Mercedes-Benz G-Class G350 Bluetec Review: Tough love

What we like:

A modern classic that possesses the same retro styling of previous generations. We love the quirky exposed hinges and clunky door lock mechanism.

What we dislike:

Hefty steering weight.

The GW is available in four engine variants, a G350 with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel, a G500 with a 5.5-litre V8 petrol and the properly mad AMG G63 5.5-litre twin turbocharged V8. And for those who are really mental, you can go for the flagship AMG G65 twin turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 with an Earth moving 1000Nm of torque.

Quite sensibly though, the model tested here is the base G350 which isn’t too shabby to begin with. With 540Nm of torque at our disposal, we’re not complaining. Moving off in the G350, you get a sense of the immense weight of the GW and at 2.6 tons, this is one vehicle you don’t want to get caught in a smash-up with. Steering weight at low speed is also quite heavy considering its immense weight and can get quite hefty for the missus.

Riding on an old-school ladder frame chassis that harks back to its military off-road requirements, it is an extremely sturdy and rugged chassis for the kind of abuse envisioned for the first generation GW. Fitted with a three-way locking differential, the GW is still a very capable off-roader. With a ground clearance of 210mm and water fording depth of 600mm, the GW is capable of more than your standard forest trails.

Though in modern times, the GW faces greater challenge in surviving a traffic jam than a muddy rutted track. Despite the off-road chassis, the GW handles the bumps and undulations of on road conditions with ease. With a ride so smooth, it almost seems as if the GW is flattening the bumps with its immense weight.

Even in corners, the GW doesn’t have as much lean as one would expect of something so tall. At highway speeds, body control is excellent with the torque surging in as low as 1,600rpm, overtaking slower vehicles is effortless. Provided the car in front hasn’t scurried out of the way already.

For those seeking something different on the roads, you can’t get much character than with the GW. With no more than a handful on our little island, you can be guaranteed it will be more exclusive than the Lamborghini Aventador.

Each G-class is still handbuilt at the same Magna-Steyr facility and commands a price tag worthy of its quality.

It’s hard not to be taken in by this beastly classic that oozes machismo from end to end.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline