Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology review
The iconic G Wagen is now available with electric power, but it’s about as efficient as its boxy appearance suggests
Our opinion on the Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology
Mercedes’ attempt at an all-electric G-Class has been largely successful. The G 580 has the presence, the quality and the performance – whether that’s on or off road – to justify its place in the legendary G Wagen model line. With poor efficiency, average on-road refinement and a high price tag, however, it’s a difficult car to recommend.
While lacking nothing in muscle, the EV powertrain can’t match the character of the V8 fitted to the petrol G-Class but if you’re after a luxury electric car to make a statement, the G 580 is still one of the most charismatic offerings out there.
| Key specs | |
| Fuel type | Electric |
| Body style | SUV |
| Powertrain | 4x electric motors, 116kWh battery |
| Safety | N/A |
| Warranty | Eight years/100,000 miles |
About the Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology
The Mercedes G-Class is a true icon. Unmistakable looks and unstoppable off-road ability have helped it secure half a million sales throughout a 45-year history. During that time the G-Class has transitioned from military-spec workhorse into something of a fashion accessory for the rich and famous and now we’re welcoming the biggest change to the model yet - the first all-electric version.
It initially seemed like the electric Mercedes G-Class was going to be called ‘EQG’, following on from Mercedes’ other EQ-branded EVs, but a naming strategy shift saw it switch to the somewhat clunky ‘G 580 with EQ Technology’. Having driven one extensively in the UK, we found that most people referred to it as the ‘electric G-Class’, which is what we’ll do here.
Used - available now
2024 Mercedes
G Class
47,000 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L
Cash £159,995
2024 Mercedes
G Class
35,989 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L
Cash £134,990
2024 Mercedes
G Class
3,111 milesAutomaticDiesel2.9L
Cash £117,990
2019 Mercedes
G Class
43,500 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L
Cash £119,499The electric G-Class might have an entirely different powertrain to the internal combustion-engined models but it shares some fairly astronomical pricing. The diesel G-Class will set you back just over £140,000 with the hot V8-powered G 63 coming in just under £190,000. The G 580 initially came in a high-spec ‘Edition One’ trim at £180,680, though that’s since been removed with the lower-spec G 580 with EQ-Technology AMG Line Premium Plus left as the only option for £154,870.
There’s just one powertrain option for the electric G-Class. A huge 116kWh battery sends power to all four wheels via a remarkable quad-motor system. The four electric motors are incorporated into the ladder-frame chassis and deliver a combined 579bhp with 1,164Nm of torque. Having four motors that can work independently, the electric G-Class can perform a ‘G-Turn’ - in essence turning its wheels in opposite directions to rotate itself like a tank.
Despite having the same battery as the newly-updated Mercedes EQS, the G 580 can’t come anywhere close to the 511-mile range of the luxurious and sleek limousine - partly due to its boxy body. The SUV gets a 293-mile maximum range on the official WLTP tests, helped by subtle aerodynamic changes compared to the internal combustion versions.
While there are plenty of options to choose from, the electric G-Class is extremely well-equipped as standard. There’s a Burmester surround sound stereo system, a sunroof, 20-inch wheels, tinted, heat-insulating glass, front and rear heated seats, open-pore wood interior trim and twin 12.3-inch screens, among many other features.
Performance & driving experience
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The G 580 electric model certainly has the feel of the regular G-Class versions nailed down. Mercedes has worked hard to give its EV a similar driving experience to its siblings despite the electric power source. Weight is even greater than that of the V8 model – the G 580 being 445kg heavier, at 3,085kg – although it doesn’t feel any more lumbering and heavy to drive than the combustion-engined cars.
Quick inputs with the vague steering will upset the G-Class’ balance, but body roll is kept in check to a respectable degree. The big Mercedes doesn’t pitch its weight around too much under hard braking and acceleration, either.
Ride quality is good, thanks to bespoke coil springs and adaptive damping that’s specially set up to control the extra weight. A Range Rover or even a BMW iX will filter out bumps and rough roads more successfully, however.
Around town the electric G-Class does feel its size and weight, with the occasional jarring impact over potholes. With no rear-axle steering, there’s the not-insignificant 13.6-metre turning circle to bear in mind, too. Thankfully, visibility is wonderful thanks to the lofty driving position and the retro lights on the bonnet are a good reference point to help you position the big Merc on the road easily.
Mercedes took measures to refine the electric G-Class even further with plastic coverings around the A-pillars and above the windscreen to cope with wind noise. But it’s not quite worked out, because the silent powertrain actually gives more prominence to tyre roar and wind noise in particular, thanks to that flat windscreen. There’s artificial ‘engine’ noise with Mercedes’ rather cheesily-named ‘G-Roar’ system aiming to replicate the V8 petrol model’s deep growl. We imagine most owners will quickly grow tired or embarrassed by this feature.
Being a G-Class, the G 580 with EQ Technology should also perform off-road. Bespoke for the electric version is the ‘off-road cockpit’ which can display data such as an artificial horizon, a compass, current altitude, steering angle, tyre pressures and torque loads. There’s also a ‘transparent bonnet’ effect on the screen like you get the Land Rover Defender. Working in conjunction with the car’s other exterior cameras, it provides a virtual view beneath the front of the car so you can watch for obstacles.
There’s very little danger of scraping that big expensive battery because a protective plate underneath the G 580 can cope with an impact five times the weight of the car. In our off-road testing we found you’d be hard pushed to hit the underside at all due to the huge 250mm ground clearance (9mm more than the ICE model). Side angle clearance matches that of the petrol G-Class at 35 degrees but the wading depth is 150mm higher at an incredible 850mm.
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
Despite the substantial mass of the electric G-Class, 579bhp and 1,164Nm of torque means it can reach 62mph in just 4.7 seconds - that’s just 0.3 seconds slower than the 577bhp Mercedes-AMG G 63 model. Top speed is limited to 112mph, should feel plenty fast enough in something like the electric G-Class.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology | 579bhp | 4.7 seconds | 112mph |
“It’s hugely inefficient, needlessly quick and a little less refined than contemporary rivals. But the electric G-Class is a memorable drive all the same.” - Alastair Crooks, Senior News Reporter.
Range, charging & running costs
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The pre-facelift Mercedes G-Class had an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.53Cd, which would be little better than a house brick. Learnings during the facelifted G-Class’ development (which launched at the same time as the electric model in 2024) lowered the drag to 0.48Cd, but the EV model improves things further with a blanked-off grille, new A-pillar covers, vented wheel arches and a higher bonnet, cutting the figure to 0.44Cd.
Even with its aerodynamic enhancements, the electric G-Class is far from efficient – another trait it shares with the fossil fuel-burning models. The 116kWh battery is the same as found in the updated EQS, although the casing has been specially tweaked to fit in the G-Class’ chassis. Despite a colossal battery, there’s a maximum range of 280 miles (just 14 miles more than a Vauxhall Corsa Electric). Regularly tap into the 579bhp produced via the four electric motors and you’ll struggle to see north of 200 miles between top-ups. On our tests we were able to get around 230 miles from a full battery in mixed driving.
Any kind of savings you might make from charging the electric G-Class at home might be best used to save up for tyres. If you make use of the prodigious torque and the ‘G-Turn’ function in particular, accelerated wear could be on the cards. The tyres on the G 580 are even larger than on the petrol models, too.
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Charging speeds are no better than okay with a 200kW maximum able to recharge the battery from 10-80 per cent in 32 minutes.
With such a large and expensive battery, you’ll want to know the warranty Mercedes offers. Some electric Mercedes cars come with a 155,000-mile or 10-year warranty for their batteries but the G 580 with EQ Technology comes with 100,000 miles or up to eight years of cover.
Mercedes has given the G 580 an on-board 11kW charger capable of replacing zero to 100 per cent of the battery capacity in 12 hours.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology | 116kWh | 280 miles | 50 |
Interior, design & technology
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Another element the electric G-Class shares with its petrol and diesel counterparts is styling. This is in keeping with Mercedes’ mission statement for the car of ‘G-Class first, EV later’, so the characterful boxy proportions are retained, along with plenty of details that mark the retro-styled G-Class out from more contemporary-looking luxury SUVs.
Given that there’s no big engine requiring cooling air behind that bluff front end, the grille has been blanked off to improve aerodynamic efficiency. There’s also a subtly tweaked front bumper, air vents in the wheelarches and a raised bonnet. All electric G-Classes get 20-inch wheels as standard and at the back there’s a squared-off shell designed to look like a spare wheel cover for the charging cables. You can specify an actual spare wheel case for a more traditional G-Class look, although this hinders rear visibility a little more.
Unless you’re quite tall, you’ll have to use the side steps to jump into that elevated cabin and once you’re up there, you’re met with a truly exceptional interior. While the electric G-Class might be at the upper end of Mercedes’ model line-up, it still uses a twin 12.3-inch screen layout on the dash, rather than the much larger displays of the cinematic Hyperscreen or new Superscreen setups. Given the angular, more rugged design language of the G-Class, we think this is the correct decision and the MBUX infotainment itself remains a joy to use.
To make sure there’s no mistaking that you’re in anything other than a G-Class, plenty of trademark design details feature from the upright windscreen to the passenger grab-handle, prominent bonnet lights and commanding driving position.
While the swathes of carbon-fibre surfacing might not be to everyone's taste, there’s no denying the G-Class is seriously well screwed-together inside. However, some frustrating elements from other Mercedes models are present, such as the fiddly haptic feedback buttons on the steering wheel and the sometimes unresponsive mouse pad on the centre console.
You might expect the selection of paint finishes on the G 580 to cost a significant amount, but the standard metallic black, grey, green, blue and silver are all no-cost options. Mercedes’ wide range of ‘Manufaktur’ metallic finishes start at £4,000 and rise to £7,500. Another neat no-cost option is the full-size spare wheel cover (just like the one on the petrol model), replacing the charging cable box on the tailgate.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
You might expect to find Mercedes’ Hyperscreen or Superscreen infotainment displays inside considering the price and size of the electric G-Class, but no. Here there’s a sensible set up of two 12.3-inch screens placed next to each other - providing a perfectly-sized layout for the G-Class’ dash.
The central touchscreen uses the latest MBUX infotainment software and is great with fast responses and an intricate yet ergonomic layout. There’s also an augmented reality for the sat-nav that is displayed on the central screen and uses the front camera for low-visibility situations - we’ve found it to be a distraction on most Mercedes and it’s no different here sadly.
“The big reason many people buy the G-Class is looks. The electric model looks pretty much indistinguishable from the petrol and diesel versions so it should attract the right clientele.” - Alastair Crooks, Senior News Reporter.
Boot space & practicality
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Despite the electric G-Class’s significant size, just like in the petrol and diesel versions, the retro design hinders practicality. The cabin feels cosier than you’d expect in the front and legroom is rather tight in the rear, given the car’s size. Headroom is great wherever you sit though, no surprise really, given the tall profile of the G-Class.
Like the other versions, the G 580 also gets lots of pockets and bins throughout the cabin, including a pair of removable cup-holders in the front, two in the rear, map pockets on the back of the front seats, an overhead sunglasses holder, and space for bottles in the door pockets.
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,873mm |
| Width | 2,187mm |
| Height | 1,969mm |
| Number of seats | Five |
| Boot space | 620 litres |
Dimensions and size
With a height of 1,969mm a width of 1,984mm (2,187mm including the door mirrors) and a length of 4,873mm, the G-Class is a big car. In fact, it’s just a little bit shorter than a full-size Range Rover and almost as wide.
Boot space
The boot capacity is officially quoted at 620 litres, 20 down on the petrol and diesel versions, thanks to a floor that’s slightly higher. But it’s still a massive loading area that has a vast opening thanks to that side-hinged rear door. In the rear you can get up to 1,976 litres with the seats down, which is decent considering the rear seats don’t fold anywhere near flat. You might expect a large front boot in place of a V8 engine, but unfortunately that’s taken up by electrics and a soundbox for the ‘G-Roar’ fake engine sound.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the G-Class boot opens very wide so beware tight car parks with other cars or walls behind that’ll limit your ability to get in the back.
Towing
The regular G-Class comes with a massive 3,500kg towing capacity - though the electric model has no confirmed towing figure.
“In the transition to electric power the G-Class hasn’t really lost any of its practicality” - Alastair Crooks, Senior News Reporter.
Reliability & safety
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The Mercedes G-Class received five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2019. Though the all-electric version has yet to be tested, it shares the same body and comes with just as much safety assistance technology, so we’d imagine a similar score for the EV.
There’s a very strong suite of safety kit with the standard-fit ‘Assistance package’ incorporating blind spot assist, steering assist, active distance assist and speed limit assist. There’s also lane keep assist, an onboard dashcam, parking assist and traffic sign recognition.
The 2025 Driver Power survey saw Mercedes take an incredible second place after coming 25th out of 32 car makers in 2024. The Mercedes GLE SUV even placed first overall in our best car to own rankings - which bodes well for the G-Class given how much interior technology they share.
| Key standard safety features | Euro NCAP safety ratings |
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Buying and owning
- Best buy: Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology
There’s only one Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology to pick from, though you can customise it to quite an extent on the Mercedes configurator. We’d exercise caution here because the electric G-Class is so well-optioned to begin with and things like paint or the Night Package - which darkens exterior trim - will add thousands to the list price.
You can spec your ideal Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology now or look for used models with our Find A Car service.
Alternatives
Those in the market for the electric G-Class might be tempted by the equally-retro Toyota Land Cruiser, which offers a similar amount of off-road ability but does so with a diesel engine. There’s also the Land Rover Defender, which in its hotter OCTA variants can beat the G 580’s straight-line performance. The Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover are also cars likely to sit on G-Class buyers’ wish lists thanks to their superior ride quality and impeccable cabins.
If you must have all-electric power, the BMW iX (our 2025 Premium Car of the Year) is an excellent alternative and the futuristic Polestar 3 will probably turn as many heads as the Mercedes.
Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology pictures
Deals on the Mercedes G-Class and key rivals
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty on the Mercedes G 580 with EQ Technology’s battery
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