A derivative of the farmed Mercedes Benz Gelaendewagen that has seen years of military use in Europe, the G500 has been given a thorough and tasteful updating to make it as well mannered on pavement as it is capable of trudging along through the backcountry. According to Mercedes Benz, the G500 is the only SUV in the US equipped with three differential locks; front, center and rear. But, thanks to many standard features, there may be no need to lock any differentials in all but the most harrowing off pavement situations. The electronic 5 speed adaptive automatic transmission with manual shift function boasts an electronically controlled high and low range transfer case. Low gear can be selected on the fly when traveling slower than 15 mph. There’s also a full time 4 wheel drive system, traction control and ESP stability control to further aid grip in all conditions, all the time. When the ESP system (now standard on all Mercedes Benz vehicles) senses understeer or oversteer, it selectively applies the brakes to individual wheels to help correct the condition and stabilize the vehicle.
There’s no mistaking the G Class’s full bore truck roots. Everything about this vehicle feels incredibly rock solid, but as opposed to the heft of other heavy duty trucks and SUV’s there is amazing precision, too. The live axle front and rear, along with large 18-in tries and a sturdy chassis, give it an impregnable tank like feel. And while the G500 is rather tall, almost all its mass is located in the lower half of the truck, making for less body roll than one would expect in daily driving.
