Acceleration

G500	Class Average
6	4.4

Test G500 clocked 0-60 mph in a respectable 7.9 sec, helped by a smooth, quick-shifting automatic transmission. But midrange pickup isn't that strong, reflecting hefty weight and the poor aerodynamic shape of this tall, boxy body.

Fuel Economy

G500	Class Average
2	2

The G500 requires premium fuel and lots of it. Test model averaged 12.8 mpg in city/freeway driving, including gas-eating performance tests.

Ride Quality

G500	Class Average
3	4.9

Firm, off-road-oriented suspension settings make for a fairly jiggly on-road ride. It's far from punishing, but most every other big SUV offers far superior comfort.

Steering/Handling/Braking

G500	Class Average
2	2.8

Like the ride quality, disappointingly trucky and old-fashioned. Marked early body lean creates a tippy cornering feel, and even moderately gusty crosswinds cause noticeable wander at highway speeds. The brakes deliver sure, reasonably short simulated panic stops with little nosedive--once they're warmed up; until then, pedal action is worrisomely heavy and dead-feeling. Steering effort high at low speeds, and steering wheel is slow to return to center after turns.

Quietness

G500	Class Average
3	5.1

Average at best. Wind and tire noise intrude from as low as 45 mph, and there's lots of roar from the engine at full throttle.

Controls

G500	Class Average
3	4.6

We were surprised to find the same gauge cluster used in Mercedes' entry-level C-Class cars--and again aggravated by the complicated COMAND navigation/audio/cell phone setup. There are lots of other switches too, but they're handy and unambiguous except for the climate controls, which have small markings and sit just under the COMAND screen, itself too low down. Dashboard night lighting is weak. Cabin decor looks high-grade but "industrial," except for the wood dashboard trim and unusual berber-type headliner.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

G500	Class Average
5	7.4

Head room is beyond generous, but the cabin feels narrow in this 30-year-old design. Seats seem needlessly hard. Smallish footwells and the tall body-build complicate entry/exit even for long-legged occupants, and the standard side steps don't help much. Drivers can easily see both front fenders, but the elevated stance, headrest clutter, and dark-tint glass hamper vision astern and over-the-shoulder.

Room/Comfort (rear)

G500	Class Average
5	6.9

The bench seat is as hard and flat as the front buckets. It sits higher off the floor, so head room here is only very good. But that also means loftier entry/exit. And leg room is only fair with the front seats pushed back. The seat is split 70/30 and double-folds for cargo, but the latches on our test G500 were stiff enough to challenge The Rock, and there's no dedicated in-cabin headrest storage.

Cargo Room

G500	Class Average
8	7.7

The rear wheel arches steal some floor area, but there's plenty of volume for big, tall boxes even with the rear seat up. The side-opening cargo door is clumsy, though, partly because of the heavy, bulky outside spare tire. Small-items storage is nothing special, and the two front cupholders are obvious afterthoughts.

Value within Class

G500	Class Average
2	3

The G-Class achieved some celebrity cachet as a private import, one reason Mercedes took over sales. But this old soldier suffers too many lapses for what it costs--including big gaps around the doors that partly expose the latches, a tempting target for thieves with slim-jims. The G-Class is highly capable off-road, but other big SUVs offer far better everyday comfort, refinement, and performance for less money.

Total Score

G500	Class Average
39	48.8

Scores for all Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		23
Average Score		48
High Score		63