Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) prices and specs

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) exterior design

From the outside, the G580 looks like, well, a G Wagon, but one that – yes – has “optimised aerodynamics” that offset the, er, super-tanker profile and stone-catcher windscreen rake.

Few will notice the slightly raised bonnet, new A-Pillar trim, lip on the roof, and tiny vents on the extended rear wheel arches, which accommodate aero-optimised wheels.

Disguised as a spare wheel mounted on the boot, the Design Box is worthy of note. It’s a useful place to store electric cables and is infinitely more practical than the Land Rover Defender’s daft side storage boxes.

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) offroad tech and performance

With a motor powering individual wheels, the Mercedes G 580 EQ Technology is said to be even more capable than the standard car, a serious claim with the standard G Wagon makes a main battle tank look like a soft-roader.

It features a 32-degree approach, 30.7-degree departure, and 20.3-degree breakover angles. Because each motor is linked to its wheel by a dual-joint shaft, the wheel’s camber isn’t affected by compressions.

Like a petrol or diesel model, the G Wagon has the kind of off-road gizmos that have the One Life Live It set reaching for a box of tissues and a copy of Farmers Weekly. You get a rugged ladder frame chassis, low-range gears, independent front suspension, a rigid rear axle, and a (virtual) differential lock that engages automatically.

Hidden within the chassis, the motive battery is set within a torsion-resistant casing that protects it from dust and water. It’s sandwiched beneath underbody protection using a material mix that includes carbon and is 26mm thick. Weighing 57.6kg sounds hefty until you realise a steel alternative weighs three times as much. The last line of the underbody’s defence is a 1mm-thick layer of stone-chip protection.

The electric G Wagon can do things its conventionally-powered stablemates can’t. The car’s G-Turn feature means the G580 EQ Technology can spin on the spot like a tank on loose or unpaved surfaces, while G-Steering allows for tight turns while offroading. Plus, you get a three-speed off-road crawl function that maintains a steady pace on tricky terrain, leaving you to focus on the important job of keeping plus-£140,000 of electric SUV undamaged.

Like other Gs, the 580 EQ offers 100 per cent gradeability, meaning it can climb 45-degree slopes and drive along 35-degree angles. The EQ’s wading depth of 850mm is also 150mm deeper than its petrol or diesel-powered brethren can manage, but it is still 50mm less than an air-suspension-equipped Defender.

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) battery, range and on-road performance

The G EQ is powered by a 116kWh battery that’s good for more than 290 miles from a charge. It is DC-capable, meaning you can charge the battery from 10-80 per cent in less than 35 minutes. The sat-nav accounts for charging stops when calculating the fastest route.

Acceleration is significantly quicker; the Merc’s 587PS (432kW) and 1,164Nm (859 lb-ft) is enough to propel its 3,085kg from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and onto a limited top speed of 112mph. The G’s famous V8 roar – which leaves petrol pumps shuddering in its wake – is also present and correct thanks to (eye-rollingly titled) G-Roar, which mimics the noise of the petrol V8, allowing you to choose from different noise levels in Comfort and Sport modes, the latter is said to be “powerful and emotional” and we’d imagine loud enough to blow an Abarth 500e into a hedge. Along with the warming roar of a V8, you can also choose from “aura” and a choice of “event’ sounds that play when you lock and unlock the car.

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) interior and equipment

Inside the G580 EQ Technology, a rugged, basic design – square edges and grab handles for your unsuspecting passengers – meet posh materials and huge, high-definition infotainment screens that form the G Wagon’s Offroad Cockpit.

The screen behind your steering wheel and the display in the centre of the dashboard convey information like an artificial horizon, compass, altitude, steering angle, torque, and tyre pressures and temperatures. The ‘transparent bonnet’ is a tad more trick, augmenting the centre screen with a view that makes it look like the bonnet has disappeared so you can place the front tyres perfectly on the challenging terrain lurking below.

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology Edition One

The EQ580 is available in moody Night Package and high-specification Exclusive Line trim levels, but the Edition One sits at the top of the pack and celebrates the car’s launch.

It’s available in five shades of paint – South Sea Blue Magno, Obsidian Black Metallic, Opalite White Magno, Opalite White Bright and Classic Grey Solid – and has blue highlights set in its meaty body kit and blue brake callipers. The wing mirrors also project “Stronger Than Time” onto the kerbside, and you get 20-inch alloys.

Inside, there’s carbon fibre trim, and the Nappa leather seats have blue stitching. As you’d expect, the equipment list is long and extensive, covering everything from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to wireless charging, temperature-controlled cup holders, and a Burmester 3D sound system.

Mercedes G580 EQ Technology (electric G Wagon) price and on-sale date

The Mercedes G580 EQ Technology will go on sale imminently, with first deliveries expected this year. Prices haven’t been confirmed, but expect to pay more than £140,000 for a basic model and around £170,000 for the high-flying Edition One.