2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Road Test
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Our road test for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class includes a full evaluation of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class help you decide if a 2008 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 8.9 |
Test G500 clocked a respectable 7.9 seconds 0-60 mph in our testing, helped by a smooth, quick-shifting transmission. Midrange pickup is only adequate, reflecting hefty weight and poor aerodynamics. No G55 has been made available for testing, but Mercedes lists it at 5.5 seconds 0-60.
FUEL ECONOMY
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2.4 |
Requires premium-grade gas--and lots of it. In Consumer Guide testing, G500s averaged 13.0 mpg in mixed city/highway use.
RIDE QUALITY
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 5.4 |
Surprisingly stable, given off-road-oriented suspension. Some chop due to short wheelbase, but never punishing. Still, more pitching and rocking are present than in most every other luxury SUV, truck-type or otherwise.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 8.2 |
No match for a crossover SUV, but not as ponderous as its tall, narrow build might suggest. Fast turns trigger tippy cornering feel, and most crosswinds cause highway wander. Steering feel is very firm, and the 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 | 5.4 |
Wind and tire noise rise markedly over 45 mph. Much full-throttle engine roar.
CONTROLS
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 6.1 |
Clear gauge cluster. Complex Mercedes COMAND video system governs navigation, audio, and cell phone functions. Most other switches are handy and mostly self-explanatory except for low-mounted, undersized climate controls. Weak dashboard night lighting.
DETAILS
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 8.1 |
Old-fashioned, square-cut interior shapes, but materials are high quality. Creaks and groans over rail tracks are at odds with otherwise-solid bearing.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 6.6 |
Headroom and legroom are beyond generous, but the cabin feels narrow in this decades-old design. The seats feel needlessly hard to some testers. Small footwells and lofty step-in complicate entry and exit; standard side steps help little. Drivers can easily see both front fenders, but elevated stance, headrest clutter, and dark-tint glass block vision astern and over-the-shoulder.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 3.5 |
Hard, flat bench seat is high off the floor, though headroom is still very good. But that also means a steep step-in. And only fair legroom unless the front seats are well forward.
CARGO ROOM
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 2.8 |
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 the heavy, bulky outside spare tire. Small-item storage is nothing special.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 2 | 6 |
The G-Class has some celebrity cachet, but this old soldier suffers too many lapses for what it costs. Other premium SUVs furnish better everyday comfort and performance, usually for far less money.
Total Score
| G500 | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 48 | 63.4 |
Total Score: 48
Scores for all Exotic Cars
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