The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has always been an intriguing rig, capable of military-style maneuvers in the wild yet loaded to the gills with luxury features and sumptuous materials. The G63 AMG variant adds another tantalizing contradiction to the formula: blistering performance.
What's New for 2014
This year brings LED daytime running lights and a redesigned dashboard and console.
Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG
What truly separates the G63 from the standard G-Class lies under the hood. At your command is 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 that delivers 536 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. Shifting is done by a specially tuned tuned seven-speed automatic, dubbed AMG Speedshift, which comes with an electronic shifter.
The G63 also gets some exclusive exterior hardware such as a large air-intake meshes and 20-inch wheels. Zero to 60 mph happens in 5.3 seconds, a ridiculously fast time for a full-size SUV weighing 5,600 pounds.
Precious little is missing from the list of standard equipment. In fact, the only options are carbon fiber interior trim and a steering wheel upgrade—either heated or trimmed in wood (sorry, you can’t have both).
All examples carry luxuries like heated and ventilated front seats with memory, Harman/Kardon surround sound, hard-drive navigation and an automated parking system. Safety technology is present in full force, including emergency brake assist, active lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control.
Even with virtually every indulgence standard, there is some room from customization. The available “designo” interior package adds Nappa leather seats and trim in a range of colors—and your choice of exotic wood accents.
Despite its antique architecture, its popularity keeps it in production. Perhaps because the G63 AMG combines ruggedness, luxury and performance like no other SUV on the market. If you must have all those virtues to an uncompromising degree, we can’t think of a more appropriate choice.