Mercedes AMG G63 Review - Nuts, Outrageous and Downright Irresponsible
G Wagon soundtrack plays all of the hits
Noise. Sometimes you just can’t beat it. Particularly the noise created by an engine. It’s sad but true. I like the sound of an old InterCity 125 railway engine when it’s leaving the station. I went to Duxford Aircraft Museum and was stunned by the sound you get from a Spitfire’s Merlin engine. Whenever I watch a Star Wars film, I wait for Darth Vader to take off in his aircraft as he leads the Black Squadron in battles against the rebels.
Of course, it all went horribly wrong for ol’ Darth in the end. He should have used a Mercedes AMG G63. He’d have been unstoppable. It has, you might say, The Force. And he’d still have been accompanied by one of the best soundtracks you can possibly imagine.
Going against all logic
The G63 is one of those unlikely automotive success stories. It’s as streamlined as a house brick; it drinks fuel at a prodigious rate and it takes up more space than a skip, so why on Earth are people queueing-up to shell out £184,595 (Jan 25) for a car which started life as a military vehicle? You can go for a lesser, non-AMG G-Class model from £136,690 but, let’s face it, if you’re in this sort of territory you may as well go the whole hog and get the full fat version.
Of course, you could be sensible and head for the recently launched all-electric G-Class, but I’m sorry, I can’t resist the sound of a powerful engine and a rumbling exhaust. It’s an intoxicating mix.
A vehicle with immense presence
Let’s start with the obvious. If you like a vehicle which has immense presence, look no further. Just absorb the dimensions: 4.6 metres (15ft) in length; 1.9 metres high (6ft 3in) and you’ll need a gap that’s 2.1 metres (6ft 10in) wide to get through, unless you fold-in the wing mirrors. It tips the scales at 2.5 tonnes.
Add all of those figures together and you can see why your average fuel consumption is unlikely to get much further than the lowest 20s…if you’re lucky. Make the most of the power and enjoy playing a tune on the side exit exhaust pipes, and you can almost hear the fuel draining out of the tank because this G-Wagon comes with a 4.0 litre 577bhp V8 bi-turbo engine. 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds. Top speed 137mph. These are mightily impressive figures for such a heavy vehicle.
Little in the way of exterior changes
The model you see here is the updated G63. Outwardly there’s not a lot of difference from the previous model, but under the skin the engine now gets mild hybrid help which has shaved 0.2 seconds off that 0-60mph time thanks to providing a short 20bhp boost. The chassis has also been reworked with a new suspension set-up including an Active Ride Control system, all of which improves off-road handling and overall comfort. The most noticeable exterior change is a new selection of alloy wheels.
At this point, you may be thinking that with all of the power and the actual size of the vehicle, the G63 may be rather unwieldy, a bit of a handful. Oh, how wrong you are. Granted, it’s big, but because of the square dimensions, it’s a doddle to place on the road. There’s no sweeping bonnet to disappear from view. There are even some small indicators positioned on top of the bonnet to show you exactly where the corners are.
A thunderous growl
The sound which burbles and crackles from the exhausts is worthy of being the main reason to buy this car. Make full use of the 9-speed auto ‘box and you can either generate a low grumble or go the whole hog and unleash the banshees. Floor the throttle and after a bit of a pause whilst the V8 takes a deep breath, the whole car seems to hunker down and throw itself forward whilst drowning in a thunderous growl.
You can’t help but be fully aware of the exhaust note for the simple reason that the AMG G63 side pipes are situated roughly under your right buttock.
Even though you have mountains of performance available, the AMG G63 is actually most at home cruising along the dual carriageways. The ride is uncannily smooth and well controlled. Okay, it will also tackle seriously rough terrain, but the thought of running some bramble bushes down the side will deter most owners.
Interior is a work of art
I shan’t list the sort of equipment you get included as standard. This is an AMG Mercedes; you get everything. The interior is a work of art and is extremely comfortable. The latest G63 gets updated infotainment and a pair of 12.3-inch displays. They look good and work well. The voice control is one of the best around. It even says ‘You’re welcome’ if you say ‘thank you.’ Childish I know, but it gives passengers a laugh.
Clambering into the G63 requires a certain amount of agility but the side steps certainly help. Once you’re there, the view is sublime. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive; the soft-touch materials and LED lighting give the cabin a truly luxurious appearance.
Weirdly, despite the enormous exterior dimensions, the interior feels quite snug. Okay, there’s still plenty of room but I had a couple of rather large blokes in it last week and they were surprised by how cosy it felt.
Mercedes sticks to its guns
The thing I like about the Mercedes AMG G63 is that is still feels old school whilst being very 21st Century. There must have been a temptation in the Mercedes boardroom to ditch the boxy design. Thankfully, they didn’t. A classic example is when you slip into the swish interior. As soon as you set off, the central locking activates. Honestly, the sound it makes is like someone banging the side of a biscuit tin. It makes unwitting passengers jump with fright. Hah.
Okay, this is a car that will make tree huggers wince but if you want a luxurious car that really will cross a jungle, ford a river, tow a horse box, reverse a boat into a lake or burble up to the front of your favourite restaurant in style, then the AMG G63 fits the bill. It has character by the bucketload which, sadly, is something fewer and fewer cars possess.
We shouldn’t love it, but wow, we sure do. It’s one of a dying breed. It won’t be long before we can’t buy a car like this. If you have deep, very deep, pockets, it’s worth every penny and makes all journeys a delight. Subtle no. Brilliant yes.
It’s also great fun. If Darth Vader had one, the Empire would have been sunk.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Mercedes-Benz
