2020 Mercedes-Benz G550 And 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 Test ...

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I recently had a chance to drive two versions of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, which got me thinking: How does a designer know when a work is finished? Leonardo da Vinci may have said “Art is never finished; only abandoned.” Of course, Leonardo never saw a Gelandewagen, the biggest outlier in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. The G-Class was retro before the retro trend. Adopted by the fashionable elite for its rugged charm, it is supremely capable, but rarely challenged. Over 40 years since its debut, the G-Class has retained its blocky, utilitarian exterior shape while evolving with a luxury interior and sophisticated powertrain, mechanicals and technological prowess.

G-Class, or G-wagen, debuted as a 1979 model designated W460. The updated second-generation vehicle, W463, launched in 1991, while a parallel military/commercial version (W461) debuted shortly after. G-Class was first officially marketed in the United States starting in the 2002 model year, though gray market models had been trickling in for years. A second generation W463 was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2018 for the 2019 model year, the G-Class’s first major redesign since 1979.

For the 2020 model year in the US, two models of G-Class are available: the Mercedes-Benz G550 (starting at $130,900) and the Mercedes-AMG G63 (starting at $156,450). With option, packages and extras, the sky is the limit for the G-wagen, thanks in part to the G manufaktur Program, which allows for extensive interior and exterior customization, with over 1 million possible combinations. Each G-Class vehicle is hand-built in Graz, Austria.

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I drove the two G-Class models back-to-back, spending a week behind the wheel of each flavor.

G550 and G63 share a long list of standard attributes, which include a lot more luxury, convenience and safety features than might be expected from outward appearance. The latest version of COMAND Navigation (with three years of map updates) operates through a 12.3-inch widescreen display at the top of the center stack. In the G63, the COMAND screen shares a housing with a matched 12.3-inch virtual instrument panel, a sleek, seamless installation that adds cool customization to the gauge cluster (an $850 option on G550). You can coordinate the colors on your instrument panel with the multicolor ambient cabin lighting to create an atmosphere to fit your mood. Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is Burmester Surround Sound with gorgeous pierced metal speaker grilles – and great sound, of course.

My 2020 G550 came with the standard package of features, and added $3,950 designo Night Black Magno matte paint, G manufaktur Black Flamed Open-Pore Ash Wood Trim, the $12,200 Exclusive Interior Package Plus, $1,900 Night Package, $3,470 AMG Line, $1,400 Suspension with Adaptive Damping Adjustment, $850 12.3-inch Widescreen Instrument Cluster, $250 Heated Steering Wheel, $300 20-inch AMG Multi-Spoke Black Wheels, $550 Leather Grab Handles, and $995 Destination and Delivery Charge, bringing the “as-tested” price to $158,065.

My 2020 G63 was loaded up with G manufaktur Jupiter Red paint ($6,500), AMG Carbon Fiber Trim ($3,700), AMG Night Package ($1,950), G manufaktur Interior Package ($3,100), AMG Carbon Fiber Engine Cover ($1,500), Heated Steering Wheel ($250), AMG Performance Steering Wheel in DINAMICA/Carbon Fiber ($900), 22-inch Forged AMG Cross-Spoke Wheels ($4,450), Leather Grab Handles ($550), AMG Top Speed Delimiter ($2,700), and Destination and Delivery Fee ($995) for an “as-tested” price of $182,545.

Under the hood, G550’s 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 engine is tuned to produce 416 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, a big scoop less than G63’s handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter Biturbo V8’s 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. Each uses Camtronic cylinder deactivation and each comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with sequential lockable differentials and a low range gearbox.

Safety has been integrated into the G-Class, with the usual Mercedes commitment to active and passive safety and advanced driver assistance features. G550 gets a rear view camera, Active Brake Assist, Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, and Blind Spot Assist along with Pre-Safe Predictive Occupant Protection System, while G63 upgrades to standard Attention Assist and a Surround View Camera. Active Lane Keeping Assist on both the G550 and G63 proved to be an alarming distraction, as the system feels like it both brakes and steers the vehicle away from the lane line rather abruptly when it detects drifting. This intervention might help prevent an unintended drift into oncoming traffic, but it could also induce unintended consequences in the opposite direction, and should be engaged only with a full understanding of how it works.

As well-equipped and luxurious as both G550 and G63 are, there are a few peculiar omissions from the standard and available feature lists. Heated front and rear seats are standard, but ventilated front seats are only available as part of the Seat Comfort Package ($2,220), Exclusive Interior Package Plus ($9,980), G manufaktur Interior Package ($5,880) or G manufaktur Interior Package Plus ($10,830. Keyless-Start is standard on both G550 and G63, but there’s no option for Hands-Free Access (to open the tailgate by waving a foot beneath the bumper) or Keyless-Go (to unlock and lock the car door without touching the key fob) , features that are available even on the GLA-Class. While there are two USB charging ports and three power outlets, there’s no standard or available inductive charging station.

If you’re looking for a city cruiser, a vehicle that will impress with its features, intimidate with its exhaust note and quickness off the line, dazzle with its flash – then G63 is for you. That potent AMG engine gives the big SUV impressive quickness, and the standard AMG Ride Control sport suspension and AMG High-Performance braking system allow you to take full advantage of it. Opt for the $3,700 AMG Carbon Fiber interior trim, and you’ve got a stunningly modern cabin, and you can’t do better than the $900 AMG Performance steering wheel in Dinamica and carbon fiber.

If you’re looking for a vehicle to take you on an overlanding adventure, G550 is probably a better choice. On the roads less traveled, you won’t miss the bonus horsepower, while you will appreciate the additional compliance of standard 19-inch wheels versus the skinny rubber on the standard 20-inch AMG wheels or optional 22-inch wheels. While the standard AMG Performance Exhaust on the G63 is attractive and sounds great, the tailpipe tips that project ahead of the rear wheels below the running boards would be seriously vulnerable in breaking over obstacles.

Other manufacturers have tried to duplicate the G-Class’s appeal over the years – witness the HUMMER H3, Land Rover LR4, Jeep Commander, and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with hardtop – but nobody has committed to the look, feel and function of the Gelandewagen, still an original and the funkiest outlier in the Mercedes-Benz lineup.

You don’t have to be a Kardashian (or even know what one is) to drive a G-Class, but be prepared to get a lot of stares and envy. Take pride in your ride. If you don’t want to be accused of being a poser, consider exploring the G-Class Experience (G-Class-Experience.com), a Mercedes-Benz driving program in Graz, Austria (starting at 1,780 Euros) where owners and enthusiasts can learn about the capabilities and limits of the G-wagen in its natural element. Whether you choose the 2020 Mercedes-Benz G550 or Mercedes-AMG G63, the G-Class is a remarkable vehicle that can take you to the ends of the Earth in comfort and style.

Follow me on Twitter. Check out my website. Jason Fogelson

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