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Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG - Crazy colour, Crazy SUV
You don't buy an iPhone, just because it is value for your moolah! One has to pay extra for premium factor, high quality, user experience and brand. If need value for money, then you can buy any of the affordable Androids in the market. Similarly, you buy a HiDesign bag not because its highly affordable. If you need it to be purely functional at the lowest possible cost then the range of bags available are plenty. Value for money and luxury can never on the same side of the coin.
You buy an expensive car for fun, for joy. These cars aren’t about being value for money, they are just fun machines. Some that pamper you with luxurious bells and whistles, some make you smile every time you get behind the wheel and some that just make your day. Mostly these are super cars that get the adrenaline rush but now there are even SUVs that get you that kind of an experience. The shift to SUVs is on a rise as many buyers are now preferring them for their go-anywhere-ability, better ground clearance and commanding seating position as well. There are many performance SUVs, but one of them is different and this is the G-Wagen from Mercedes-Benz. The one that is available in India comes in its AMG avatar which is the G63. We climb into this SUV to take it for a drive and tell you how does it feel!
Appearance Exterior
The G-Wagen was designed in the late 70s and it still retains the similar shape. The G63 AMG has a boxy design, which was very much functional and ideal for going off the road. With almost a wheel at each corner improves the off-roading capability. The G63 AMG’s front has a bull-bar with round headlamps that makes it look old-school with a thick chrome slate that makes it look premium. The crazy colour makes the G look absolutely stunning, it just changes and enhances the appeal. The hazards are on top instead of the sides, which is more functional. And with this colour scheme, it looks trendy and jazzy instead of basic and old-styling. The doors still have the same push the button and pull the door handle.
The side profile also looks very boxy, with a very basic design. But then the blacked-out roof and wheel arches add that glam factor. The black and chrome strip that runs across the body with the door handle makes it look stylish. Without that it will just look plain and dull. The rear and the three-quarter profile looks dull and boring again too. The G63 AMG is Mercedes-Benz’s crazy colours makes it extremely appealing. The regular G63 AMG will turn some heads, but then the response that the crazy colour got was magnificent. Almost everyone will turn around to see this SUV.
Appearance Interior
Mercedes-Benz has carried forward the similar tough and strong kind-of interiors on the G63 AMG as well. The last time when I had driven the G55, it was very much crude but the G63 gets several luxury frills. Several AMG touches have been added and even some luxury has been sprinkled on on the interiors. The centre console has some gizmo with a seven-inch screen and COMAND system as well. The speakers on the G63 are Harman Kardon and the instrument cluster is somewhat retro.
The rich leather seats are super supportive. You can adjust the front seats to the minute detail and this is where the difference happens. There is support for lumbar and even sides. Despite the high ground clearance and quick direction changes, the seat grips you tightly, just like a bucket seat. There is AMG badging on the seat as well. Slide into the second row and you shall be disappointed as this row is a bit tight on space and the seat issn’t as comfortable as the front one. There are 2 LCDs at the back, but these are optional features. The boot too of the G63 is massive, it is good enough to carry a couple of chests in it. Though the parcel tray or rather a cover for the luggage is a bit flimsy for an AMG.
Performance Drive
The G63 AMG comes with a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine burbles to life when you turn the key. It was in 2012 that Mercedes-Benz upgraded this 36-year old SUV from G55 to G63 enhancing its power from 500bhp to 537. There is immense torque in this engine and the SUV rocks if you press the throttle when at standstill. Something like how an American muscle car would have reacted. The side-twin exhausts make the length shorter and the exhaust note gruntier. This engine is a monster and only a not-so-sane person can think of this. When the world is moving on to curves, someone willing to risk it made this boxy SUV and the results have been marvelous.
Step in behind the steering wheel and you will be astonished to see how easy it is to adjust the steering position and despite a V8 under the hood, the bonnet feels compact and one can see the left edge as well. It never feels like a large SUV when you are driving. The steering wheel is lighter than the G55 and even the turning radius is short. It is very easy and convenient to drive in city and on the highways, its ooh-la-la. You cannot stop grinning the moment you put your foot down. The G63 AMG makes a strong case for it and handles tight turns with ease. What is astonishing is how this heavy SUV - with three sets of differential locks, which can put most of the other SUVs to shame while off-roading - can even throw around its weight and make a strong case for itself. This SUV is just the perfect one when it comes to drivability and even the handling. It can accelerate like a sports car, turn like one and if you want to cruise, it mutes its exhaust, especially when you are cruising with minimal throttle input. This is a tall SUV and it handles brilliantly. So, it has to have stiffer ride than other Mercedes-Benz products. The G63 AMG feels a tad stiff during off-roading too.
Tech Specs
Make | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | G-Class |
Variant | G63 AMG |
Fuel | Petrol |
Engine Capacity | 5.5-litre |
Max. Power (bhp@rpm) | 536 @5500 |
Max. torque (Nm@rpm) | 760 @2000 |
Gears | Seven |
Length mm | 4662 |
Width mm | 1760 |
Height mm | 1951 |
Wheelbase mm | 2850 |
Fuel Capacity (in litres) | 96 |
Tyre size | 275 / 50 R20 |
Features
Features | G63 AMG |
Mercedes-AMG G 63 ‘Crazy Colour’ Edition is highly expressive with following visual highlights: | Y |
Three distinctive crazy colours - solar beam, sunset beam and alien green | Y |
Obsidian black add-on parts - roof, exterior mirror housings, front and rear bumpers, wheel arch flarings | Y |
and the ring on the spare wheel cover | Y |
Dashboard: colour co-ordinated topstitching in designo black leather on dashboard, centre console, handbrake, | Y |
beltlines and grab handles on the doors | Y |
Seats: Designo black leather with exterior colour co-ordinated contrasting topstitching on the seats | Y |
AMG Performance steering wheel in black nappa leather | Y |
AMG carbon-fibre trim | Y |
20-inch AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in matt black finish | Y |
Competition All Specs
Specifications | Mercedes Benz G Class |
Land Rover Range Rover Sport |
Variant | G63 AMG | 5.0 Autobiography |
Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
Engine Capacity | 5.5-litre | 5.0-litre |
Max. Power (bhp@rpm) | 536 @5500 | 503 @ 6000 |
Max. torque (Nm@rpm) | 760 @2000 | 625 @2500 |
Gears | Seven | Eight |
Length mm | 4662 | 4850 |
Width mm | 1760 | 2073 |
Height mm | 1951 | 1780 |
Wheelbase mm | 2850 | 2595 |
Fuel Capacity (in litres) | 96 | 105 |
Tyre size | 275 / 50 R20 | 260/60 R20 |
Conclusion
The G63 AMG in its crazy colour is a crazy SUV. If you are out in the market to spend about Rs 2 crore, then you are already wild enough to buy something. So, do not think a bit and pick the G63 AMG. You won’t regret as there is nothing in the market that give you joy like this one. A supercar might have better on-road manners than this but the G makes a stronger case for itself. You do not have to worry about speed-breakers or bumps with this Wagen. The idea of having a highly capable off-roader with a twin-blowing V8 didn’t impress us, until we got behind the wheel and claimed it to be the best vehicle money can ever buy.