2026 Mercedes-Benz G450d Review

Merc’s G-Class occupies a special spot in the world of SUVs. While everyone wants the G 63, the ‘entry level’ G450d is the smarter buy. But it seems G owners have more dollars than sense. 

At the sharper end of the car market, vehicles are less about getting from A to B, and more of an extension of the owner’s personality. This leads to more emotionally-driven decision making, which can mean the more sensible vehicle variants can be overlooked for the one that will get the most Instagram likes.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a perfect example of this. AMG’s full-fat, twin-turbo V8-equipped G 63 makes up more than half of the total global sales for the G, and I think those owners have got it wrong. At its core the G-Class is an off-road SUV with roots in the military vehicle segment. Mercedes-Benz still offers the G Professional in international markets, which is the German answer to a Land Cruiser 70 Series. It’s easy to draw a direct connection from these humble beginnings of the G-Class to the G450d, which is the latest diesel-powered version of the German off-roader. It has landed with a few updates, but they haven’t spoiled the formula.  

An Exercise in Relativity  

In New Zealand, this new Mercedes-Benz G450d starts from $216,100. This means most of the population can’t afford it, and explains why the Toyota Land Cruiser is a far more popular choice in this segment. You could spend $161,000 on a range-topping Land Cruiser 300, which makes the G450d look pricey. One way to even this out is by checking out the price tag of the aforementioned AMG G 63, which starts from $347,900 in New Zealand.  

And while you get a twin-turbo V8 that delivers more power than you’ll ever need (plus those side-exit exhausts), I genuinely think the sweet spot of the G-Class range lies with this G450d. 

Humble Beginnings, Lavish Lifestyle 

Despite the G’s origin story being rooted in military mud-bogging, this SUV is far from humble in its modern form. Don’t be fooled by the old fashioned door handles and exposed roof gutters; they’re included to add retro charm. 

Up front, the G450d is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine, which is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This diesel engine produces a respectable 270kW and 750Nm. It has gained electrical assistance for this generation, featuring a 48-volt mild hybrid system. As the aesthetic suggests, it also gets a genuine four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case and three locking differentials. Though it isn’t the biggest SUV around, with a total length of 4825mm, it’s quite imposing, standing at 1973mm tall.  

Moving past the retro exterior, the interior of this G450d is in line with Mercedes’ modern offerings. It gets a large digital cluster behind the steering wheel, and the latest MBUX infotainment display in the centre of the dash. There’s also a Burmester sound system with more customisation options than most will need, and a bunch of buttons to control everything which keeps us journos happy.

One thing I’m always baffled by in any G Wagon I drive is the lack of back seat space. As one of the larger SUVs on the road, you’d think the G450d would have oodles of space in the rear, but this just isn’t the case. Headroom isn’t an issue for obvious reasons, but the packaging severely limits legroom in the second row. This isn’t helped by the massive boot behind the back seats, where an extra two seats could easily be thrown in. But in saying that, the G formula is one Mercedes is very hesitant to change, so I doubt we’ll see a seven-seater anytime soon. 

The Sweet Spot 

On the road, the G450d proves its point of being the best G-Class variant straight away. The diesel engine is smooth and quiet, while always ready to deliver enough torque to push the 2.5-tonne SUV down the road at any given point.  

While its performance doesn’t match the 4.4-second 0-100km/h time of the G63, the G450d’s 5.8-second time is more than respectable. Where the acceleration of the AMG variant almost defies physics, the diesel still almost feels too quick for the G’s size. It’s also extremely effortless in this acceleration, which adds to the luxury aura. 

While the engine does a good job of hiding the extreme mass of the G, it’s far more noticeable in the corners. This “entry-level” model misses out on the fancy air suspension that’s standard on the G63. The springs do their best in keeping the G level in the corners, but body roll is still noticeable. This obviously isn’t aided by the relatively high centre of gravity.  

While horse floats are probably all the G450d is destined to tow, Mercedes rates it to a maximum braked capacity of 3.2 tonnes. Given the chops of this machine, this is probably a modest number, rated conservatively by German engineers.  

Though fuel economy isn’t massively important to those in G-Class circles, the G450d is a respectable sipper. With electric assistance from the 48-volt system, the 3.0-litre diesel engine averages around the 9L/100km mark. I saw this jump to the region of 12L/100km during urban driving, but the motorway is where the G feels most comfortable. Here, the nine-speed transmission keeps the engine unstressed as it lumbers away in the 1000-2000rpm region.

It’s also a shame that most G owners would rather scale kerbs at their local shopping centres than properly test its capabilities, because it is more than capable of handling some serious stuff. I wasn’t able to test this properly this time around, but I have previously been well off the beaten track in a G, and it’s so effortless in its abilities. 

This is no fluke though, as the G is built in the same Austrian factory as Mercedes’ all-conquering Unimog. As standard, all Gs come with front, rear, and middle locking differentials, which can be controlled through the conveniently placed toggle switches on the dash. There’s also the off-road cockpit, which displays far more information than any recreational off-roader will ever need.

All this impressive gear does come at the cost of the G’s everyday liveability, as its turning circle is laughably large. Officially, it sits at 13.6 metres, meaning any sort of u-turn on a city street turns into a three, maybe four-point turn.  

A Perfect Companion?  

There are no two ways about it, this G450d is one of the best vehicles I have ever had the pleasure of testing. The powertrain is torquey, the ride is supple, and the build quality makes it feel like a road-going tank. 

At over $210,000 it’s expensive, and isn’t perfect by any means. The laptop-style touchpad for the infotainment screen is finicky, and feels dated. The turning circle is also silly for a car that will spend the majority of its life in shopping centre carparks. 

But if you are looking for an almost-perfect all-rounder, and aren’t afraid of German prices, this G450d is an exceptional automotive companion.

That said, I somewhat feel like I’m yelling into the void, as the G 63 will no doubt continue to be the best-selling G, and the 450d will be exclusively bought by German quantity surveyors with an eye for quality. This also means my hopes of buying a depreciated diesel in a decade will be drowned out by V8 sounds blasted from those obnoxious side pipes.  

Mercedes-Benz G450d

$216,100  /  9.4L/100km  /  227g/km
0-100 km/h 5.8s
Engine  2989cc / IL6 / TDI
Max power  270kW@4000rpm
Max torque  750Nm@1350rpm
Drivetrain  9-speed auto / switchable 4×4
Front suspension  Mac strut / swaybar
Rear suspension  Solid axle / swaybar
Turning circle  13.6m 
Front brakes  Ventilated discs (345mm)
Rear brakes  Ventilated discs (345mm)
Stability systems  ABS, ESP
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB
Tyre size  f/r-265/60R18
Wheelbase  2890mm
L/W/H  4825 / 1931 / 1973mm
Track f-1637mm  r-1638mm
Fuel capacity  100L
Luggage capacity  640L
Tow rating  750kg (3175kg braked
Service intervals  12 months / 15,000km
Scheduled servicing  3yrs / unlimited km
Warranty  5yrs / unlimited km
ANCAP rating  ★★★★★ (2019)
Weight (claimed)  2555kg