Off-road notes

The new generation of G-class might finally have adopted independent front suspension, but AMG positioned the mounting points so high up that wheel articulation has not merely been preserved but improved. Approach, departure and breakover angles have also all increased (albeit by a single degree) and a wading depth of 700mm is up 100mm and near the top of the class.

There’s nothing on our short off-road course than might threaten progress. Traction is good enough in deep mud that there’s never any need to activate any of the three locking differentials and, through ruts and up the light rockery section, the steering maintains a good level of accuracy while remaining free from corruption.

Our only reservation is that, costing nearly £100,000, you would need to think carefully about the car’s sills in any boulder fields. Unlike the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, they lack additional ‘rock rails’ and would be costly to fix.