Acceleration

G500	Class Average
6	4.4

Test G500 clocked a respectable 7.9 sec 0-60 mph, helped by smooth, quick-shifting transmission. Midrange pickup is adequate, reflecting hefty weight and poor aerodynamics. Haven't yet tested G55, for which Mercedes claims 7.2 sec 0-60.

Fuel Economy

G500	Class Average
2	1.9

Both Gs require premium fuel--and lots of it. Test G500s averaged 13.0 mpg in mixed city/highway use, 12.8 including gas-eating performance tests. G55 likely thirstier still.

Ride Quality

G500	Class Average
3	5.4

Surprisingly stable, given firm, off-road-oriented suspension. Some chop due to short wheelbase, but never punishing. Still, most every other big SUV furnishes superior comfort.

Steering/Handling/Braking

G500	Class Average
3	3.3

Again, no match for more-modern rivals, but not as bad as tall, narrow build might suggest. Still, fast turns trigger tippy cornering feel, and most crosswinds cause highway wander. Steering very firm, and wheel is slow to return to center after turns. Brakes deliver sure, reasonably short simulated panic stops with little nosedive.

Quietness

G500	Class Average
3	5.2

Wind, tire noise rise markedly over 45 mph. Much full-throttle engine roar.

Controls

G500	Class Average
3	5

Clear gauge cluster. Complex Mercedes COMAND video system governs navigation/audio/cell phone. Most other switches are handy and mostly self-explanatory except for low-mounted, undersized climate controls. Weak dashboard night lighting. Old-fashioned, square-cut interior shapes, but materials are high quality, include wood trim. Creaks, groans over rail tracks at odds with otherwise-solid bearing.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

G500	Class Average
5	7.4

Head room beyond generous, but cabin feels narrow in this 30-year-old design. Seats needlessly hard to some testers. Smallish footwells and lofty step-in complicate entry/exit; standard side steps help little. Drivers can easily see both front fenders, but elevated stance, headrest clutter, and dark-tint glass block much vision astern and over-the-shoulder.

Room/Comfort (rear)

G500	Class Average
5	6.4

Hard, flat bench seat high off floor, so head room only very good. But that also means steep step-in. And only fair leg room unless front seats well forward.

Cargo Room

G500	Class Average
8	6.9

Split 70/30 rear bench double-folds for cargo, but stiff latches on test G500s required undue muscle. Rear wheel arches steal some cargo space, but there's plenty of volume for big, tall boxes. Side-opening cargo door is clumsy--partly because it carries heavy, bulky outside spare tire. Small-items storage nothing special.

Value within Class

G500	Class Average
2	3.4

The G-Class achieved some celebrity cachet as a private import, one reason Mercedes began offering it through its own dealers during 2002. But this old soldier suffers too many lapses for what it costs. Other luxury SUVs--including Mercedes' own M-Class--furnish far better everyday comfort, refinement, and performance, usually for far less money.

Total Score

G500	Class Average
40	49.3

Scores for all Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		23
Average Score		49
High Score		64