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2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a luxury large SUV, that features a combination of great off-road performance, unique looks and top-notch build quality.

This SUV is fitted with full-time 4-wheel drive system, featuring a locking front, center and rear differentials.

This five passenger car is available in one trim, the G550.

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: SUV Base Price: $113,000.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 25.4 gallons (96 l) MPG: 12 city / 15 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 184.5 in. (468.6 cm) Wheel Base: 112.2 in. (285 cm)
Height: 76.8 in. (195 cm) Width: 80.9 in. (205.5 cm)
Curb Weight: 5578 lbs (2530 kg) Ground Clearance: 8.1 in. (20.5 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 45.2 cu ft Maximum Seating: 5 people
Performance
Engine: DOHC V8 Displacement: 5.5 Liter
Horsepower: 382 HP Max RPM: 6000 RPM
Torque: 391 lb-ft @ 2800-4800 rpm Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
0-60 mph: 6.0 seconds Max Towing Capacity: 7500 lbs (3402 kgs)
Available Trims & Engine
Option:C63 AMG 536 HP MSRP: $134,300; MPG: 12 city / 15 hwy

Engine & Performance

The Mercedes-Benz G-class uses a 5.5L V8 powertrain that generates 382 hp and 391 lbs-ft of torque. The engine comes with several standard equipment that include: three lockable differentials, 4-wheel drive, and a 7-speed automatic gearbox.

The G550 is capable of sprinting from standstill to 60 mph in amazing 6.6 seconds. The gearbox is versatile and driver adaptive, offering the widest span of gear ratios in the SUV family. The braking does not perform badly too, with the G550 taking 127 foot to come to a standstill from 60 mph.

The fuel economy rates at 12 mpg in city and 15 mpg while on a highway. All the same, the G-class remains one of the most capable off-road SUVs in the market today.

Exterior

From the outside, the G-Class is recognizable from its stylish look that has many standard exterior feature. These features are: sunroof, automatic wipers, and rear parking sensors, 18-inch wheels and automatic bi-xenon headlamps. Mercedes-Benz G-Class is available in 7 exterior color coats including: Arctic white, black, Palladium Silver metallic, Obsidian black, Flint grey, Iridium silver, and Verde brook metallic.

Interior

The interior is outfitted in true Mercedes-Benz style, and accommodates up to five people. The front seats are relatively firm and comfortable, although tall drivers might find the legroom being a little bit limited. Overall, the headroom for all seats is more than enough, with the power front seats having an astounding height adjustment.

Many standard features are fitted in this vehicle, leaving no room for optional features or packages. These features include: premium sound system, hard-drive navigation system, leather surfaces trimmed with wood, and 4GB hard drive for music. The G550 has a maximum cargo space of 79.5 cubic ft.

Safety & Reliability

This large SUV comes with many safety features, to ensure that the occupants have a safe ride throughout and still make sure that the occupants are safe in the event of a collision. Among these standard safety features are: traction and stability control, side curtain airbags, Mercedes-Benz mbrace telematics, antilock brakes, Blind spot assist, Parktronic system with reversing camera that assists during parking, child safety locks, brake assist, integrated turn signal mirrors, daytime running lights, and trailer stability assist.

The 2012 G-class comes with a 4-year or 50,000 mile limited warranty from Mercedes, and 1-year or 12,000 miles warranty for items that wear out rapidly like wiper blades, brake discs and tires.

Pros

  • Stand-out exterior styling
  • Luxurious and well equipped interior
  • Unbeatable off-road ability
  • Strong V8 engine
  • Adequate headroom
  • Unmatched presence
  • Solid construction

Cons

  • High price
  • Small cabin for a large SUV
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Disappointing on-road handling
  • Limited front legroom
  • Finicky electronics interface

The Mercedes-Benz G-class is a car of choice for people looking for large SUV with great off-road performance. Moreover, its unique looks and top-notch build quality are among other several things that makes this SUV appealing to many people.

Depending on your preference of what you expect from your SUV, there are only a few that might meet your expectations, the first is another offering from Mercedes, the M Class (MSRP $94,990; 15 city / 25 hwy), followed by two from BMW, the X5 M (MSRP $88,850; 12 city / 17 hwy) and the X6 M (MSRP $92,900; 12 city / 17 hwy); if you don’t mind the feel of added luxury, the Cadillac Escalade (MSRP $71,675; 14 city / 18 hwy) is also worth looking at.

Overall Rating
70 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is nearly in a class by itself thanks to its unique, and essentially archaic, design, but it does what it does very, very well–for a price.”Car Connection

“The 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class lineup shrinks but is otherwise largely unchanged. Mercedes designed this tall, relatively narrow 4-door wagon in the 1970s for military use. “G” denotes Gelandewagen–German for cross-country vehicle.”Consumer Guide

“If you get a childlike smirk when you look at the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G550 SUV you’ll probably love it.”KBB

“Strong V8 engine; go-anywhere capability; unmatched presence; luxuriously appointed cabin…Unwieldy handling; limited front legroom; very tall roof line; abysmal fuel economy; finicky electronics interface.”Edmunds

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