2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class – boxy G-Wagen returns as luxury off-roader

I don't envy anyone who has to redesign a much-loved classic, writes Ed Wiseman. The stakes are impossibly high, and even if the new car is better in every measurable way, people will still whinge that it's not as good. People will complain about the new Land Rover Defender when it comes out as a refined, streamlined luxury 4x4, just as they whined when the BMW Mini was larger, efficient and safe. Such are the problems facing designers when tasked with modernising old cars - it tends to make them look different.

You could argue, therefore, that Merc's refreshed G-Class is a little bit of a cheat. It looks virtually indistinguishable to the old G-Class, and the G-Wagen that built up a cult following over several decades in production.

Don't let the looks deceive you, though. While it looks the same as the original, it's a significantly improved recipe - and only inherits three parts from the old car. Read on for more specifications (top speed, price, approach and departure angle, wading depth and more) as well as photographs.