MERCEDES BENZG-Class 4x4 squared (W463) 2015 - 2018

　　In 2015, Mercedes-Benz introduced a lifted version of the G-Class, and added an impressive ground clearance to a vehicle that was already difficult to challenge on rough terrain.

　　With its bodywork carved in wood and the stance of a building, the G-Class 4x4 squared was a massive SUV that could easily run over any curbs in any city without noticing it. Furthermore, its loud biturbo V8 engine could prevent its driver from hearing if they were called from the outside. And then, it was the attitude of the go-anywhere and do-anything kind of vehicle someone could trust to take them from Pole to Pole, from Canada to the infamous Tierra del Fuego in South America. Even though this SUV was made to do all that, it was mostly used as a super-expensive toy. Only this time, it was more challenging to handle.

　　The vehicle’s over seven-foot height could impress anyone without a CDL in their pocket. Its grille, the three-pointed star badge, and the Xenon headlights were at a height where most other vehicles had their roofs. Moreover, the turn signals were mounted on the upper side of the fenders. The unpainted, black plastic moldings that adorned the wheel arches emphasized the car’s width, covering the 325/55 tires wrapped around 22-inch light alloy wheels.

　　From its profile, the five-door station wagon revealed the image of a vehicle able to go through three feet (one meter) of water safely. The side steps covered the side-mounted twin exhausts on each side, like on a G-Class AMG, even though the SUV didn’t sport those famous three letters. However, Mercedes-Benz tried to use the same parts as those from the regular G-Class, so it installed the same body-colored door mirrors that featured V-shaped turn signals as on the rest of the range. Out back, unlike any other G-Class, the 4x4 Squared version didn’t have the spare wheel attached to the rear side-hinged door. It was too heavy.

　　The car’s interior was luxurious, featuring high-bolstered front seats with a mix of Alcantara and leather upholstery. Between them, on the center console, the automaker placed the controller for the infotainment system and the lever for the automatic transmission. Atop the center stack, Mercedes-Benz installed a seven-inch screen that, besides the info about the music, showed the navigation and other useful data used while driving on and off the road. In the back, the bench seat could accommodate three people, while behind them, there was a net that separated the cabin from the luggage compartment. Thanks to that partition, the SUV could be registered as an LCV in many European countries.

　　Under the hood, Mercedes-Benz installed a 5.5-liter biturbo engine paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. A two-speed transfer box sent the power in all corners via a locking center differential. Unlike the rest of the G-Class range, the 4x4 Squared version featured portal axles that increased the vehicle’s ground clearance to 450 mm (17.7 inches), improving attack, departure, and breakover angles. As an option, the car could be fitted with 37 x 12,5 MT tires mounted on 18-inch Beadlock wheels.

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