Mercedes-Benz electric G-Wagen review: king of the off-road

As exciting as it is to see how electric technology redefines automotive transportation, it’s just as exciting to see how it alters what we already have. In the aftermarket, EV-converted restomods are quickly becoming big business. But direct from manufacturers, there’s great potential in electrifying legacy badges by seamlessly blending old design with new technology.

Case in point is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, better known as the EV Geländewagen (which is German for all-terrain vehicle), or G-Wagen. Starting at $162,650, the G580 stays true to its original design formula but also utilizes EV technology to bolster its off-road prowess and overall appeal as a daily luxury SUV.

If it weren’t for swapping its spare tire carrier for a smaller storage box that contains a charging cable, you might have trouble distinguishing the G580 from its gas-powered G550 and AMG G 63 siblings. Rest assured, things are quite different underneath. Instead of internal combustion engine power and drivetrain, each wheel has its own permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor and two-speed transmission, netting a combined output of 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque.

Providing power to these units is a 116 kWh battery pack, situated in the middle of the chassis and protected by a thick sheet of carbon composite material. It’s waterproof, too, and enables the G580 to roll through a water depth of 33.5 inches — nearly six more than the 550 and 63. Onboard charging is rated at 9.6 kW, and DC Fast Charging tops out at 200 kW, allowing it to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 32 minutes.

Range is rated at 238 miles, which may sound low, but it’s understandable for something so heavy, tall, and sporting a very un-aerodynamic shape. I saw as much as 200 miles in mixed driving that was mostly on highways.

What people either tend to forget or simply don’t know is that the G-Wagen has always been tremendously capable off-road. The new G580 doesn’t stray from this formula, but it goes one step further by blending its EV powertrain with conventional off-roader chassis design. The result is a harmonious blend of old and new technology.

Adaptive dampers and conventional coil springs sit at a fixed ride and are tied to its body-on-frame chassis via a double-wishbone setup up front, a solid rear axle out front. This allows for as much as 9.8 inches of ground clearance, plus 32-degree approach, 30.7-degree departure, and 20.3-degree breakover angles.

My testbed was the Rowher Flats Off-Highway Vehicle area in California. I initially had some reservations about the Falken summer street tires, but they were quickly dispelled: this thing was impressive in how it took on a good variety of ascents and descents, and at some menacing angles. A big benefit of EV powertrains is that traction control is immensely precise due to fewer components working to maximize grip. The mighty G barely slipped a tire across fine and rough gravel, small and large rocks, and every other form of terra firma in this part of the country.

I engaged its low range, which synthesizes a conventional low gear set by enabling a gear reduction on each motor for more instant torque, but I don’t think it was necessary. One particular trail routinely possessed up to 44 degrees of pitch, up and down, but the boxy Benz simply didn’t care. Then, when I attempted to max out rear axle articulation over some complicated, rutted features on one particular downhill section, in the service of eye-catching photography, I was left with a boring scene of all tires touching the ground in assured confidence.

Finally, I had to try one of the G580’s most intriguing party tricks: G turns. This is a setting that allows it to spin 180 degrees in place, and it’s just as entertaining behind the wheel as it is to watch. There is a use case, such as when you have to change direction and there’s no room for a multipoint turn — however, the general area around it must be perfectly flat. It’s definitely narrow in its application, but who cares? It’s fun as hell.

Once I returned to paved civilization, the G-Wagen assumed its more common identity as a comfortable cruising SUV with great overall visibility. Despite tipping the scale at 6,746 lbs, this thing boogies in a straight line and will reach 60 mph in under five seconds. Having such joie de vivre in a narrow, stilted package may sound alarming at first, but it actually demonstrated solid athleticism on twisty roads.

Unless someone isn’t keen on its looks or the negative connotations the badge often carries, there isn’t much to dislike about the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580. It’s massively fun off-road, comfortable around town, blisteringly fast, and has a commanding view of the road that makes it a great in-town runabout. Its range isn’t the greatest, but I wouldn’t say it’s a major issue, either, unless one were crafted into a dedicated overlanding rig.

Despite its steep price, Mercedes has come up with something quite special in the G580.

Photography by Peter Nelson / The Verge