Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology: The Electric G
How it looks when you see it on the street: It’s commonly known as the G Wagen, but To dive into the Mercedes-Benz G580 (with EQ Technology) driver’s seat is to make a splash. The electrified power is the cherry on top of the story, and why we wish it was simply called “Electric G,” a much cooler name. But looks supersede formalities. Our test vehicle was canary-street sign-submarine-yellow, and boy did we get attention on the street of Palm Beach. The boxy aesthetic is a head turner, so much so that people noticed us and recognized us as G Wagen driver’s. Not for the faint hearted, the fun is infectious.
How it makes you feel when you get in: Anything but lowkey, the G580 drives like rising to the occasion. It’s high up, requires a little muscle to shut those doors, part of it’s nostalgic charm that says “built in Graz, Austria” AKA Alpine country. The interior styling and switches feels log-cabin cozy, except for that big infotainment screen, which is more thoughtfully integrated into the layout than many other cars on the road today.
How it drives: Four electric motors add tremendous power to the tune of 579 Horsepower and 859 lb-ft or Torque. That makes it fast, zipping from 0 to 60 mile per hour in about 4.1 seconds. That power is necessary when during our drive, a few super car drivers challenged us at the lights, it’s important for the G to show and prove. It’s equipped with a200 kW DC Fast Charging System good for 239 miles of range on a full charge. Charging up at our hotel meant we never had range anxieties after days of tooling around Palm Beach, the G’s natural habitat. Sure, it’s got the offroad flex and flexibility. It’s also got dance moves: Google “G turn” to see how it handles spotting the land. It’s ready for the winds, rains, and anything you throw at it.
Space for people and things: Not quite as much storage as the gas version, however we loaded ours up with sports equipment and three suitcases and had no issues on storage space.
What makes it stand out: The option for $8,000 grab handles in leather, because why not?
What should you compare it to: The other six cars in this customer’s garage: Ferrari Purosangue, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin DBX, and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It’s the only all-electric kid on the block at this level of unapologetic ostentation. The Mercedes-Benz G63 is it gas powered analog.
How much does it cost: It’s not for the fainthearted starting at $161,500 and the total for our test model was $182,450.00