Why is the G Wagon So Expensive?

Dan19th January 2017

Why is the Mercedes G Wagon So Expensive?

The Mercedes G Wagon (also known as the G Class) has had the same core design since 1972 as a mid-sized multi terrain 4×4 and was developed as a military vehicle. It was not designed to be the fastest car in the world, which can be seen straight away from the aerodynamics, however it certainly is a “go anywhere” vehicle. The design of the G Wagon is like “marmite” on the eyes, some people love them, some think they are the worst-looking vehicles on the planet. I however love the design and believe that the G Wagon has extreme road presence.

Every time Mercedes bring out their latest addition to the G Wagon, the interior receives a complete upgrade with all the latest goodies from the factory. The handcrafted Designo leather and cabin trim has several choices of Nappa leather, four different woods and obviously carbon fibre.

g wagon mercedes — Mercedes G Wagon Saint Tropez

Mercedes G Wagon AMG Performance

With the large weight that the G Wagons possess due to the large body, sturdy ladder frame and galvanized steel body, the G Wagon deserves a might engine. There are two particular engines that suites the G Wagon best, the G550 and the G63 AMG. The G550 is a 382 horsepower engine that produces 391 lb-ft of torque that hits its peak at 1,000 rpm. The G63 AMG is my favourite with 536 horsepower on tap from a biturbo V8 engine built by hand and then mated to a 7 speed speedshift gearbox. These engines are certainly an upgrade from the earlier M103 3.0 litre petrol and the OM605 3.0 litre diesel both with less than 180 horsepower!

The modern G Wagons have all the technology that you need to drive in comfort and in safety. Some additions to mention are Distronic Plus cruise control (radar cruise control), blind spot assists, rearview camera and parktronic.

mansory g wagon — Mansory G Wagon with Carbon Fibre Bonnet

Its not just AMG that take the G Wagon and improve them even further with interior and performance modifications. The legendary Brabus have touched the G Wagon with various versions, however the 850 horsepower stands out the most due to the ridiculousness of power. In the picture above, Mansory have taken the G Wagon and added carbon fibre and a stunning red convertible roof with matching red stitching trim. However, possible the maddest car in the world has to be the 6×6 G Wagon as seen below, which was built in limited numbers for obvious reasons.

How Much Are The Current G-Wagons?

If you are in the position to purchase one of the current G-Wagon’s, you’ll be expected to pay over £200,000 for an AMG version with the bi-turbo 4 litre V8. Of course, not everyone has that sort of money in their back pocket, so it may be a better option to look at the available Mercedes lease deals. For example, you may be able to lease a G-Wagon for around £2-3,000 a month depending upon the specification and engine.

Alternatively, if you want to avoid the depreciation, the older G-Wagons (particularly from 2012 and newer) and excellent options to consider. Our favourite is of course the M156 6.2 NA powered G-Wagon. However, the only downside of the older style is that you really do feel like you are driving a truck/van as opposed to a luxury vehicle.