Whenever a carmaker decides to expand a model line to include multiple cars, I worry. When Ford came out with the Bronco Sport—a unibody crossover with a tiny fraction of the off-road prowess of the real Bronco—I was constantly inundated with questions from friends and family about whether they should buy it because it was a “Bronco” for half the price. I had to repeatedly explain that no, that’s not a real Bronco, it’s just a boxy-looking Ford Escape.
That’s why when Mercedes-Benz confirmed it would be building a smaller version of its iconic G-Wagen, I had my doubts. I wondered if Mercedes would follow in Ford’s steps, rebodying a GLB crossover with G-like looks to make a quick buck, without focusing on the capabilities and equipment that make the original Geländewagen so great.
Mercedes teased the mini G’s design on Monday during a press conference at the Munich motor show, showing off the SUV’s similar proportions and smaller size. Thankfully, it sounds like the company is putting a lot of time and effort into this SUV, rather than phoning it in. Here’s what chairman Ola Källenius told Autocar:
“The G is a very special, authentic car, and the Mini G has to be authentic. So I cannot take just a platform, I cannot take an existing platform, I have to create my own. It’s a completely new development.”
The platform is described by Schäfer as a “miniature ladder-frame chassis”, which he explained was “not ladder-frame to [the current G-Class’s] extent but when it comes to suspension, when it comes to wheel size”.
Schäfer revealed that the Mini G will use “a lot” of unique components, “far more than I ever wish to tell you”, which includes most of the car’s body.
Color me cautiously optimistic. The original G has always had a ladder-frame chassis, with live axles front and rear. While Källenius is being vague here—likely on purpose—this level of engineering going into the mini G is a positive sign, even if it doesn’t end up having the same design underneath as the regular G-Class. He went on to say engineers “can’t even take a door handle from [the current] portfolio, because the G-Class has such unique door handles.” Källenius is making it clear the small G won’t be a parts-bin special, which is good.
The single teaser photo up top gives a good idea of what to expect looks-wise, though the company’s head designer, Gorden Wagener, hints at a few more changes. From Autocar.
“You cannot change the G much: it’s iconic. I like the new [current G-Class]: that’s a modern G.
“On the little one, we will give a slightly different tweak: a bit more sharpness, a bit younger [light] graphics but still circle. So it’s really details.
“But otherwise we stick to the G, and it’s a modern G – even a touch more modern than the big one.”
There’s also the issue of what will power the mini G. Though no Mercedes official has confirmed what will be under the hood just yet, Autocar seems to believe it’ll be an electric vehicle. But I’m not so sure. Mercedes has been making moves this year to lean back into internal combustion power, at least until 2035. Hell, I just reported on the company deciding to keep the V12—the most engine-y of all the engines—around until the next decade.
I’d also like to point to sales of the current electric G-Wagen. Mercedes doesn’t release sales numbers by trim, and while sales of the G are up overall (as they always are), one unnamed executive reportedly called the electric version “a complete flop” back in June. The market for a cheaper G-Class-looking EV is larger, sure, but I don’t see Mercedes leaving the opportunity of a combustion-powered model on the table, especially here in America, where buyers are as hungry for ICE power as ever.
If Mercedes plays its cards right, the mini G could be a massive success. Demand for the regular G has outstripped supply for years, and the introduction of a smaller, more affordable model will open access to an entirely new swath of buyers. In this case, “affordable” is relative. The regular G-Class starts at an eye-watering $149,400, including destination. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the mini G start at around $100,000, considering all the bespoke engineering promised by executives. If it can live up to the Geländewagen’s iconic name, people won’t have a problem fronting the cash—even if they never plan to take it off-road.
Top graphic image: Mercedes-Benz
Clearly they need to work out a licensing agreement with Radio Flyer to sell these in the most popular fire-engine hue as the Little Red G-Wagen.
I have a mini-G: a 96 G320 SWB. The I-6 kicks ass, it crawls confidently (or makes me feel so), has visibility like a fishbowl. Interested to see this thing, I guess.
Will this trick Mercedes into buying one if we refer to it as a Mini G-Wagen?
Will this be branded A Mini G model?
I find it hard to care about the “spirit” of the G-Wagen, because for a couple decades now the spirit is “I want to flaunt the fact that I have some money.”
I really hate the fact that the only G-Wagens available in North America are the super ostentatious top of the line models. Whenever I see one of the Canadian Army’s mil-spec G-Wagens driving around, I get jealous for what could’ve been.
Oh man I haven’t seen one of those, they look pretty sick.
Upside-down land has them too! https://i0.wp.com/practicalmotoring.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/20120717dmo8004222DSC_2743a_170.jpg?ssl=1
Sounds like they’re trying to pull off another W201 moment in making a smaller version live up to the image of the larger versions.
I kid you not, but I’d rather just have a Suzuki Jimny, which looks a bit like an old school G-Wagen, even without that Japanese cosplay kit: practically a tenth the price with the same boxy appeal, and long-term maintenance costs for it will be less than just the tires for a real G-Wagen.
Where I live, I see multiple G-Wagens every time I go out, and uniformly, they’re driven in extremely inconsiderate fashion by 2%er housewives with faces full of Botox, along with assorted wannabe rappers and gangsters, often skinny white guys with full tattoo sleeves and fairly obvious drug habits. I know that I shouldn’t besmirch a car and its engineering/history by dint of those I see driving it, but it’s an overwhelming association. Altimas are for running from the cops after shoplifting at Walmart. Mustangs are for hitting curbs when pulling out of Cars and Coffee. Dodge Challengers/Chargers are also for running from the cops, and for street takeovers. It’s just the way it is. 😉
With that said, I love boxy in all it’s forms when it comes to cars for some unknown reason. Old G-Wagens are truly macho-looking, like old/original Broncos and old/early Jeep products. I’m sure a mini-G-Wagen will sell to some demographics, who will use it to park in the handicap spaces in front of Whole Foods. Almost nobody is going to be off-roading in it, and the base versions will surely start at least 75% higher than average MSRP for all new cars.
Of course the Bronco Sport is just an Escape cosplaying as a Bronco, and I’d never buy one, but frankly, it’s visually more appealing than an Escape, though they’re both crippled by Ford’s inability to release a new car without of glovebox full of recall notices these days.
I’d never buy another new Mercedes Benz product anyway: my late ’90s CLK was without question, the most unreliable car I’ve ever owned.
Alright, I’ll shut up now and go back to my coffee.
Still crossing my fingers the newer Jimny is brought to the US under Toyota somehow.
From your keyboard to Glob’s ears.
I still think it would make a genius miniature Wrangler for Jeep.
Oh definitely but don’t think Stellantis has any ownership in Suzuki like Toyota does. Toyota could bring it over here and call it a Mini-FJ
Thats a really fair point. I hadn’t considered it from the perspective of actual ownership at all. Just the brand I thought could make the easiest use of it. A quick Jeep grill and maybe a taillight swap and its a finished Jeep 😀
OK, so it’ll be the “Bronco Sport” of the G Wagon lineup.
More like Bronco II.
I really can’t wait to buy a depreciated G wagon EV.
Me too! And with how ultra-luxe EVs depreciate, I’m expecting them to be $50k in about 2 years.
What makes the G-Wagen sell isn’t its offroad prowess, but the illusion that you could, and it’s exclusivity/badge. The G-Wagen is still adapted as a military vehicle around the world.
A Mini-G could easily ape on the aesthetics, and ride around on a GLA platform and still sell at a premium over a GLA sibling.
“The platform is described by Schäfer as a “miniature ladder-frame chassis”, which he explained was “not ladder-frame to [the current G-Class’s] extent but when it comes to suspension, when it comes to wheel size”.”
What does this even mean?
Here’s the thing: The G is already quite small. I mean, its a “big” car but its not really that large inside or out all things considered. No one who’s been in one would call it spacious. It’s smaller in every dimension that the new Land Cruiser 250, for example. There really isn’t a way to make it that much smaller with a similar platform type as the larger model. It will HAVE to use a monocoque chassis to get the size down. Maybe it will use a uni-frame design like the XJ did, but my guess is that this isn’t even going to be longitudinal drivetrain, let alone ladder chassis based.
The point of the G in 2025 is to look “baller” or whatever the current term is. The point of the mini G is going to make credit-extended buyers look like they look “baller”. Aint no one going to care if its as trail rated as a Jeep Compass. It just has to look the part.
Jimny’s would like to disagree about the inability to put a ladder frame under a small suv.
Also old Zr2 S10 blazers had a ladder frame
Also the Suzuki Vitara/Sidekick/Geo Tracker
The last Grand Vitara we got here was a unibody with a partially ladder frame wasn’t it?
I’m not sure about this. Big money for a small vehicle is rarely a winner here.
Obviously it depends on how small the “mini” really is, but the “big” one is already smaller than a midsized GLE.
For the Euro market, smaller can be better and expensive. But expensive=big in the land of arbitrary units of measurement.
All units are arbitrary, apart from the Planck system.
By definition, the Metric system would not be arbitrary.
We’re gonna need a micro G… the size of a Suzuki Jimny. Make it affordable and more capable than a wrangler.
IP68-rated seat coolers/heaters are also a necessity.
They’re just gonna start selling those Jimny AMG kits directly.
Or these ones https://carbuzz.com/best-suzuki-jimny-body-kits/
Better yet, just bring over the Jimny.
I thought that niche was initially the GLK (08-15?). I bet this new one will be closer to $65K base and rise rapidly from there.
This was also the similar to the Bronco and Bronco II conversation a generation ago.
If anything a Mini-G will devalue the actual G. Ain’t no one at Rodeo Dr wants to drive something undiscernible from the plebes of Costa Mesa
If this starts at $100,000+ I don’t think there’s going to be much of a market for it to be honest. I don’t think the people that can afford to drop six figures plus on a vanity purchase are going to do it on what appears to be a CUV. They want it to be big, loud, ostentatious, and an inconvenience to everyone around it.
I think they’d just buy a used G Class or a Hummer EV or Raptor R or something over getting the “lesser” G Class…but if it’s priced so it’s a Defender competitor I think they’ll sell every single one. I also think it’s fine if it’s an EV. Literally everywhere except the US wants BEVs.
We’re a big market but foreign manufacturers can’t and shouldn’t cater to us anymore. We might have a populace that largely wants to accelerate climate change and burn as much coal and gas as possible in a grand display of selfishness to own the libs but almost everywhere else is moving past ICE at a rapid pace and 2nd gen EVs are about to be really damn good.
Hell the new Mercedes EV crossover they just announced has 350 miles of range. While a baby G class would be an aerodynamic brick I don’t see why they couldn’t eek 300 miles out of an EV one with similar battery chemistry and electric motors. If (when) the conspicuous consumption crowd here ain’t about I’m positive they’ll plenty in China and Europe.
You’d be surprised with some neighbourhoods that obsess over keeping up with the Jones’.
One person shows up with a C-klasse, and within two years there’re CLAs/GLAs everywhere.
Now they can larp the big-G.
Call this one the G Whiz. You can’t call it the G Mini because that’s sailing way too close to Suzuki territorial waters.