Mercedes-Benz is finally bringing the flagship model of their G-Class to the United States with the 2016 G65 AMG. The G-Class is also referred to as the G-Wagen and stands for Gelandewagen, which means "cross country vehicle." The only problem is that I can't see any real G's riding in one of these.
The G-Class was launched back in 1979 and versions of the Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG have been sold overseas since 2012. The first problem with this vehicle is it looks like the ugly stepchild of a jeep and a tank. So if you are not getting an attractive vehicle, what exactly will you get from your oversized Mercedes?
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Under the hood will be a twin-turbocharged 6.0 liter V12 engine capable of 604 horsepower. That sounds alright, but this lame attempt at a luxury SUV only has a top speed of 143 miles per hour and takes 5.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. It will also be a huge gas guzzler getting only 7 to 9 miles per gallon from its 25 gallon tank! The 2016 Mercedes G65 AMG will have a seven-speed automatic transmission and sit atop 20 inch AMG wheels.
All of this can be yours for almost a quarter of a million dollars! With a starting price of $217,900, I don't see what this vehicle really has to offer. If you want something like this you would probably be better off with the competition, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, which is about $157 thousand. Better yet, why not go with something that looks and drives a lot better, like a classic Mercedes sports car.
If you must have one of these Mercedes G65 AMG's, they will start to arrive at dealerships later this year, but please let me know your reasoning. I can certainly understand why Mercedes-Benz has not brought this line to the United States yet.
