If you want to appear extra tough in a sea of crossovers and SUVs, you almost have to opt for something like a Mercedes G-Class. Too expensive? Then there’s good news, because the iconic G is getting a little brother.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class virtually needs no introduction. With a life that began as a military vehicle and has produced an endless number of civilian variants since the 1970s, it is one of the greatest icons in Mercedes and automotive history. Given the status of this off-road beast, it’s not surprising that Mercedes dared not introduce a completely new G-Class for a very long time. When it finally happened in 2018, the car looked like two peas in a pod compared to its iconic predecessor.
It is remarkable that Mercedes has always suppressed the urge to milk the success of the G-Class by developing all sorts of derivatives. The brand’s more conventional SUVs invariably received a completely different and much smoother design. And where Jeep liberally sprinkles Wrangler elements and Ford makes the Bronco more widely available with the Bronco Sport, Mercedes has, until now, stuck with that one, large, expensive G.
Until now, but that won’t always be the case. Mercedes is now working on a brand-new and as yet unnamed model that will strongly resemble the G-Class but will be smaller and cheaper. Roughly think of the size of a GLB, although the proportions will be somewhat different. Rumors about this car have been circulating for more than ten years, but recently it has become more concrete. For example, we already saw the ‘baby-G’ driving by in camouflage, which formed a good basis for our in-house artist’s drawings that you see on these pages.
With its square body, visible ‘rain gutters’, raised bonnet, and angular, protruding wheel arches, the small G leaves no doubt about its source of inspiration. Furthermore, we already know that the car will not have a traditional tailgate, but a left-opening door with a spare-wheel-like ornament on it. Incidentally, that wheel is optional on the regular G-Class, and on the electric G, you can also have a storage box for your charging cable mounted here, so it’s not certain that an actual wheel will be placed here.
Everything unique
The unique shapes and unique details are causing many headaches for Mercedes. Chief technology officer Markus Schäfer has already hinted that this project is taking much longer than expected, precisely because as few parts as possible from more everyday models can be used. According to Schäfer, that would only harm the unique character of the G-Class.
That goes quite far. For example, the small G-Class will reportedly receive a unique chassis, a smaller version of the ladder chassis found under the ‘real’ G-Class, because the smaller model must also possess serious off-road capabilities. Only the powertrains may not be unique. Just like the new CLA and GLB, the emphasis will undoubtedly be on fully electric variants, but ‘regular’ (mild-)hybrids with an internal combustion engine will also be available. These powertrains will undoubtedly be shared with the other compact models, but that is absolutely no shame.
The compact G-Class is expected to appear on the scene by 2027 at the latest and will immediately find a direct rival. Land Rover, which now also uses ‘Defender’ as a brand, is currently working on a smaller model below the Defender that, in terms of philosophy and positioning, resembles the small G-Class like two drops of water. True to the recipe of its iconic basis, but more compact and affordable.
Given that even the expensive, large Defender is quite popular and many Dutch people would gladly step into a G-Class if it were feasible, one should not be surprised if we see these ‘small’ brutes quite often in the Netherlands.