-Class reaches 11 kW, thanks to the presence of an on-board charger with this power.

Mercedes G electric: prices

The electric Mercedes G 580 is offered in the UK in only one trim level at the moment - the Edition One. It starts at £180,860.

By way of comparison, the internal combustion engine versions are priced between £136,690 for the G 450 d AMG Line Premium Plus and £184,595 (a relatively close figure to the zero-emission top model) for the Mercedes-AMG G 63, which relies on the historic 4-litre V8 for slightly better performance than the electric.