Mercedes-Benz G 450d review: Win diesel?

The G 450d diesel you see here completes the Mercedes-Benz G-Class line-up in India and joins the mad AMG G 63 and the all-electric G 580. It’s the most affordable G by ex-showroom price; however, they still start at an are-you-serious Rs 2.9 crore (ex-showroom). And to think, in 2019, the G 350d diesel of the same gen was launched at Rs 1.5 crore.

Is the G worth the money and is the 450d the G to buy? Read on.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d exterior design and engineering - 7/10

Aero tweaks among subtle changes rolled on to G-Class.

The G Wagen got the subtlest of facelifts last year to (cough, cough) make it more aerodynamic. The A-pillars have been smoothed out and there are tweaks here and there, though you’d not really pick up any of them.

G 450d offered in India in AMG Line trim.

The grille and bumper get new chrome and silver inserts.

Any who, this facelifted G diesel is identifiable by its 4-slat chrome grille, silver and chrome inserts on the bumper, twin 5-spoke 20-inch wheels and chrome finish for the tailgate-mounted spare. Paint options include the usual blacks, whites and silvers, apart from which there’s also a blue, a green, and this very interesting Rubellite red metallic.

The G is boxy and intimidating, and many love it for just that.

Under the skin, the G 450d – and all Gs for that matter – are far removed from other Merc SUVs. That’s down to the G’s use of body on frame construction, a rigid rear axle, and its three lockable differentials – ingredients that are central to its mega off-road ability.

20-inch alloy wheels get a sporty-looking twin 5-spoke design.
 

Mercedes-Benz G 450d interior space and comfort - 7/10

High-set cabin means getting in and out isn’t very convenient.

The G’s cabin sits high off the ground (ground clearance is 241mm) necessitating the use of the footboard to trek up and in. The journey up does yield a commanding view of the world over the shallow dash and through the large and upright glasshouse. There’s an all-encompassing feeling of solidity that starts with the very satisfying thunk on door shut and rifle-like clacks of the locks.

G facelift comes with new steering, redone centre console and updated infotainment.

Centre console has been tidied up compared to the older G 400d.

In general look and feel, there’s nothing dramatically different to the older G 400d inside, although there are some enhancements of note. The stylish steering wheel comes from the house of AMG, but we aren’t fans of its touch controls as they aren’t easy to use on the go. The centre console has been tidied up with all off-road related buttons (low range, diff locks, manual mode and a shortcut to the off-road display) now bunched together in easy reach between the centre air-con vents. What makes a bigger difference in how you interact with the G is the incorporation of a touchscreen. Yup, a touchscreen was missing on older Gs. More on it later.

Rear seat space is reasonable but no more.

Rear seats aren't the most comfortable for an SUV of its price.

The front seats score for comfort and that’s where we’d recommend most owners sit. Because the G isn’t an ideal buy for the chauffeur driven. The high-set rear seat and relatively small door aperture mean you can’t make the most graceful of entries at a red carpet event. There’s also the matter that the G isn’t as spacious as its sheer size would have you believe. Sure, six footers can sit in comfort at the back but similar money will buy you a whole lot more real estate.

The rear seat can be adjusted for recline angle but nothing more.

On airport runs, you’ll fit in quite a lot of luggage in the G. Trouble is, opening the side-hinged tailgate takes effort, and you’ll need help to load heavy items onto the high floor.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d features and safety - 8/10

12.3-inch touchscreen is slick to use.

In terms of features, the main upgrade on the facelifted G is the touchscreen. The 12.3-inch screen is slick and very nice to use, and also serves as the display for the fantastic cameras. The cameras not only provide a crisp 360-degree view of the car but also have a ‘Transparent Bonnet’ feature that shows a feed from under the car – really handy on off-road trails. There’s augmented reality navigation too that superimposes navigation arrows on to a feed from the front camera. A new Off-Road Cockpit function gives lots of real-time data to geek out on, such as status of the diff locks, suspension travel, tyre pressure and temperatures, satellite position, and more. The vibrant 12.3-inch digital dials have also been updated with an Off-Road display.

'Transparent Bonnet' feature is really handy on off-road trails.

Keyless entry is new to the G-Class.

Also new to the G-Class is keyless entry. You read that right. Mercedes says a lot of effort went in to incorporating keyless functionality while retaining the design of the grab-type door handles.

Comfort features include Nappa leather upholstery, powered front seats with ventilation, cooling and massage features, and 3-zone climate control. Pity, the rear seat only gets heating.

Of the other things, the G 450d packs in a sweet Burmester 3D surround audio system and 64-colour ambient lighting.

Finally, there's keyless entry on the G-Class.

Safety suite includes 9 airbags and ADAS

Safety kit includes 9 airbags, ABS, hill start assist and descent control, as well as ADAS functions like auto emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Most ADAS features work well, but the auto braking often trips on our chaotic roads and is best used only on the highway.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d performance and refinement - 8/10

G 450d uses familiar 3.0-litre diesel in 367hp and 750Nm state of tune.

Under the hood is a 2,989cc, straight six, turbo-diesel unit. It sounds familiar, because it is. It’s the same engine you got on the G 350d and the G 400d, but power is now up to 367hp while torque goes up to a juicy 750Nm. For reference, the engine made 286hp and 600Nm on the G 350d and 330hp and 700Nm on the G 400d.

We managed the 0-100kph sprint in 6.79 seconds.

Diesel engine scores on refinement and punch.

In everyday city driving, you’ll seldom see the rev needle cross 2,500rpm. There’s a reserve of power that flows in with a gentle hum. Should you prod the G 450d, you’ll see a different side. There’s a surge of power around 3,000rpm, post which there’s a sustained charge and the engine soundtrack changes to a more audible but civilised roar. Of course, the G 450d isn’t as loud or as fast as an AMG G 63. We managed a 6.79 second 0-100kph time (Mercedes claims 5.8 seconds), which is quite something for a 2.5-tonne vault on wheels.

Assisting the engine is a new 48V mild-hybrid system. It provides mild assist under hard acceleration, and a cool feature is that it will power the AC compressor when idle stop/start kicks in.

Engine always has enough reserve of torque to pull the 2.5 tonne SUV.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d efficiency - 5/10

48V mild-hybrid assist or not, don’t expect magical fuel economy. We got high single-digit figures at best. The G 450d still beats an AMG G 63 on economy and its 100-litre tank will also give you much more range than a full charge on the electric G 580.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d ride comfort and handling - 6/10

Suspension upgrades have enhanced ride comfort.

The G-Class got a suspension upgrade with the facelift, and the driving experience has improved, to an extent. It doesn’t hop over speed breakers and the like as much as it once did, but it’s not quite as settled at higher speeds as a monocoque SUV. High-speed handling and steering response have improved to ‘same day delivery’ but, as ever, the G’s forte remains acing low speed adventure.

High-speed handling and steering response have improved over the previous model.

Legendary 4x4 ability is a given on the G.

Superb suspension articulation, 4x4 with low range, and precise control of power delivery to the wheels via the diff locks give the G crazy ability in the wild. It really feels like a vehicle that’ll take you to the ends of the world without breaking a sweat.

Mercedes-Benz G 450d price and verdict - 6/10

For all its charm, character and ability, there’s still no getting around the fact that the G 450d is wildly overpriced. Rs 2.9 crore can get you more sophisticated and more comfortable SUVs. Body-on-frame alternatives do exist – the Rs 2.1 crore Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and the 2.9 crore Lexus LX 500d.

There’s also the matter of buying an expensive diesel vehicle right now. The 10 year registration limit in some cities and general cloud over diesels could greatly impact resale value. The G 63 AMG, on the other hand, holds its value brilliantly.

But hey, that’s us giving you level-headed car buying advice. Fact is, someone who wants a G and has the resources to get a G, will get a G. Why not dial up the madness and go the whole hog with the AMG G 63?