Running costs

• An expensive car to run
• Expect big fuel bills
• Strong residual values

You only get a choice of three engines with the G-Class, and neither are particularly small or economical. The sensible choice is the diesel G450d, which has an official WLTP consumption figures of 28.2-32.5mpg. Not great; a reflection of the car’s heft and slabby aerodynamics. Its CO2 rating is 227-261g/km.

The petrol G500 – now a mild-hybrid straight-six – is even less impressive: 22.9-25.9 and 248-281g/km.

You’d expect an even greater thirst from the AMG G63, and you wouldn’t be disappointed: 17.9-19.2mpg, and 335-358g/km CO2 is the price you (and the planet) pay for squeezing so much performance out of a boxy, heavy 4x4. A reminder that when AMG goes mild hybrid, its aim is as much to plug the gaps in the power delivery as to reduce consumption.

Servicing and warranty

Servicing intervals for the Mercedes G-Class are every 12 months or 15,500 miles, whichever comes first. A range of service packs are also available to help spread the cost of maintenance – and they can be passed on to the new owner if the vehicle is sold.

Every G-Class comes with a comprehensive three-year, unlimited mileage warranty from the manufacturer, along with three years roadside assistance. Compared with the 10-year packages offered by Lexus and Dacia, let alone Kia and MG’s seven-year deals, Mercedes’s warranty is off the pace, but it’s on par with its other premium rivals.

Reliability

• Is proving a reliable prospect
• A very tough, strong car
• No problems reported by Parkers readers

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has a good reputation for reliability, as befits one of the toughest 4x4s on the market. The current model is based on an entirely new architecture, around a strong ladder-frame chassis. Even so, it uses plenty of existing Mercedes tech so you shouldn’t get too many issues.