Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The Mercedes-AMG G63 is the top of the line variant of the Mercedes-Benz G Class which not only offers best in class off-road capabilities wrapped in the lap of luxury, but also does that with a V8 under the hood. Priced at Rs 3.60 crore (ex-showroom), the G63 AMG encompasses all the aspects of the G Class, and adds additional comfort and punch. Please note that the car we drove was customised heavily with Mercedes-Benz's official accessories, so the price of this unit will be much higher than the standard AMG G63.

Now, after having driven this version of the G Wagon, here is a short review.

When looking at the G63 for the first time, you get surprised by its proportions. You might already know that it's a big car, but seeing it in front of you really brings perspective – it's huge. If you stand too close to it, you might think you’re facing a wall.

After you wrap your head around its size, you will start to notice the design, which is basic, but works for this car. Every profile is flat, with straight horizontal lines on the sides which further accentuates its length, and the overall boxy shape gives it a mean and muscular demeanour.

There are some cars where a dash of carbon fibre is all that you get. But that’s not the case here. The G63 gets carbon fibre inserts on the front and rear bumpers, on the ORVMs, on both front and rear doors, and on the spare wheel cover at the back. These elements add some bling to the G63’s design, but you have to pay a heavy price – Rs 12 lakh.

But, what if something looked scary and fun at the same time? Well, Mercedes has achieved that with this colour option. Copper orange mango, such a fun name for such a standout colour option.

As you enter the G63, you’ll notice there is too much going on for your eyes to see at once, so let’s look at one thing at a time. Being an off-roader, it gets a small dashboard, pushed towards the windshield, and the entire thing is covered in soft touch leather padding. You also get a grab handle on the passenger side, but there isn’t one for the driver. This makes ingress and egress a little difficult.

There is a generous amount of silver accents on the dash, including the centre console, and Mercedes offers carbon fibre trims on almost every corner (also at an additional cost). When you are paying close to Rs 4 crore for a car, you would want the best quality and materials, and Mercedes delivers on that. Everything feels soft and nice to touch, but at the same time, the materials have a rugged quality, to stay true to its off-road nature.

The seats provide good support for people of all frames, and soft cushioning along with the winged headrests add to the comfort factor. One thing you should know is that when the car’s ADAS detects or anticipates a collision, even if it is not about to happen, the seatbelts tighten suddenly, which most of the time comes as a surprise. If you don’t want that to happen, you can turn it off in the settings.

One thing about the front seats that you will love is the massage function. There are 8 types of massages, both cold and hot, for the driver and co driver. After a long day, just sitting in the car for 15 minutes and getting a massage can be really relaxing. Apart from this, the front seats also get seat heating and ventilation.

The rear seats have the same level of comfort and space on the outward seats, and it also gets two optional screens part of an entertainment package. The outward passengers do get ample amounts of space, but the same can’t be said for the middle one. Due to the middle seat being placed outward, and it being short, the middle passenger sits slightly upright and gets less underthing support. 

While there is just the right amount of comfort at the rear seats, they only get a heating function, which in this country is something that you will rarely use. You do get electric sunshades for those bright sunny days.

Apart from the powered front seats with ventilation, heating, and massage function, it also gets a 12.3-inch infotainment system, which now responds to touch controls (the pre-facelift version’s screen did not have touch controls). This screen can also be controlled via the steering wheel, and a touch pad placed in the centre console.

It also offers a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, 3-zone climate control, a single pane sunroof, a wireless phone charger, and if you are an audiophile, then you would love the 18-speaker Burmester 3D sound system.

The G63 gets a basic cabin practicality right with an average sized glovebox, two cooled and heated cupholders in the centre console, two in the rear centre armrest, and 1-litre bottle holders in all doors. It also gets storage in the front armrest, and space in the centre console for your phone or keys.

Apart from the wireless phone charger, it also gets four type-C charging ports in the front, and two at the back.

As for safety, you get multiple airbags, a 360-degree camera with blind spot detection, and a host of ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) features like lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking.

The G63’s boot is massive, and you can put all kinds of stuff in here. Be it large suitcases, or multiple small bags, the space it offers is more than what you’ll need. 

And, since it is a Merc, there has to be premiumness everywhere, even in the boot. The boot floor has a black rubber mat, but if you don’t like that, then you can remove it to find a polished wooden floor, which is nicer than the floors of some high end hotels. But, this also comes as an add on for which you have to pay an additional sum.

SUVs are supposed to be powerful but a V8 which makes 585 PS and 950 Nm seems a little too powerful for a car that you would drive mostly at low speeds while being extra careful. This much power in the G63 AMG makes it feel like a truck with a jet engine. As soon as you floor the pedal, the nose lifts, and for a second you think that the car is about to take off.

You do the same thing in the Sports+ mode, and you might actually take off. But one thing that I personally liked about the G63 more than its power was the exhaust sound. It sounds like Beethoven to a car enthusiast, and if you go to the sportiest setting, the sound becomes even better. It's a lion’s roar to let the prey know that it's coming and there is nothing the prey can do about it.

Mercedes is also offering the G63 with a launch mode, something you don’t expect to see in an off-roader, and it is a fabulous addition for those who really like to see what their car is capable of. The amount of inertia you feel when you launch the G63 is not something you would expect in an SUV form factor.

Let’s get something out of the way. Body roll in an SUV exists and even the G Wagon has to deal with it. Now, let’s get to the ride comfort. When driving in the comfort setting, the suspensions go on the softer side, which helps absorb the bumps better and you don’t feel many of them in the cabin. 

However, once you go to the sportier settings, the suspensions stiffen up, which causes even the slightest cracks on the roads to be felt inside. It doesn't mean that you’re jumping up and down in the cabin, but the ride comfort does take a toll.

Handling-wise, there is nothing to complain about. Even after being such a big boxy SUV, the G63 feels extremely planted when taking corners, and its high speed stability is also great. You feel a connection with the car when driving, and it stays with you even after getting out.

A car like the Mercedes-AMG G63 doesn’t really need a verdict, because it doesn’t really have a competition. However, I will still try to give one. It makes you feel important in more than one way. When you’re spending such a high amount of money, you have some expectations in terms of luxury, and it delivers. You also expect performance, and the G63 doesn’t disappoint, and on top of that, you get a car that looks like a beast, which can go on any terrain without breaking a single sweat. 

If you want your car to have a mix of everything, then the G63 AMG will be a perfect choice, but you need to know that this is not for show. It’s not something that you can just store in your garage for people to see. If you don’t want to go off-roading, then you can buy luxury SUVs from other brands for the same price, which will be much better for your regular city and highway use.

But, if you make the choice of buying the G63, then use it to its full potential, because the G63 deserves to do what it’s built for.