The 15 Best Mercedes G-Wagens, Ranked

Sure, “Stronger Than the 1980s” might be a painfully awkward name, but that’s the only objectionable part of this particular limited-series G-Wagen announced in 2025. As the name hints, it was designed as a tribute to the Gelandewagen’s first decade of production, and as such features plenty of design throwbacks that hearken to those earlier, more stripped-down models: blacked-out trim, retro raised amber turn signals, mud flaps, and a choice of the classic G-Wagen colors of olive green, sandy beige, or cream.

The G-Class’s toughness is baked into its very soul, but you know what would make it even tougher? Armor plating. As part of its “Guard” program that outfits cars for the sort of VVIPs who might be particularly worried about bullets and bombs messing up their day, Mercedes uplifted the G-Wagen with hidden shielding capable of stopping projectiles all the way up to assault rifle rounds. Even the versions Mercedes-Benz made for the militaries of the world can’t do that … or at least, certainly not as elegantly.

The G63 has been a staple of the lineup since 2012, ever since the G-Wagen upgraded from AMG’s then-ancient supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 to a newer turbocharged eight-pot. (It was also the beginning of the era when Mercedes stopped naming AMG models after their actual engine displacement, but that’s a story for another time.) Each has been quick in a straight line, but turns have generally been a weaker point; at least, until the latest example that went on sale in 2024 redefined that, thanks to an optional hydraulic actuator suspension system that gives it Ford Raptor-like high-speed handling to match the acceleration of its rip-snorting twin-turbo V-8.

Wait, you might ask, I thought this story wasn’t covering one-offs? Well, considering Mercedes-Benz has made multiple G-Wagens for multiple Popes, we’re considering the pontiff-specific version to be a proper variant. (Hey, it’s our list; if you don’t like it, write your own.) From the original 1980 version made for John Paul II to the elegant all-electric one rolled out in 2024, these G-Wagens have been catering to perhaps the most exclusive owner pool of nearly any car on the planet for closing in on 50 years.

The new-for-2024 W465-generation Gelandewagen brought its fair share of changes, but perhaps the largest was the arrival of the first electric version, formally known as the G580 With EQ Technology but generally shortened down to its alphanumeric. (Or, honestly, “the electric G-Wagen.”) Sales haven’t been spectacular—a lack of range compared to many other comparably pricey EVs certainly hasn’t helped—but its four motors (one per wheel) and low-range transfer case mean it’s arguably the most capable mainstream G-wagen variant when it comes to going past the pavement.

For over a decade after it launched, the G-Wagen was forbidden fruit for U.S. buyers. Mercedes didn’t want to go to the trouble of certifying it for the American market. The Three-Pointed Star had a more luxurious sheen to it here than in its native Europe, where E-Classes could often be seen working taxi duty; a boxy SUV might have seemed uncouth in the States. Then came New Mexico-based importer Europa International, which in 1993 started doing the heavy lifting of getting the G-Wagen up to snuff for U.S. streets and selling them at a comfortable profit. The company wound up doing so well that it put itself out of business; Mercedes corporate decided it was worth officially selling the G-Class here in 2002.

As Mercedes-Benz’s ultraluxury brand designed to rival Rolls-Royce, Maybach came out of the gate swinging in the early 2000s with a pair of sedans that pushed the boundaries of opulence for the carmaker. But even those machines were no match for the extravagance of the marque’s super-exclusive G-Wagen, which rolled out in 2017. This extended-length G-Class’s marquee attraction was a pair of ultra-fancy leather-wrapped thrones in back with enough legroom for a giraffe. Sad giraffe would have been fine on headroom, too; the “Landaulet” in the name referred to the convertible top that exclusively catered to the bad row.

The G63 6×6 may be eighth on our list of the best G-Classes, but it’s number one on any list of the wildest ones. An extra axle will do that. As the name indicates, Mercedes added another set of driven wheels to the G-Wagen, stretching the wheelbase and body so much that the company tacked on a pickup bed in order to make it work. Portal axles were outfitted to boost ground clearance, while the same turbocharged AMG V-8 was used in lesser G63s of the era. It could even inflate or deflate its own tires, in a nod to the Middle Eastern royalty seen as the primary customers.

As it entered its second generation in the early 1990s, the Gelandewagen split into two subfamilies. The first, internally known as W463, was the mainstream model meant for the usual folks who shop at Mercedes-Benz dealerships; the second was called W461, and it was made for militaries, police forces and other groups who needed raw capability over comfort. Which, of course, just made these versions all the more appealing to a select group of civilians. So in 2009, Benz cooked up a W461 for the common man, called the Edition.30 PUR. It was a minimalist machine meant almost purely for off-roading, with a stripped-down interior and a 184-hp turbodiesel V-6. It even had a reinforced hood, so it wouldn’t cave in when people stood on it. Hey, always be prepared, right?

Technically speaking, the 280 GE AMG was an aftermarket special, as the three-lettered brand was a separate company when it was built back in 1979; considering Mercedes worked closely with the Affalterbach builder and would go on to scoop it up and make it an integral part of their empire, however, we’ll allow an exemption. Also, we just wanted an excuse to show off this bizarre machine that blends hardcore off-road features like a winch with a gold-plated grille and what appear to be the headlights from a W116-gen S-Class.

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The G55 that launched in 1999 wasn’t the first G-Wagen to bear the now-iconic initials of AMG; indeed, quite a few had come before. It was, however, the first such machine to reach a broader audience, at least by the standards of pricey, boxy off-roaders, and the first widely available AMG G to use one of Affalterbach’s remarkable handmade V-8s. Chrome side pipes and other fancy accoutrements made clear that it prioritized looking and sounding good in a way other Gelandewagens didn’t, but any compromises made off-road seemed insignificant compared to the sound and acceleration of the 349-hp V-8 … and even more so come 2004, when AMG added a supercharger to boost power to 469 hp.

By the Aughts, the G-Class had established itself as a proper Veblen Good in America—a product for which demand rises along with the price. So what better way to turn that trend up to 11 than by sticking 12 cylinders under the hood? And not just any 12-cylinder motor, mind you. The G65 that arrived in 2012 came with AMG’s twin-turbo V-12 making 604 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque—with the horsepower figure soon rising to 621, just in case 604 wasn’t enough. Sure, the G63 of the era was even quicker, but it can’t keep up with its V-12 sibling when it comes to cool.

The year 1993 brought a lot of wonderful things to the world: the movie Jurassic Park, The X-Files, Nirvana’s “In Utero,” and the first official eight-cylinder-powered G-Wagen. Previous Gs had been saddled largely with a mix of inline-four, -five, and -six cylinder motors, but with its teenage years upon it, Mercedes finally saw fit to add one of its V-8s beneath the hood. Sure, its 237 hp and 277 torque don’t amount to much today, nor does the 11.4-second 0-60 mph run. But the one-year-only, luxuriously equipped 500 GE paved the way for all the mighty eight-pot Gelandewagens that would spring forth over the subsequent decades, and for that, it deserves a podium spot.

Fancy interiors and premium status are nice and all, but the Gelandewagen’s bones have always been made for its off-road prowess. So the best way to make a better G-Wagen, ultimately, is to make it better beyond the pavement. The G-Class 4×4² (known as G550 in the U.S. and Canada, G500 in most other markets) did so by taking the portal axles of the G63 6×6 and applying the tech to a conventional V-8 G-Wagen. That, along with extra-large off-road tires, gave the 4×4² over 17 inches of ground clearance… as well as a monster truck stance that will make any enthusiast smile each and every time they see it.

All of the previous entries have earned their place on this list through some mix of remarkable characteristics—but the list wouldn’t exist if not for the O.G. G-Wagen that began rolling onto, and then off of, the streets, back in 1979. It debuted in four different body styles—convertible, panel truck, pickup truck, and 3- and 5-door hardtops—and packed both gas- and diesel-powered engines. Most of those have faded out of the lineup with time (although the convertible is due for a return soon), but the combination of quality, comfort and stunning go-anywhere capability the original Gelandewagen introduced to the world not only created an automotive legend, they paved the way for the modern world of luxury SUVs … even if few of today’s examples ever venture much past the pavement.