Used Mercedes G-Class (Mk2, 2018-2024) buyer’s guide: tough SUV is expensive to buy and run

Verdict

The Mercedes G-Class has always been a specialist car for people with deep pockets, and that’s especially so with this second-generation edition. For most people in the real world, it doesn’t do anything better than the more mainstream road-biased SUVs offered by Mercedes and its rivals; in fact it’s less pleasant on road than almost all of them. But for some people only a G-Class will do, due to its boxy shape and the go-anywhere reputation. If you’re one of those people, we wouldn’t try to dissuade you from buying a G-Class because this is a great car that’s quick, refined, comfortable and superbly built, even if the Mercedes SUV is far from a rational purchase.

Few cars are deserving of the adjective ‘iconic’ and it’s a very much over-used term, but the original Mercedes G-Class (originally branded the G-Wagen in 1979) is worthy of that accolade.

Initially developed for use by the military, the boxy G-Wagen was launched with the W460 codename, and lived unchanged through to a heavy revamp in 1990 with the arrival of the W463 model. As a result, the original G-Wagen (officially marketed as the G-Class from 1993) is sometimes seen as two distinct generations, but we’re classing it as one, hence the all-new car from 2018 being classed as the second-generation model.

Used - available now

2015 Mercedes

G Class

87,000 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £35,995

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2017 Mercedes

G Class

36,650 milesAutomaticPetrol5.5L

Cash £69,995

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2024 Mercedes

G Class

42,785 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £125,500

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2024 Mercedes

G Class

10,000 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £166,000

View G Class

Last year Mercedes launched what it called an “all-new G-Class”, meaning the Mk2 edition we’re looking at here had a lifespan that lasted less than one-sixth as long as the Mk1. That might lead you to think that it might have been a bit of a lemon, but nothing is further from the truth, because the G-Class Mk2 is deeply impressive, as you would expect for the price.

History

After more than 300,000 examples of the original G-Class had been sold, the Mk2 was unveiled in 2017, although it didn’t go on sale in the UK until July 2018. At first only the £143,305 G 63 was available, which was also offered in Edition 1 form for £164,495. Both came with a 577bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

For those wanting something cheaper to buy and run, the £94,000 G 350d arrived in summer 2019, with a 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. Within 18 months this had morphed into the G 400d, with a more powerful (325bhp) 3.0 V6.

Prices

There aren’t masses of used models for sale, but there are more than you might think, and they hold their value phenomenally well. We found more than 200, one in six with a diesel engine, which are the most affordable G-Class Mk2 models. Prices for a used Mercedes G-Class start from around £90,000 through our Buy a Car service.

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On the road

With a kerbweight of around 2.5 tonnes, the G-Class doesn’t feel agile, but the standard adaptive damping makes a huge difference when tackling twisty roads. The suspension does a great job of soaking up potholes when cruising, and despite the upright nose and windscreen, high-speed refinement is truly excellent.

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Of course, the AMG editions are ludicrously fast (0-62mph takes just 4.5 seconds), but even the diesels versions are sufficiently swift; the G 350d is just three seconds slower. Venture off road and the G-Class is the equal of any Jeep or Land Rover model.

Which one should I buy?

The running costs will probably dictate which engine you go for; the diesel is costly to run, while the V8 petrol models are fiendishly expensive. All powertrains are superb and while the Mk1 G-Class was offered in three-door form, the Mk2 only came with five doors.

Any G-Class that you buy will be crammed with kit; diesels came only in AMG Line Premium Plus form, while AMG editions came with even more equipment fitted as part of the asking price.

Standard kit for diesel models included a sliding sunroof, heated windscreen, matrix LED headlights, a 360-degree camera, heated front and rear seats, a 16-speaker Burmester hi-fi audio system, three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel and Nappa leather trim. The AMG versions came with bigger wheels and brakes, a performance exhaust and an array of sportier design flourishes inside and out.

Alternatives to the Mercedes G-Class

This generation of G-Class is supremely capable on the road as well as off it, and that’s also true of the Range Rover, which is a superb alternative. You could arguably see a late previous-generation G-Class as an option, but a closer match would be a Mercedes GLE, which is just as luxurious and roomy, but far cheaper to buy and run – and in more plentiful supply, too.

The Bentley Bentayga is luxurious and quick, and similarly costly to buy and run, very like the Lamborghini Urus. Neither of these models could cope with much in the way of off-roading, and that’s also the case with the Aston Martin DBX. We’d also consider the BMW X5 M and Audi SQ8, which are less special, but blend performance and luxury to great effect.

What to look for

On the pull

G-Classes are pretty much always bought as a style statement, but if you’re buying to tow, you’re in luck, because they’re all capable of pulling up to 3,500kg, with trailer stabilisation as standard.

Common problems

The G-Class was hand-made and its rarity means fault patterns are hard to pin down. Predictably, it’s the electronics and electrics that are the most likely to give problems, but check the panel fit, too.

Extras, extras

The options list was extensive when it came to colours, materials, wheel designs and finishes. One piece of kit worth seeking out is the rear-seat entertainment package.

All the gear

All G-Classes came with 4Matic four-wheel drive as standard, with three lockable differentials for serious off-roading. They also only came with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Interior

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The second-generation car’s dashboard is a world away from the 1979 original, with twin 12.3-inch digital displays. But they’re not touchscreens, which makes controlling some functions less convenient. The seats are superb.

Running costs

Everything about running a G-Class is costly: VED, car insurance, fuel bills and maintenance. All G-Classes are in insurance group 50 and incur the road tax supplement (£425 on top of the regular £195) until their sixth birthday. Even the diesels are rated at only 25mpg (with CO2 emissions of 252g/km), while the V8 editions are pegged at 18mpg (and 299g/km); in the real world, the thirst is likely to be even greater, so expect some seriously steep fuel bills.

All G-Classes have a service interval of 12 months or 12,500 miles, with maintenance alternating between Minor and Major at £525 and £650. The latter includes fresh brake fluid; the former is essentially an oil and filter change. Fresh rear axle oil is required every fourth service, at £500; engines are chain-driven, so there are no cambelts to replace.

Recalls

The G-Class Mk2 has been recalled on 15 occasions, including three times in August 2020 due to issues with the seatbelt buckles, wiring harnesses and child locks. Within a month a problem had been identified with transmission casings, then in 2021 there were three actions due to e-call glitches. Faulty crash sensors led to a recall in August 2021, then coolant and fuel leaks prompted campaigns in January and March 2022.

Chafing wiring and faulty fuel pumps led to recalls in April and August 2023, then in 2024 there were two more campaigns: in April because the air-con used the wrong refrigerant, and in August, because of faulty rear axle casings. The most recent action, in March 2025, was due to faulty automatic transmissions.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

With just a few hundred examples sold in the UK each year, the G-Class has never troubled the best-seller lists and it has never appeared in our annual Driver Power surveys. Mercedes doesn’t always do all that well in our polls, but this year it came top with the GLE, with the C-Class and A-Class in fifth and 11th respectively, which is impressive. But in our 2024 Brands survey, Mercedes came 25th out of 32, showing that there’s plenty of room for improvement.

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