2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63: Understanding the Cult of GELÄNDEWAGEN
Now that the G-Wagon is hybrid, has it changed the formula for the better or worse?
There are very few cars on the market that have an indestructible image to it, one so strong that a cult following builds and lives on for generations. The G-Wagon is one of those vehicles.
We recently got our hands on a 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 for a week long review. We are more than familiar with the exterior appeal of it, its timeless style, and the history of its origins as a military transport. We could examine it on the freeways of OC, the streets of LA and even a bit of off-road dirt track till the cows come home. What we can’t do however is act like we’ve ever owned one, or express the feeling of being part of a cult following for one.
Because of this, we asked a few of our friends who currently or previously owned one to focus on three core aspects of G-Wagon ownership: the design, the functionality, and the drive. They guided this review, and we responded on what our experience of the 2025 iteration felt like based on their direction. Is the new one just a modern remake of what made the G-class so great, or is it a far cry from the original?
The Design
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“The G-Wagon’s boxy design has become the signature element of the G-Class. The design to me prioritizes utility and space over aerodynamics.” – Tim Mar, Social Media Manager at Hoonigan, 2000 Mercedes-Benz G 500.
This is perhaps the most obvious reason most consumers turn to the G-Wagon – its charm is undeniable, its style is legendary, and its shape is forever cemented into the minds of the automotive world.
Has this changed with the W465? Largely: no. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 still holds the boxy shape, angular fenders, militant design cues and back-to-basics layout of lights and signals. Nothing truly different from the earlier iterations thankfully, however everything is noticeably larger and stouter.
Its square stature is thanks to a width and height that’s proportionally the same: roughly 6 and a half feet both wide and high. Its length however is what’s a decent departure from its earlier siblings – the 2025 model with its spare tire container at the rear measure just over 16 feet long, nearly a full foot longer than the W461 that Tim owns. This translates not only onto the road, but inside as well, however occupants during our review period stated the extra foot wasn’t completely apparent within the cabin. As time goes by, exterior design elements also give way to a bigger, more expansive look for the Geländewagen, such as the now-20” wheels, the extra-large diameter quad side exhaust pipes, a gaping front fascia grille and others.
Overall however, we’re happy to report the design has not been sacrificed with the current Gs. What you know and love – the G-Wagon’s visual identity – is intact.
The Functionality
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“I use mine as my daily for work and coffee runs; super functional, lots of space in the back for my camera equipment. I plan on bringing it on off-road adventures – it’s an off-road king after all.” – Nick Sims, professional videographer, 2003 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG.
We wanted to tackle what the G-Wagon was built for – utility. Our friends unanimously agreed they purchased their second hand G-classes when they needed its hauling potential, having met their matches in their sports cars and sedans years ago. Again, thankfully, the 2025 G 63 didn’t disappoint… for the most part.
Seating for four is plenty, and all occupants thereafter would be in luxurious comfort with heated seats, separate controls and even massagers up front. The rear tailgate trunk while allowing for a decent amount of stowage in the form of groceries and luggage comes in the form of a tall vertical capacity rather than something truly boxy. Chalk this up to seat configuration and the G-class’s inherit box aesthetic. No worries – fold the rear seats down (unfortunately they don’t go fully flat) and you’ll have almost 70 cubic feet of storage.
Also don’t take for granted how creative you can get with your misshaped cargo, as the square shape of the car will allow for skis, golf bags, even hockey sticks etc. – anything can fit so as long as your front occupants don’t mind a bit of contorting. Our friend was even able to transport his an entire Harvey Probber loveseat with ease, once it was realistically cut in half.
Two for two – you can still convince your domestic partner that the G-class still excels to pick up the kids from soccer practice. But from here, things start to change for the new one.
The Drive
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“The best way to describe the drive: it was originally a military vehicle. From the steel door latches to the front passenger grab bar, everything exudes ruggedness. You hear and feel every bit of the road. That’s exactly what you sign up for, and I absolutely love it.” – Nick Sisombath, founder of Collegium, 2004 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG.
Let’s address the elephant in the room – the 2025 AMG G 63 is officially hybrid. Its 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is assisted with a 48-volt electric motor. This means the G 63 is granted a total of 577 horsepower and a whopping 627 lb-ft of torque – the mild hybrid system is in aid of performance, not efficiency.
Our friends claimed that they prized the G-class’s naturally-aspirated engines, preferring purity over supercharging. So what does that say about something as “new-aged” as a hybrid electric motor, if forced induction is already too much of a compromise? Does it still feel “military” and raw, or does the luxury and electrification give it a whole new character?
The electric motor works with the vehicle’s torque delivery at lower RPMs, providing a more immediate and deliberate shove when the foot hits the floor. The system is actually quite stealthy – we had to make mention of the hybridization before anyone even knew, and that’s a great thing. Nothing about the system screams EV, and the sound and urgency of a twin-turbo V8 is not lost in the mix. At the end of the day, no one will really care where the division of 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque is coming from, and the power still feels fantastic.
In terms of ruggedness however, we’re sad to say that all of it is gone in this 2025 model. It has nothing to do with our brand new, <2000 mile press car example being in tip-top shape compared to our friends' 20+ year old ones; it's more so that the luxury of a G-Wagon is now more prevalent than ever before. Exceptional leather touch points and extraordinary ride quality is paired with world-class audio, a steering wheel you can turn with one finger, Minority Report-wrapping digital infotainment screen and massaging seats – all of which do not convey “rugged.” There’s always been a stereotype of the G-Wagon, that the only off-road it’ll ever do is on the lawn at the equestrian club, and quite frankly the latest models live up to this image.
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Nevertheless, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 is still the G we all know, with refinement and an inevitable modernization to its character. Would it deter anyone who wanted a G-class from chasing after one? Not in our mind. If you ignore the engine and refined luxury interior, the things that matter the most – the boxy exterior, everyday functionality, ultra-satisfying bank vault-esque door closures – are still there, and that’s what the cult of GELÄNDEWAGEN is all about.
