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AUTO REVIEW

The Mercedes Gelandewagen, all new for 2019, though you’d Mercedes took care to ensure that both the G-wagens can han-
never know it by looking at it, is a triumph of old over new. It’s dle off-roading even better than their sure-footed predecessors by
completely old school, with nary a hint of interest in what comes including five on-road driving modes and three for off-road.
next, let alone what’s going to happen in 20 years. In fact, it’s not While I can’t imagine American owners subjecting their G-wagens
wrong to say that the 2019 G-wagen is the automotive past giving to anything worse than bad weather, serious capability is there
the future the middle finger. when you need it.
Take the exterior design for starters. Looking just like the box The interior of the previous G-wagen was that of an old SUV
it came in, the G63 AMG I tested begged the question of just with modern parts and pieces added on, but the 2019 interior is
how much time Mercedes’ styling team spent on it. Every body all new, completely modern, and similar to what you’ll find in an
panel is new, and yet even seasoned car spotters will have trouble E- or S-class. The gauges are all electronic, and welcome Mercedes
telling the new “G” from the old one, despite the fact that the niceties like beautiful round air vents, soft leather, and nice-to-
2019 version is slightly longer and a whopping 5 inches wider. It’s touch buttons and knobs are all there. A configurable double
unapologetically unaerodynamic in a way that seems to say, “I screen infotainment system like the one in my test vehicle is op-
don't care what the price of gasoline is. Ever.” But it’s visually tional (and recommended at just $850), but even the standard set
unique and gets noticed, which is undoubtedly most of its appeal. up is contemporary and attractive. The larger footprint of the
The original Gelandewagen was introduced in 1979 as a mil- 2019 G-wagen results in more space for up to five passengers in-
itary vehicle tweaked for civilian use, and it quickly joined the cluding six additional inches of rear foot room. Oddly, Mercedes
Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser as go-anywhere made sure the G-wagen still has the world's loudest central locking
utility vehicles destined for places like the Australian Outback system. Weird.
and Scottish sheep farms. Mercedes continually enhanced and it was in the previous G-wagen – though it’s not as good as in its
Driving the G63 AMG is not bad. The ride is much better than
refined it expecting that the G would stop selling as more mod-
ern SUVs arrived in the scene, but it never did. Instead it be-
engine is loud though, and the experience of being behind the
came cool, appearing in countless rap videos and becoming a sibling, the GLS – and the big brute handles surprisingly well. The
regular sight in tony locales like Nantucket, Aspen, and Bel Air. wheel becomes a little tiring after a while. Give me a GLS any day,
So, in order to conform with ever tightening safety require- although more extroverted buyers will be drawn to the G-wagen’s
ments and make it more comfortable, Mercedes engineered a undeniably rakish personality.
new ladder frame platform and created the first truly modern As noted above, many options and packages are available to
G-wagen in 40 years. personalize your vehicle, and a conversation with Phil Hornbeak
Available in either just-wow G550 or completely over-the-top will help you get the right G (or any other car) for you.
G63 AMG versions, the Gelandewagen is fast. The G550 provides The surprisingly popular Gelandewagen is all new for 2019,
a 416 HP 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, good for a 0-60 MPH time of bringing many modern features to what remains an old school
5.4 seconds, while the 577 HP version of the same engine does vehicle. It drives better, is faster and more spacious, and now
the deed in just 4.4 seconds. All G-wagens come with a 9-speed includes modern Mercedes technology. It’s anything but under-
automatic transmission. stated, and therefore won’t appeal to many customers, but for
Fuel economy is as dismal as you’d expect: 13 MPG city/17 those who appreciate the G-wagen life, it entails far fewer com-
MPG highway for the G550 and 13/15 for the G63 AMG. Those promises than the previous one did.
are not surprising numbers, of course, but they are certainly dis-
couraging. As always, call Phil Hornbeak at 210-301-4367 for more infor-
Another sobering number is $148,495, the base price of the mation and to get your best BCMS deal.
2019 G63 AMG. And that’s without options, which seemingly
every buyer of German luxury cars these days adds. The G550 Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterolo-
starts at “just” $125,495, and I doubt any reader will be shocked gist who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was
to learn that most G-wagen buyers choose the AMG version. stationed here in the U.S. Air Force. He has been writing
The G550 and G63 AMG look very similar, but the AMG version auto reviews for San Antonio Medicine since 1995.
has a more aggressive grille, slightly flared fenders, and side exhausts.

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