The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a mid-size, 4-door luxury SUV produced by Mercedes-Benz. The G-Class was first produced in 1979. The ‘G’ in G-Class stands for Geländewagen, which means a cross-country vehicle in German.

The toughest Mercedes-Benz ever, the G-Class is a unique blend of boldness, intelligence and power. It is available in two models: the G500 SUV and G55 AMG. Both are offered in a 4-wheel drive configuration.

The G-Class is available with a new vehicle limited warranty for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Its top competitors include the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Toyota 80-series Land Cruiser.

The G500 SUV is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine, which generates 292 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 336 lb-ft. of torque @ 2,800 - 4,000 rpm. This engine is linked to a standard driver-adaptive electronic 7-speed automatic transmission.

The G55 AMG derives power from a 5.5-liter AMG-built intercooled supercharged V-8 engine, which delivers 493 hp @ 6,100 rpm and 516 lb-ft. @ 2,750 rpm. This engine is teamed up with a standard driver-adaptive electronic 5-speed automatic transmission.

Both the engines are equipped with a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and 24 valves, and derive fuel through integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection.

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz G-Class looks brawny and rugged, yet stylish in a unique way. It measures 185.6 inches in length and stands on a wheelbase of 112.2 inches.

The front fascia of the G-Class is marked by a color-keyed bumper, large round headlamps placed in square-shaped slots, and a big rectangular grille with thin vertical slats, which sports the famous Mercedes-Benz trademark, the three-pointed star, at its center.

The G500 SUV features chrome-finish grille bars and black body-side rub strips, while the G55 AMG comes with silver-painted grille bars and black body-side rub strips with chrome-finish inserts. Chrome-finish front turn-signal cages, tail-lamp cages, and front-bumper underbar are also exclusive to the G55 AMG.

The G-Class models come standard with bi-xenon headlamps with clear lenses and heated high-pressure washers, corner-illuminating halogen front fog lamps and single red rear fog lamp in rear bumper, on the left side. Also standard are driver-selectable light-sensing headlamps, which can be set by the ‘auto’ position of the headlamp switch to automatically illuminate the low-beam headlamps and all exterior running lamps in darkness or when entering dark tunnels or parking garages.

The G500 SUV and G55 AMG also feature driver-programmable daytime running lamps, which illuminate low-beam headlamps at reduced intensity and exterior running lamps full-time. Both the models also feature standard touch turn signals, which flash thrice with one touch of turn-signal lever for lane changing, and auxiliary LED turn-signal indicators integrated within side mirror housings. Aluminum running boards are a standard feature for both the models.

The G-Class models also feature automatically heated dual color-keyed power mirrors, with integrated turn signals and entrance lamps. The left-side mirror also comes with auto-dimming feature. However, shifting to reverse automatically cancels dimming.

The G500 SUV and G55 AMG also come standard with rain-sensing dual windshield wipers. Infrared rain sensor automatically adjusts intermittent front wiper delay based on the amount of rainfall detected on the windshield glass. These windshield wipers also feature heated washer nozzles, lines, and reservoir. Intermittent rear wiper with washer is also standard on the G-Class models. When front wipers are on, shifting to reverse automatically activates the rear wiper.

The G500 SUV and G55 AMG also feature an electrically heated rear window with auto-shutoff based on time, driving speed, and outside temperature. Front and rear tow hooks are also a standard feature for both models.

The G-Class models wear standard 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The G500 SUV rolls on 265/60 R18 110V, high-performance tires, whereas the G55 AMG cruises on 285/55 R18 113V high-performance tires.

The G-Class comes with plush, roomy, and comfortable interiors. The G500 SUV and G55 AMG feature 10-way power front seats, each with 3-position memory. The driver's seat memory also includes settings for outside mirrors and steering column. Both models come standard with multi-contour driver's seat with pneumatic side bolsters, dual lumbar supports, and thigh support. Heated front and rear outboard seats, and 60/40-split-folding rear seats with three height-adjustable head restraints are also standard on both the G-Class models. The G500 SUV comes with premium leather upholstery, while the G55 AMG features Nappa leather upholstery.

Both the models come standard with a heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob. The G-Class models also boast of leather-trimmed parking brake lever and boot. A 4-way tilt/telescopic power steering column, whose position is linked to the driver's seat memory, is also standard on the G-Class models.

Both the G-Class models come standard with automatic climate control with dual temperature controls and adjustable rear-cabin air vents at the rear of front center console. Also standard is a ‘REST’ mode, which can ventilate the cabin or help keep it warmer, using residual heat for up to 30 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off.

The G500 SUV and G55 AMG come standard with power windows and a heated windshield. The G-Class models come with neutral-tinted glass for windshield and front doors, and privacy glass for rear doors, rear quarters, and the cargo door. Both models feature an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Shifting to reverse or switching on interior lamps automatically cancels dimming.

The G500 SUV and the G55 AMG also feature a front center armrest with dual enclosed storage compartments, a lockable illuminated glovebox, an attachable cup-holder on the center console, and a swing-away cup-holder adjacent to the console.

Both models also come with a driver-programmable easy-exit feature, which can move the driver's seat rearward and/or raise the steering column when SmartKey is removed from ignition. Electronic cruise control is also a standard feature on the G-Class.

Rear park assist, an audiovisual parking assist, is standard on the G500 SUV and G55 AMG. It consists of ultrasonic sensors, which help detect nearby obstacles behind the vehicle at parking speeds, and an audiovisual indicator on the rear-cabin wall alerts the driver to their proximity within the range and field of view of the sensors.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class also comes packed with a lot of entertainment options. It features a COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data) system, which integrates controls for the Navigation System, radio, in-dash single-CD player and 6-disc CD changer with a 6.5-inch color-LCD in-dash screen, a DVD-based navigation system that uses global positioning system (GPS) satellites to determine and map the current location of the vehicle, and provides over 1.6 million destinations, an AM/FM stereo/weather band radio with scan and dual-sensitivity seek tuning, a 6-disc CD changer mounted on the cargo area, a SIRIUS satellite radio, and a Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 digital surround-sound system with upgraded amplifier and nine speakers, in addition to a subwoofer.

With rear seats in use, the maximum cargo capacity of the G-Class models is 45.2 cubic-feet, but it can be stretched to 79.5 cubic-feet by folding the rear seats. The G-Class models can tow a maximum of 7,000 pounds of cargo.

The G-Class is offered in a standard 4WD, with 50/50 front/rear torque split and electromechanically locking center, rear and front differentials, sequentially activated by the driver. The 4WD system gives superior traction to the G-Class models, keeping the tires glued to the road.

The G-Class is available with two engines: 5.0L V-8 and 5.5L V-8, which knock out 292 hp and 493 hp respectively. Both the engines offer decent power and acceleration for in-city and highway cruising. The 5-speed and 7-speed automatic transmissions are very responsive and shift smoothly. Both the transmissions feature touch shift, which permits the driver to manually downshift and allows upshifts by pushing the shift lever left or right of the Drive position. Shift into optimum gear programming allows one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration or engine braking by holding the shift lever to the left of Drive for one second. Display in instrument cluster indicates the selected gear range.

The G-Class models are steered by a recirculating-ball steering wheel with power assist and hydraulic damper. This steering offers prompt and precise responses.

The G-Class models ride on front and rear rigid axles with longitudinal and transverse links, coil springs, and gas-pressurized shock absorbers. The suspension also includes a front stabilizer bar. This suspension system flattens all bumps and makes for a smooth, comfortable ride.

Dual-circuit power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes provide forceful stopping power to all the wheels of both the G-Class models. Anti-lock braking system (ABS), present on the G500 SUV and G55 AMG, senses impending wheel lockup under heavy braking and pumps the front brakes individually or the rear brakes together to help maintain stability.

The G-Class models are also equipped with brake assist (BAS). When all three differentials are unlocked, BAS senses emergency braking via the speed at which the driver presses the brake pedal and immediately applies maximum available power boost, potentially reducing the overall stopping distance by eliminating the delay caused by a common human tendency not to brake hard enough, soon enough. Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), standard on the G-Class, shifts additional brake force to the rear wheels in straight-line braking to promote more even brake-pad wear. For stability in curves, a normal front/rear split is restored.

The G-Class maintains up to 54 per cent directional stability on lateral slopes. It has a wide turning circle of 43.5 feet, which makes it a little difficult to be steered or parked in tight spots. However, a high ground clearance of 8.3 inches more than makes up for it and empowers the G-Class to take on uneven terrains with élan.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class comes with a host of modern safety features to protect its occupants. It features an integrated restraint system, which provides the driver and front passenger each with a front air bag and a 3-point seat belt with height-adjustable shoulder belt and an emergency tensioning device (ETD). Rear passengers are provided with 3-point seat belts, including height-adjustable outboard shoulder belts.

The G-Class models also come standard with window curtain airbags, which deploy in a side impact exceeding a preset threshold, on the affected side of the vehicle. The G-Class also comes with an occupancy sensor, which prevents the front passenger's front airbag from deploying if the seat is unoccupied. An ETD will not deploy if the seat belt is unfastened.

In G-Class models, the front seats have 4-way adjustable head restraints, while the rear-seat head restraints can be adjusted up or down. The G500 SUV and G55 AMG feature a universal LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system at rear outboard seating positions, as well as selectable seat-belt retractors at all passenger seating positions, which help secure child seats.

The G-Class models also come with a SmartKey remote central locking system, which uses redundant infrared and radio-frequency signals for improved range and rolling-code signal for protection from transmitter cloning. It integrates remote door lock/unlock buttons, removable valet key, and panic alarm.

Some security features standard on both the G-Class models includes a driver-programmable drive-away locking system, which can automatically lock the doors when the vehicle reaches a speed of nine miles per hour, a night security illumination, which uses the vehicle's exterior lights to help illuminate a path after parking, a driver-programmable interval system that allows lights to stay on for 60, 45, 30, or 15 seconds, or not at all, and an automatic anti-theft alarm with tow-away protection and a remote panic feature.