Running costs

• An expensive car to run
• Expect big fuel bills
• Strong residual values

You only get a choice of two engines with the G-Class, and neither are particularly small or economical. The sensible choice is the G400d, a 2.9-litre six-cylinder diesel that’s only able to muster around 26mpg in official tests. Thankfully, you’ll get a little more than that in the real world with a gentle right foot, with high 20s achievable without too much sweat.

The other option is the brawny 4.0-litre V8 G63 which is officially capable of around 17mpg. Drive carefully and you might just about hit 20mpg, though. Naturally servicing will be costly, although G-Classes do hold their value very well. Even so, with the range starting at around £100,000, you’ll still lose plenty of cash if you buy new.

• Full economy and emissions figures

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Green credentials

At the moment the G-Class is anything but green. Even the diesel emits nearly 300g/km of CO2 placing it firmly in the top 37% BIK company car tax bracket. The G63 emits over 370g/km, a staggeringly high figure these days.

No hybrid version is offered, although an all-electric version has been shown as a prototype and is said to be entering production.

Reliability

• Should be a reliable prospect
• A very tough, strong car
• No problems anticipated

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has a good reputation for reliability, as befits one of the toughest 4x4s on the market. The current model is based on an entirely new architecture, around a strong ladder-frame chassis. Even so, it uses plenty of existing Mercedes tech so you shouldn’t get too many issues.

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