2025 Mercedes G 500 6 Cylinder Driven! Is the V8 Missed? + G450d Facelift Driven!

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Welcome back to RBR, and to our first drive of the G500 and G450d! Which is the best of the entry level #GClass models, especially since our new G500 has lost it's V8?

These are the two entry-level #MercedesBenz G-Wagons starting at £136k, featuring significant updates primarily inside and under the hood. Now every G Wagon model has become a mild hybrid. Our G500, in particular, boasts a new power unit: a 6-cylinder hybrid replacing the old V8. The old G500 with the detuned 4.0 V8 produced 422 BHP, 610 Nm of torque, and accelerated from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. The new G500’s inline 6 now delivers 449 BHP and 560 Nm, with a 0-60 time of 5.4 secs. Much of this is thanks to the new mild hybrid with the 48 volt ISG giving an extra 20 HP and 200 Nm of torque.

Priced at £146,095, it’s more powerful and faster. But will it still give us the thrill we expect on the road?! We shall see.

The old G400 produced 325 BHP, 700 Nm of torque, and had a 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds. But our new G450d is much more powerful, with 367 BHP and 750 Nm, with a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds. It also gets that hybrid boost, making it even more attractive in terms of torque! And it's also the cheapest new G, priced at £136,690.

Most significantly in terms of updates is the interior, where we finally get the latest MBUX operating system! Something G Wagon owners have been crying out for. Now we have all new driver zones, the MBUX interior assistant, apps you can install, and even a dedicated off road mode with an invisible bonnet feature. Heck, we even get keyless entry for the first time.

Major new assistance feature makes its debut too, with Active Steering Assist! Finally you can now let the G Wagon drive and steer itself, a game changer for the luxury side of things.

These updates mark a major shift for the G-Class, even though the exterior design remains largely unchanged. This has always been the case with the G-Class: maintaining the heritage design but pairing that with substantial internal advancements.

But the most noteworthy change is the engine lineup. The G500's transition from a V8 to a 6-cylinder hybrid is a big deal. Can the 6-cylinder hybrid still deliver? And with the existence of the G580 EV, there's now a choice of 3 viable daily G Wagons beyond the usual G63 choice. Today we will try to figure out which one is the best!