The Mercedes G-Wagen is legendary. It’s Hollywood off-road in a boxy, impractical, cost-prohibitive package. That, of course, is why it’s so friggin’ awesome.
The G 580 is the battery-electric version of the current-generation G-Wagen and it adds a new level of conundrum to the already confusing G Class. The batteries are somehow appealing to the “green credibility” crowd. Despite nothing else on the G 580 doing anything to improve efficiency. Which is why I love this idea. The battery-electric powertrain is mainly there to make the big SUV go faster and do fun things. Like G-Turns.
The G-Turn feature, exclusive to the EV version, lets the 7,000-pound SUV spin in place. Yes. Spin in place. It’s the most fun you can have in a $200,000+ vehicle without risk of flying off a race track or smashing the nearest phone pole. The G 580 uses a combination of electric motor control, braking, and the rear axle steering to turn the rig in a 360-degree spin while in low-geared off-road mode. Just use a paddle shifter to choose your turn direction and start spinning.
It’s absurdly non-useful in all but the most niche of circumstances. Which is why it’s super cool. This feature will probably never see actual off-road application, but will be shown off in parking lots and four-way intersections endlessly. And I’m all for it.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580’s powertrain consists of about 579 horsepower in electric propulsion with 859 pound-feet of torque on demand. Each wheel gets a motor, which can be controlled independently by the system to create the hilarious G-Turn, but also the much more practical G-Steering for tighter turning radius needs on or off the pavement. This setup also provides the low-range gearing that’s unique to the G 580.
Downsides to this power and muscle is weight and range. The G-Wagen is shaped like a square box, all barn door-shaped from every angle. That’s not aerodynamic. Even if it does look really awesome. Which means despite all those lithium cells, the G 580’s range is only about 200-240 miles per charge in the real world. Yes, the EPA rates it higher than that, but we don’t live in on a dyno in an enclosed space.
For all of its quirks, the G 580 is still a Mercedes and thus carries the luxury, comfort, and high-class accoutrements that name implies. So even if it doesn’t offer the most practical packaging, the G is extremely comfortable and quiet. Most of the road noise is due to the cabin shape and it’s pretty well mitigated most of the time. Seating is good, technology is top shelf, and cargo space is large. Most notably, the solid axle feel of the gasoline models isn’t there in the EV. Meaning it’s less floaty and more firm at speed.
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 makes little practical sense. It’s extremely expensive, not very efficient, and hard to climb into and out of. But this legendary beauty is charged with appeal anyway. And I love it.
