2002 Mercedes-Benz G500

Mercedes-Benz, the brand long associated with refinement and sleek sophistication, knows what discerning luxury-car customers really want—mud flaps, four-wheel drive and the ability to climb mountains with a shift on-the-fly.


"Officially" adding another posh SUV to its U.S. fleet, Mercedes is introducing the 2002 G500. (The vehicle has been gray-marketed into America by a New Mexico dealer for the past few years at six-figure prices.) Already known in Europe as the Geländewagen, which may be loosely translated as "SUV/station wagon that can pull stumps while hauling champagne," this crossover vehicle offers all the capabilities of a true off-road vehicle combined with this German automaker's legendary comfort and cutting-edge technological features.

Like the Range Rover more than a decade ago, Mercedes' G officially enters the U.S. market with a boxy body style it's had in Europe for years.

In recent years, the luxury SUV market has grown remarkably, and it shows no signs of shrinking despite an economic slowdown. The M-Class, Mercedes' first foray into the high-end sport-ute market, helped boost the company's sales to record levels in 2000 when it sold almost 206,000 vehicles in the U.S. alone. The G500, or "G-wagon" as it has been affectionately nicknamed on the Continent, will help answer what has become a seemingly limitless demand for big-performance, big-price-tagged SUVs.


More suited for a snowstorm than a shopping trip, the G-wagon has full-time four-wheel drive and can climb grades up to 36 degrees for easier access to the mountain chalet or a Grand Canyon ranch. Its looks echo the "new classic" Mercedes design with smooth, slightly rounded corners and a powerful front grille—with no real visual surprises, either good or bad.


Under the hood, power comes from the same 5.0-liter V-8 as the S-Class sedan and SL roadster. This all-aluminum engine develops 292 horsepower while operating at clean emissions levels. Preliminary EPA fuel-consumption test estimates are pegged at 13 mpg city/15 mpg highway. The G500 engine uses a twin-spark/three-valve-per-cylinder arrangement. Two intake valves are accompanied by one exhaust valve per cylinder, which makes room for two spark plugs per cylinder. A dual-path intake manifold boosts low-range torque for quick acceleration and response at all engine speeds.