Guess who turns 45 this year? No, not me - that ship has long since sailed - but the Mercedes G-Class, neé G-Wagen, which has been in production since 1979. Still going strong today and still looking very much as it always has done - in spite of a major update in 2018, which saw it gain an extra 121mm in width to counter long-standing criticism that the cabin was too narrow - the G-Class has just been given a major update which sees it gain a touchscreen for the first time.
Not a screen, you'll note. A big MBUX screen has been part of the G-Class' interior fit-out since that 2018 update, but previously, it was a remote screen controlled by a laptop-style trackpad down on the centre console. Now, the G-Class gets the latest MBUX tech, which includes twin 12.3-inch screens for the driver and the centre infotainment setup, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, of course, included. There's also augmented navigation, which can overlay direction arrows and instructions on top of images taken from the forward-facing camera to try and ensure that you never miss a turn again.
Voice control
There's also an upgraded 'Hey Mercedes' voice control system, which apparently features 20 commands specific to the G-Class (we assume 'Hey, Mercedes - go and climb that vertical cliff...' is one of them). You can also specify 11.6-inch twin screens for the back seats.
For a vehicle that was already staggeringly off-road capable, Mercedes claims that the updated G-Class is now even better in the rough stuff. The new model is claimed to have '100 per cent gradeability' which translates as it being able to cope with a 45-degree slope in either direction. The ground clearance is quoted as being 'at least 241mm' under the axles, and it can handle up to 700mm of water or mud when fording. You can drive it on a side-slope of up to 35 degrees, while the approach and departure angles of 31 degrees at the front and 30 degrees at the rear (without trailer hitch) and the breakover angle of 26 degrees mean that nothing much is going to stop you short of an actual avalanche.
The suspension now includes standard adaptive dampers, which Mercedes says are as useful off-road as they are on. They can help counteract unwanted body movement on difficult terrain. The adaptive components have been specially hardened to cope with surging water, driving through mud, flying rocks, and dirt.
There's electric power steering, and you get massive brakes - the front brake discs are 354mm in diameter and 32mm thick, while the rear discs are 345 mm in diameter and 22 mm thick.
Rock and sand modes
Through the Dynamic Select system, you can tailor the G-Class' suspension, steering, and engine settings to your taste, with the usual Comfort, Sport, Eco, and Individual modes, which, of course, also adjust the electronic stability control, traction control, and the gearbox shift pattern. There are also three specific off-road driving modes - Trail, Rock, and Sand.
Thanks to the new touchscreens, there's also a new 'Off-road Cockpit' setting, which can show you various useful bits of information about the car's various systems. It also includes the new transparent bonnet function, which uses a low-set forward-facing camera and some clever software to create an image on the big display screen that shows you what's happening in the car's forward blind spot.
Petrol engine option
On the engine front, while the existing 3.0-litre straight-six G450d diesel model mild hybrid is carried over while gaining slightly in the power and torque departments - it's now up to 367hp and 750Nm of torque, which can be boosted for short bursts by another 200Nm by the mild-hybrid system. While you might think that you'd never need more than that, you can certainly have more - much more. For a start, there's a new G500 petrol engine option, which uses twin turbos (one of them an electric turbo) to develop 449hp and 560Nm of torque (plus the same 200Nm mild-hybrid boost).
There's no word yet on when the all-electric EQG model - with its 360-degree 'tank turn' function - will be available.
Both engines power all four wheels (of course) through a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Thanks to the mild hybrid setup, the gearbox has an eco-coasting function for engine-off gliding at high speeds. You can also manually shift with the steering wheel paddles if you like, and of course there are low-range gears for the ultimate in off-roading control.
You can switch to low range at speeds of up to 40km/h (although you have to select neutral to do so), and the gearing in the high-range road-driving setting changes from 1.00 to 2.93. You can shift back to high-range at speeds of up to 70km/h.
Front and rear differentials can be locked to distribute power evenly to all four wheels, while the gearbox's multi-plate clutch can act like a limited-slip differential to ensure the power gets to the road (or gravel, grass, or snow) as needed.
The G-Class's safety systems have also been upgraded. For the first time, you can now have active steering assist and active emergency stop, as well as an adaptive cruise control system that automatically adjusts for corners. Active emergency stop recognises if the driver has fallen asleep (or worse...) and will bring the car to a safe stop.
The mighty G63
And then there's the Rapper's Favourite - the AMG G 63, the mightiest G of them all. This high-performance G-Class keeps its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine but gets some upgrades, including more power and torque - it now develops 585hp and 850Nm of torque (and don't forget the mild-hybrid 200Nm torque boost) - and yet has improved fuel economy (although a claimed 15.7l/100km isn't going to impress Greenpeace any time soon).
There's clever AMG Active Ride suspension, which uses hydraulic systems to actually prevent body roll in corners (impressive for such a beefy vehicle). The AMG bits also work off-road, providing better traction control and increased high-speed stability depending on the surfaces you're traversing. For AMG models, the driving modes include Slippery, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, as well as the Trail, Rock, and Sand off-road modes.
AMG models get an AMG-specific grille, bumpers, and bodykit, as well as a special 'Manufaktur' hyper blue magno colour option. The rest of the G-Class range gets new grilles and bumpers, too, and inside - aside from the new screens - there are classic elements, such as the big physical switches for the diff locks, and new items, such as new ambient mood lighting and a Burmester 3D sound system with a loudspeaker in the roof headlining. Not bad for a car that began life in the 1970s as a proposed Jeep replacement for the German army.
"The all-new G-Class raises the bar for real adventure on and off the road yet again. With an electrified drive portfolio, our pioneering MBUX infotainment system and additional comfort and off-road functions, it's poised to continue its success story as THE Geländewagen. The all-new G-Class combines an outstanding driving experience with a state-of-the-art digital experience," said Markus Schäfer, Mercedes' chief technology officer.
Mercedes Ireland doesn't currently list the G-Class for sale on its website, but the last time it did, prices started at more than €200,000. We don't expect this version to be any more affordable, sadly.