We believe that boxy is beautiful, no matter what it costs
Comparing a Mercedes G-Wagen to a Jeep Wrangler might seem as absurd as comparing a Michelin star restaurant to a fast food joint, but in the end, you leave neither hungry in the same way that neither SUV fails to make you smile or get you out of a tough spot.
If you wanted a boxy off-roader, you don’t have many options right now. As two of the last “real” body-on-frame SUVs out there, the Mercedes G-Wagen and Jeep Wrangler have outlasted so many other off-roaders including the Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Blazer, Land Rover Discovery, and Toyota FJ, to name a few. Both boxy SUVs are backed by a rich history and have amassed legions of dedicated fans, and although those fans are quite different, they’re equally enthusiastic about their rugged vehicles. Mercedes-Benz G550 As the SUV of choice for Kardashians, Paris Hiltons, Beverly Hills Housewives, and rappers everywhere, the iconic G-Wagen (or G-Wagon/G-Class) wasn’t always the status symbol that it is today. Developed originally as a military vehicle, the Geländewagen (German for cross-country vehicle) didn’t have the same extensive in-thetrenches service run as the humble Jeep, but it has been used by select few armed forces around the globe. Mercedes uses the slogan “Stronger Than Time” to describe the G-Class and I think that’s very accurate. This SUV is timeless and even on the used market, they keep their value remarkably well.
The G-Class is iconic — its upright stance, round headlights, and “designed by a yardstick” aesthetic are instantly recognizable, even after the G was overhauled for 2019 from bumper to boxy bumper. It might look strikingly similar to the G-Wagen that came out in 1979, but that’s part of what makes it so unique and special. Mercedes also paid special attention to how the doors sound when you slam them shut. It literally sounds like a bank vault being closed, and when you lock the doors, they sound like gunshots, which tells you a lot about the SUV’s personality.
The G-Class is old-school in the best of ways, but to keep up with those Kardashians, it doesn’t mean the SUV is lowtech...
The G is loaded with all sorts of technology, but I’ll mention this particularly indulgent feature: The massaging seats also have active bolsters that hug you even in the gentlest of turns, which is the kind of gimmick you can use to impress or freak out your friends.
More importantly, this G550 is powered by a 4.0-litre twinturbo V8 with 416 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. There’s a woodsy growl when you get going, and it really adds to the G’s rugged personality. It’s not violently fast, but I had no desire to drive this SUV like a sports car. I loved cruising slowly in it, leaned back and channelling big Cardi B energy.
This is one of the last real body-on-frame SUVs out there, and what that means is that there are crossovers that feel easier to drive and manoeuvre and perhaps feel more comfortable, refined and modern, but none of them will make you feel this cool and none will be as capable off-road. On the road, the G does have a certain floatiness and disconnectedness to it, but those same features that can hamper its driving dynamics are the ones that make it more capable off-road, so for me, they’re easy to forgive. This G-Wagen also has the aerodynamics of a barn, so fuel economy isn’t great and is too tall to fit in my garage, but whatever, I feel so cool driving this, none of that matters.
One of my favourite things about the G-Wagen is also of the things I hate most about it. It’s so overbuilt and so extra, but no one who buys one of these will ever use it for what it was built for. Jeep people, on the other hand, are going out on the trails and doing some really crazy stuff, instead of just shopping sprees at Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon If you’re like the majority of people out there who can’t drop six-figures on an SUV, however, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the next best thing. At about $45,000 as tested, not only is it far more affordable, but it’s also more capable off-road, especially in the most hardcore Rubicon trim.
The Wrangler Rubicon has over one inch more ground clearance at 10.8 inches, and an approach angle of 43.9 degrees, which is a whole lot more than the G-Wagen. It also has a better departure angle than the Mercedes at 37 degrees, and the breakover angle is close at 22.6.
But here’s a simple reason why the Jeep is truly a better offroader. Would you feel comfortable bashing around a vehicle that costs six figures? I didn’t think so. Being more accessible and cheaper to fix when things go wrong, you won’t feel scared to bring the Jeep Wrangler to places that most other vehicles would get stuck. Those are just battle scars a Jeep can wear with pride.
The engine in this SUV is a far cry from the V8 found in the G550, but the Pentastar V6 is a sturdy workhorse for plenty of vehicles in the FCA lineup. I quite like it, and it has plenty of power and grunt to keep it up with traffic on the road. On the trails, you don’t really need much power — it’s better to be slow and measured, and the Wrangler handles rock crawling with ease, straight from the factory. It gets decent fuel economy too, thanks to its eightspeed auto and engine shut off features.
On the road, you get a slightly disconnected feel from everything, but that’s part of the charm. Similar to the G, those softer on-road dynamics help the SUV perform better on the trails. The Jeep is also far more comfortable and civilized than it used to be, but it hasn’t lost the engaging feel that makes it so much fun in a way the Mercedes can’t match.
But when you look inside the Jeep and contrast that to what’s in the Mercedes, well, it’s like the Michelin star versus the fast food joint again. This isn’t a luxury car at all. In fact, there’s very little to call premium here. However, just because it isn’t luxurious, that doesn’t mean that it’s boring — the cabin has a lot of fun design features like little Jeep Easter eggs hidden throughout. The verdict We know that no one is realistically cross shopping these two SUVs, but there aren’t a lot of options for people who want a boxy off-roader right now, and we should be considered very lucky that there are two very capable and iconic offerings at different ends of the price spectrum.
These two purpose-built machines have a certain authenticity that is very rare to find in cars these days and a lot of that comes from their rich history and humble beginnings.
If the boxy Mercedes G-Wagen has always been a dream car for you, but you aren’t from the part of society that can afford one or you haven’t won the lottery yet, the Jeep Wrangler is the best alternative you can get. We believe that boxy is beautiful, no matter what it costs.