The electrified Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen G580 has just been added to the local sales listings by MB SA. We attended the national ride-and-drive event to learn more about the off-roader from the captain’s chair.

There are a few icons in the off-roading world. Far less than, say, from the performance segment. These include a Series One Landy. A Toyota Hilux. And a Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen. The latter has been in production since 1979 and has built a reputation for being a go-anywhere, do-anything off-roader. However, in recent times its has become more famous as a style icon than as a rugged off-road machine, the likes of which has won the grueling Dakar Rally.

In keeping with the brand’s drive towards electrification, and ever-changing needs/desires of buyers, Mercedes-Benz has electrified its icon. The model, known as the Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen G580 made its SA debut this week. But fans of the G-wagen need not fear, MB SA is still offering turbodiesel and AMG derivatives, if those suit your tastes.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

A Keen Eye

The Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen G580 isn’t a massive departure from its siblings in the stylistic department. There are a few design cues to help you tell them apart, but you do need to look closely. The most obvious change is the closed off grille, as there is no radiator to feed. Other changes include a higher bonnet line, air-curtains down the flanks and a different alloy wheel design. Those few changes aside you’d be hard pressed to tell this electron-eater apart from its ICE siblings.

The interior has a very similar feel to the AMG G-wagen. Although, there are a few subtle changes here as well. Among them is the lack of a rev-counter and a few model-specific buttons on the facia. Oh, and there is no real noise coming from the engine room, just some piped in audio through the car’s many speakers. Speaking of the ‘engine room’.

Packing a Punch

The Gelandewagen G580 boasts the company’s latest EQ technology. The bruiser has a one electric motor per wheel that produces 108 kW. The four motors therefore offer total system outputs of 432 kW and a massive 1 164 N.m of torque. Those figures make it even more powerful than the twin-turbocharged V8 G63. As a reminder that car offers 430 kW/850 N.m. Mercedes’ press material states that the G580has a fully charged range of 473 km from a 116 kWh battery pack. Although the real-world range is likely to be a tad lower than that. The behemoth is said to blast from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,7 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h.

Click here to check out our dedicated electric-vehicle section.

Bundu Bashing

Using one motor per wheel allows the Gelandewagen EV to perform in a manner that an ICE vehicle can’t, as we found out first-hand. Electronic control of the individual motors allows for torque vectoring as well as ‘engine braking’ per wheel. There are no diff’ locks or low-range transfer cases as these are simply not needed. Sensors use individual wheel speed, steering and vehicle angle along with suspension travel to make corrections and dole out power per millisecond. Furthermore, because the electric motors produce peak torque from a little over ‘idle’, there is instantaneous urge on tap, requiring the smallest throttle applications to surmount any obstacle we could throw at it. The net result is a car that feels more capable through an off-road course than any diesel or petrol vehicle.

Some of the car’s off-road technical highlights include:

  • Ground clearance between the axles of at least 250 mm
  • Maximum fording depth of 850 mm for water and mud
  • Approach angle of 32° and departure angle of 30,7°
  • Breakover angle of 20,3°

The G580 also has two party tricks that no ICE car can replicate. The G-steering and G-turn. The former brakes the inside wheels and overspeeds the outers to create a polar moment ie a rotation around the car’s vertical axis. Doing so enables the large vehicle to negotiate really tight turns. The G-turn is a tank-like manoeuvre that lets the car spin around on the spot. Handy if you ever head down a path that you can’t reverse out of – see video below. As handy as the G580 is off-road, we really wonder how many owners will ever venture away from the swanky neighbourhoods and suburbs that seem to be the natural habitat of the Gelandewagen these days.

Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen Pricing

G450d: R3 531 816
G580 with EQ Technology: R3 823 457
G63 AMG: R4 415 916