9 hours ago
I drove the Mercedes-Benz G 580 EV for a week — here's my pros and cons
I didn't think I'd ever drive a G-Wagon in my lifetime, let alone one that runs on all-electric power, but after driving one for a week I can tell you it's one of those specialized vehicles that has a purpose besides being a showoff piece. You don't see them often on the road, so you know that it has to be a totally different breed of EV.
First of all, the $161,500 premium that the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 commands is like having a second mortgage for some people. That balloons up to a staggering $183,250 with the model I tested for a week that includes several upgrades — including the MANUFAKTUR Interior Plus that adds premium upholstery and accents that make the inside feel more like an upscale club than anything else.
I've driven my share of luxury EVs, including the Cadillac Lyriq (a best electric car contender), but the Mercedes-Benz G 580 is truly in another class of luxury on its own. Here's why.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580
Battery
116 kWh
Motor
Four Permanently Excited Synchronous (PSM)
Range
239 miles
Horsepower
579 hp
Wheels
20-inches
MSRP
$161,500
Price Tested
$183,250
Before I tell you what I like and don't like about the Mercedes-Benz G 580, it's worth visiting how it performs as an EV. Packed with a massive 116 kWh battery, I managed an average efficiency of 2.27 mi/kWh in my week's worth of driving it for a total of 356 miles — which actually turns out to be better than the car maker's estimate. Although, I wouldn't go far to say that it breaks records
Given its tallness and massive size on the road, I was actually surprised by its 2.27 mi/kWh efficiency, which comes very close to matching the Rivian R1S and easily beats out the GMC Hummer EV. However, it lacks the range to make it a long distance driving champ, as its EPA-estimated 239 miles of range would mean more recharges along the way.
Despite this, I tested the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 at home with Level 1 charging. It consistently delivered a rate of about 2.74 mi/hr, which yields a decent amount of range overnight. However, I'd still recommend installing a Level 2 charger at home if you intend on driving it a lot every day.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580
2025 GMC Hummer EV 3X SUV
2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor
Total miles driven
356 miles
291.4 miles
413 miles
Average Efficiency
2.27 mi/kWh
1.6 mi/kWh
2.46 mi/kWh
Best long distance driving efficiency
2.45 mi/kWh
1.8 mi/kWh
2.2 mi/kWh
Best short distance driving efficiency
2.16 mi/kWh
2.34 mi/kWh
N/A
Level 1 charging rate
2.74 mi/hr
2.09 mi/hr
2.32 mi/hr
Nothing stands out more with the Mercedes-Benz G 580 than activated its G-Turn feature, which essentially lets the vehicle spin in place due to how it features four independent electric motors to achieve this. It's definitely a cool feature you don't find in my vehicles, but I will say that it's more of a showpiece than anything else.
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When it's activated, the G 580 creates a powerful rotational motion that can spin the vehicle in place. Trying it for the first time, I was surprised by how quickly it does it — instead of doing it in a slower motion. Another thing worth pointing out is that activating the feature does require several steps going through different menus, so I wouldn't say it's the most intuitive to perform. Still, it's fun, neat, and definitely can help you turn around the opposite way when the road's super narrow.
I review a lot of the best phones and know how AMOLED displays are superior compared to other displays, but I can't tell you how the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 has the sharpest driver's display in any vehicle I've tested to date. In fact, it almost looks like an OLED panel because of how rich the colors are at night.
At wide angles, it retains the same sharp and clear looks I see from AMOLED panels in phones — while the smooth animations it shows with the cluster gauge needles on the odometer almost make it feel like it's running at a faster display refresh rate.
Nothing complements a luxury vehicle like ambient lights and the G 580 is full of them. In addition to the path lights that project from the side of the car to illuminate the sides of the vehicle, the interior space is riddled with ambient lights everywhere — including down the middle armrest.
At night, it glows with such a strong luminous glow that it almost makes me feel like I'm in a fancy nightclub. I also love how I can customize the colors and select more than one color to get the look I want.
Trying to interact with the main 12.3-inch main dashboard display can be tricky while driving, which is why I appreciate how some EVs, like the G 580, also feature a touchpad that better help navigating around the interface. I find it intuitive and much more responsive, as well as allowing me to better keep my focus more on the road.
This isn't something I've come across in any other EV, which again proves how the G 580 is an entirely different luxury vehicle from everything else I've tested, but the G 580 packs temperature controlled cup holders. You can essentially keep your cup either cool or warm by pressing on the corresponding button, which definitely helped to keep my cup of Joe warmer for longer with those long commutes in the morning.
Most luxury EVs put on a dazzling light show when you unlock them, but there are nice touches that make it even more tantalizing with the G 580. From the outside, I really love how the unlocking sequence begins with a beam of light emanating from the middle of the front hood — which then proceeds to encompass the front and the headlights turning on.
From the inside of the G 580, I also love how it puts on an animated light show with the headlights when it's turned on. The headlights don't simply come on, they mimic a spotlight running from side to side and end with the headlights moving up.
The Mercedes-Benz G 580 is deceptively tall. I didn't realize this by just looking at it from the outside, but I certainly found it intimidating to drive at first when I sat inside. But despite its tallness on the road, it drives smoothly with enough power thanks to its 579 hp performance.
I also like how it handles bumps with ease, barely feeling any of them at higher speeds — plus its shockingly wide turning radius makes it a breeze to take narrow turns. And finally, it doesn't have terrible blind spots either, thanks to how the tall and wide rear windows make it easy for me to see what's there.
Another unique feature of the G 580 is the ability to roll down all its windows with the key fob. By pressing and then holding the unlock button with the key fob, all the windows proceed to roll down automatically. I find it helpful to quickly get air inside of the vehicle on warmer days, rather than going through the process of getting in, turning it on, and then rolling them down.
For all of its premium features, I'm a little disappointed by its adaptive cruise control system. While it handles the basics of controlling the vehicle at cruising speeds, I just find its reaction to be a bit too aggressive for my liking.
For example, it would accelerate really quickly to get back to cruising speed, rather than doing it gradually. Additionally, it's nowhere as responsive as the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) in place with the Rivian R1S to handle cars that suddenly enter my lane from out of nowhere.
Despite its large size, I was hoping to have better leg room for rear passengers — but it's a smidge tight in my opinion. While the front seats are spacious and comfortable, I thought that the taller clearance of the G 580's interior would amount to more legroom in the back, but it seems that it could've been taken up by its large trunk.
What's really interesting about the G 580 is that it's really meant to be a vehicle for off-road adventures. That's why it comes with features like its G-Turn, Offroad Cockpit interface, and a transparent hood that uses the cameras to see what's underneath the vehicle while it's moving. But it's still obscenely expensive with its $161,500 starting cost, making it more of a showcase piece to make a statement on the road.
I thought I knew what it meant to drive a luxury vehicle, but the Mercedes-Benz G 580 takes it to another level. Yes, it's absurdly expensive, but it does show it in how it's meticulously crafted from the inside out. There's detail and beauty in just about every aspect of the G 580, down to the small details like its lighting sequence, sturdy door handles, and the animations with its interface.
Do you need an all-electric G-Wagon? Not really. But if you can afford one, it undeniably makes for a statement when you drive it. Yes it's fun and powerful, but I wish it could just go farther on a single charge. Obviously, it's targeting a specific demographic with its offroad capabilities, but I have a feeling most people aren't going to buy it for that purpose.
