2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G 63 4MATIC SUV
Description
'Stronger than time', that's the chosen slogan for Stuttgart's quadragenarian off-roader. It's written in the press packs, uttered by the engineers, and even printed in that oh-so-familiar Mercedes font down the side of one of the test cars awaiting us in Perpignan.
The thing is though, it wasn't, which is kind of why we're here. The automotive world has changed a great deal since the 1970s and however many horsepower, yards of leather, or even wheels Mercedes bestowed the G-Class with, the unavoidable truth was that it was no longer fit for purpose.
This is a fact belied by news that last year was actually the model's strongest for sales. Ever. The G63 has always been an illogical vehicle though; rugged and fast without being particularly usable or quick on road, appealing to buyers more for what it represents than what it is, what it can do rather than what it feels comfortable doing. Which is something Mercedes has decided to change.