2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class looks old, but very new underneath

In the past, there had been several automotive legends that were too good to just vanish into the history books. One such vehicle is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Released in 1979, the Mercedes BenzG-Class, or G-Wagen, as it’s better known, had survived four decades since its inception. And now at the 2018 Detroit Motor Show, Mercedes revealed an all-new generation of the 2019 G-Class which is just as rugged as the old one.

The new G-Class has grown in size, adding 52.5mm to the length, 120mm to the width and 7.5mm to the height. Exterior updates mostly include new headlights and tail lights, slimmer indicators, and new wheels. Many edges are smoothened out but the basic essence of the G-Class’s design is retained.

The room inside has grown, thanks to the increase in the size of the vehicle. The rear seat passengers are now offered an extra 150mm of legroom. A long display setup consisting of two 12.3-inch monitors are placed on the dashboard, similar to what we’ve been seeing in the latest C and E-Class models. If you fancy the old-school analogue setup for the speedo and tacho, Mercedes will swap a screen for some good old dials. Every bit of the interior is updated for better comfort and looks.

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, though polished, is not going to be a slug off the asphalt. It still gets three independently lockable differentials and a low-range gearbox which are complemented by an updated suspension setup. The front suspension is now an independent unit that can improve the 2019 G-Class’s on-road manners a lot. Mercedes promises that this will not hamper its go-anywhere ability in any way. Approach, departure, and breakover angles are improved by one degree.

The 2019 G-Class in its G550 trim will be powered by the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 from the current model. This mill, good for 416 hp and 610 Nm, will be paired with a new nine-speed automatic gearbox. This is offered with Comfort, Sport, Eco and Individual modes and a Dynamic Select switch to toggle between them. There is a new mode called “G-Mode” that gets activated when the three differentials are locked and the car is slotted into low-range gear. This adapts the damping of the chassis and steering as well as the throttle response to eliminate unnecessary gear changes.

The 2019 G-Class will hit the markets by the end of 2018 closer to which the prices will be announced. Expect it to be around the Dhs 500,000 mark in the UAE.