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By Jonathan Crouch

The indestructible second generation Mercedes G-Class soldiers on in this electrified form. Jonathan Crouch gazes in awe.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 74

It's said that cockroaches will be the only thing to survive a nuclear conflagration. Whoever said that clearly never drove a Mercedes G-Class. It's a vehicle that neither time, progress, fashion nor legislation can kill and the improved, now electrified version of this second generation model is better than ever. It'll be irrelevant to virtually everyone, but for that merest fraction of a percentage point of UK buyers, it's the greatest car on earth.

Backgroundword count: 161

You might well know it as the G-Wagen, that slab-sided truck more readily associated with squaddies trailing in convoy along autobahns, but the G-Class has come a long way from its utilitarian origins. It was first sold to the general public way back in 1979 and as it ploughs unstoppably into another decade on sale, the second generation model first launched in 2018 has, six years on, been treated to an extensive bout of electrified re-engineering that's left almost everything changed, but nothing much different. Don't think that means the G-Class has gone soft in its dotage. Although it's no longer a stripped-back, rough and ready mud plugger, it's still built from the same solid materials. It's just that the market for these cars has changed and the G-Class has changed to reflect a newer, more moneyed customer base. You can now spend some serious coin on a G-Class and there's a privileged queue of people looking to do just that.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 414

When a G-Class becomes electrified, you know the electric revolution really is getting into full-swing. To be fair, mainstream versions aren't that electrified, for this improved model gaining the brand's 48V mild hybrid integrated starter system. That adds 20hp to the output of the base diesel version, which now has 362bhp, with torque of 750Nm. This is why this 2.9-litre six cylinder variant's badging has been changed from 'G 400d' to 'G 450d'. The alternative petrol variants also get mild hybrid drive but still require possession of a small oil well if you're to run them confortably. The G 500 has six cylinders and 449hp, though the 5.4s 0-62mph sprint time (en route to 130mph) is only 0.4s faster than the G 450d can manage. So if you want a petrol-powered G-Class, why not go the whole hog and get yourself the eight cylinder 585hp Mercedes-AMG G 63 4MATIC. This dispatches 62mph in 4.4s en route to 137mph. All combustion G-Class models continue to use a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic gearbox; the G 63 uses a faster-acting AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS version of it. You'd need to be pretty deaf-eared to the call of the melting polar ice cap though, to run a G 63. Is there a way to run a G-Class without all of that environmental embarrassment? Well yes, now there is. Provided you can stretch to the not-inconsiderable sum Mercedes wants for the very-first all-electric version of this model, the 'G 580 with EQ Technology' version. This is quite a beast. Two electric motors are centrally housed at the front, with another two at the rear (hence the substantial 3.0-tonne weight). They're energised by a huge 116kWh battery. Total power output is rated at 587hp (so only fractionally less than the G 63) and the 62mph sprint is dispatched in 4.7s. There's a so-called 'G Roar' artificial sound system to make up for the lack of a combustion engine note. Whichever G-Class model you choose, the available mountain of torque should be adequate to drag you out of most sticky situations, while the car's three electrically controlled 100-percent differential locks, ladder frame and rigid axle characteristics also underline its mettle in rough off-road terrain. There's a 3.5-tonne towing capacity with all the engines - no figure's quoted for the EV. But that electric version's just as good as its combustion counterparts off road (some Mercedes engineers think it's better) and can wade up to 850mm of water (150mm more than the fossil-fuelled versions).

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