2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 Review: Off-road quad-motor EV is incredibly capable
The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen is a monster of an off-roader, in part because of the G63 AMG variant that belts out an earth-shaking turbocharged V8 note from its side exit exhausts.
But the G580 steps things up a notch thanks to electricity.
The all-electric version of the G-Wagen uses four electric motors – yep, a quad-motor EV – to pump out a mighty 432kW and 1164Nm (the V8 G63 makes 430kW/850Nm).
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It’s the latest addition to the G-Wagen family and adds to Mercedes-Benz’s expanding EV family.
Originally due to be called the EQG, it’s now known as the G580 and slots into the boxy 4WD family as a very different proposition.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 price and equipment
Such EV extravagance doesn’t come cheap, with the price of the G580 kicking off at $249,900 plus on-road costs (there’s also an Edition One model for $299,900 with various styling enhancements).
For a car with some stratospheric price tags – the G-Wagen is a popular beast! – it’s not as outrageous as it could have been.
For that money you get a 360-degree camera with transparent bonnet tech, Burmester audio, wireless phone charging, and heated, cooled and electrically adjustable front seats.
And, of course, you get one of the coolest looking off-roaders on the market.
Merc hasn’t messed with that styling formula, which retains the boxy look that buyers love.
But there are unique-to-G580 touches, including a bespoke bonnet and small vents at the front of the rear wheel arches; they’re air curtains designed to smooth the air flow, in turn reducing aerodynamic drag.
And it even comes with the option of a full-size spare. The early cars into Australia have a pod that stores charging cables, but those planning to head for the hills can replace that with a larger spare wheel on the back door.
There’s also a 116kWh battery providing 473km of WLTP range.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580: What we think
Our first taste of the Mercedes-Benz G580 – the electric G-Wagen – was short and sweet.
It took place on the “G Track”, which Merc created at the Albert Park grand prix track to show off its latest off-roader.
Consisting of a steep hill, some jagged rocks and some dirt patches it’s a way to complete a very small taste test.
And it was not the place to test the claimed 4.7-second 0-100km/h performance.
But it’s enough to learn there’s talent in the G580.
Riding on the same ladder frame architecture as other G-Wagen’s gives it similar hard core off-road credentials, although tipping the scales at a bit over three tonnes (yep, it’s heavy) may leave deeper tyre tracks.
Underneath is a mostly flat floor protecting the battery pack and a high-tech protective material (Benz won’t say exactly what it’s made of) keeps things in check if you do scrape the underside.
Independent suspension up-front and a live rear axle provide decent articulation and on our super short track it felt comfortable tackling rough terrain.
There’s also a low range gear ratio, although even with that selected the throttle felt touchy. Maybe we needed to muck around with the driving modes more – there’s Trail and Rock modes, for example – to settle into the groove.
There’s also some fancy software to help keep things moving, including crawl control, which is essentially off-road cruise control.
It allows feet-free ascending and descending, something that works well. And given the precise control of electricity to the motors, it’s done smoothly and seamlessly.
And while there are no actual diff locks, the independent control of the four electric motors can amount to the same result. By sending the same drive to all four wheels you’ve effectively got diffs locked front and rear and across the axles.
Btu arguably the coolest thing with the G-Wagen is its ability to perform tank turns, or G-Turn, as the company markets it.
Because each wheel is controlled individually by an electric motor the wheels on the left can turn in the opposite direction.
Dial up the G-Turn function, hold down the gearshift paddle in the direction you want the car to turn and it’ll spin up to 720 degrees on its own axis.
It’s quite the party trick, especially as it happens much quicker than some of the Chinese cars that can do the same thing.
If you want to bail out mid-spin then release the throttle and the car stops spinning.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580: Verdict
The tank turn function on its own will be enough to convince some buyers to shift from the V8 engine that has cemented the G-Wagen legend to something with even more grunt.
While we need to spend a lot more time in the Mercedes-Benz G580 to really see what it’s made of, our brief taste was enough to learn there’s plenty to like.
Smooth, seamless grunt and some clever utilisation of the EV hardware to maximise the off-road capability – of which there is plenty.
The G580 shows that EV and off-road can work together, although clearly you still need to think about charging in remote areas.
Score: 4/5
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580: pricing and specifications
Price: $249,900 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, 4WD
Range: 473km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 116kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 23.1kWh/100km
Motors: 2 front and 2 rear, each with up to 108kW/291Nm, 432kW/1164Nm combined outputs
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 200kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 4.7 seconds
