German invader on way

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen has a distinctive boxy shape which has barely changed from the original 1979 version. Photo / Supplied

The go-anywhere Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen wouldn't be on sale in New Zealand were it not for the Australian Defence Force ordering around 1200.

The order is for diesel-only workhorses, using 4WD and 6WD systems. But it prompted the Germans to sell civilian versions on both sides of the Tasman.

Orders so far: Australia 40, New Zealand 7. The first of the seven arrives next week.

The G-Wagen, or Gelandewagen (cross-country vehicle), is the longest-running passenger car series in the history of Mercedes-Benz. More than 200,000 have been sold since it appeared in Germany in 1979.

It remains arguably the most capable 4WD ever - Land Rover, especially, would buy into that discussion - and has become an everything sort of vehicle: it won the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally, served as a soft-riding Popemobile, a rap star's blinged-up boulevard cruiser, and the vehicle of choice for many military forces.

But its name is a misnomer, certainly on civvy street. G-Wagens sold through Mercedes-Benz dealers will, like many top-end 4WDs, never go across country.

There are a few G-Wagens already on New Zealand roads, mostly older models imported privately from Australia (it was sold there in the 1980s and early 90s before it priced itself out of the market) and elsewhere. Newer examples have been brought in from Britain.

The design today remains pretty much unchanged from the original: it's big and square, like a mobile chicken coop. Its look defines its character, much like the Land Rover Defender.

There has always been a five-door G-Wagen, a short wheelbase hardtop and soft-top. New Zealand and Australia get the five-door wagon only. A bare-bones version called the Professional might be available.

For the time being, the G-Wagen buyer in New Zealand has two choices: the G350 turbodiesel at $179,900 or the G55 AMG at $249,900, both around 2.5 tonnes.

The G-Wagen rides on a ladder chassis with coil springs and live axles both front and rear. It's a workhorse set-up, providing plenty of up and down wheel travel for traction over rough country. Mercedes-Benz reckons even in the worst conditions, the G-Wagen will always have one wheel gripping the ground.

It uses Mercedes' permanent 4ETS 4WD system with low range. In normal going, its splits drive 50:50 front and rear and automatically dials in traction and stability control, until either of the three electronic differentials are locked.

That's when it stakes its claim as the ultimate luxury off-roader. The G-Wagen scrambled up and down rutted tracks in the Tasmanian bush the other day with ease, the specialist G-Wagen driver locking and unlocking three electronic differentials as he went: front and rear axles and centre diff.

The ball steering is heavier than expected, but designed to reduce kickback. The vehicle design might be 32 years old but there's much of tomorrow in its technology. The 3-litre V6 turbodiesel under the bonnet of the G350 is one of the first to use a special liquid to reduce exhaust emissions, hence its Euro5 emissions rating.

It's called AdBlue, an urea solution that is part of the carmaker's cleaner-burning BlueTec programme. Once injected into the hot exhaust system it releases ammonia to convert up to 80 per cent of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust into harmless nitrogen and water.

Mercedes Benz claims the solution has reduced CO2 emissions from the V6 unit by around 50 per cent to 295grams per kilometre.

The engine delivers 155kW at 3400rpm and 540Nm of torque between 1600rpm and 2400rpm and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Town-and-around fuel consumption is a claimed 11.2 litres/100km, or 25mpg.

The diesel is clearly a better all-rounder than the G55 AMG, certainly less demanding to drive. The AMG is a handful. It is powered by a hand-built supercharged 5.5-litre petrol V8 putting out 373kW (500bhp) at 6100rpm and 700Nm between 2750 and 4000rpm and mated to a five-speed automatic.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 15.9 litres/100km, or 17.7mpg. The G55 sprints from zero to 100km/h in around 5.5 seconds.

The instant throttle response can catch out the unwary. Misjudge even moderate speeds into a corner and the G55 gets top heavy, pushing on and fighting turn-in until you hastily scrub off speed. Big vehicle, big engine, big wheels, big foot can add up to big mistake.