Mercedes’ Cheapest G-Wagon Yet?

Mercedes has officially announced plans for a smaller G-Wagon. It is a dream car for most people, and this news will sound like a dream come true for many. The full-scale G-Wagon costs a whopping 3 crore, and a smaller G-Class is the closest many can get to owning one. Here are all the details we know about the baby G-Wagon.

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Looks

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For now, there is no official name for this car, so we refer to it as the Baby-G Wagon. This junior G-Wagon was spotted with camouflage in Germany. You cannot mistake it for any other car but the G-Wagon: same boxy stance, round LEDs, rectangular windows, slim taillights and a rear-mounted spare wheel. The only significant differences are the dimensions. This baby Wagon is shorter in wheelbase, length, height, and width, and has a lower ground clearance. The boxy stance of this baby G-Wagon will be its main selling point.

Expectedly, this model won’t use the G-Wagon platform but might use the smaller platform (called MMA) from the GLA and CLA. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since this platform is pretty robust itself.

Interior

Expect all the luxuries you get in a GLC, but with the baby G-Wagon. ADAS, 360-parking, ventilated seats, leather upholstery, sunroof, dual-screen setup, etc. The interiors will be plush and provide enough space for five people. It is still a Mercedes after all. You can expect utmost luxury on the inside.

The cockpit layout will match the rest of the Mercedes SUVs, while borrowing most of their parts. The only difference would be that the dashboard will be more upright, like with the bigger G-Class. And with the high stance, it will be a joyful place to be in.

Powertrain

Mercedes is moving away from ICE powertrains. The G-Wagon is already available as a pure electric. G-Wagon purists may not like it, but the baby G-Wagon will also be available as an EV. However, if you wish to buy an ICE version, don’t expect the bi-turbo V8 from the big brother. It is likely to get the 2.0L 4-cylinder Petrol and the 2.0L Diesel 4-cylinder from the GLC. Expect a slight boost in power figures with the baby G-Wagon. It will only be available with a 9-speed automatic gearbox and the 4-matic drivetrain as standard.

Mercedes is making the baby G-Wagon as a marketing move to sell more units. The G-Class brand holds significant value, and Mercedes plans to capitalise on it. It knows that there is a massive customer base for it, and people would love to boast that they own a “G-Wagon”.

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Rivals

The baby G-Wagon will compete with other luxury SUVs such as the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5, Range Rover Velar, Jaguar F-Pace, and Porsche Macan. The baby G-wagon will be a more rugged and capable SUV than the others, and Mercedes will use its looks and brand to defeat its rivals.

Expected Price And Launch

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Despite being the more affordable G-Wagon, it won’t be cheap to the general public. The price is expected to start at 1.3 crore rupees (on-road, Mumbai), with the top model touching 1.5 crore rupees. It would cost less than half of the flagship G-Wagon. Before this, the Jimny, Thar and the Bolero were mocked as the “sasta” G-Class. But now Mercedes has joined in on this joke and plan to cash in on it,

The production is expected to start by 2027, and we could see it in India by mid to late 2028. The wait is long, but if your dream is to buy a G-Class, but your budget is for an X3, you have more than enough time to save up for it.

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