2015 Mercedes-AMG G63 review, test drive

The manic Mercedes G63 SUV gets a new edition with 'crazy colours' and some minor cosmetic changes. Here are our impressions.

Published on Aug 06, 2015 10:18:00 AM

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2015 Mercedes-AMG G63 review, test drive

Thing is, the G63 is a utility vehicle at its very core, one that’s made to take you where few others can hope to. This comes through as soon as you venture off-road. The G63 feels at home in the rough despite running on road-biased tyres. There’s enough grunt to power out of most situations but it always helps to have 220mm of ground clearance, 27 degree approach and departure angles, 24 degree breakover angle and the ability to wade through 600mm of water on your side. Should things get really tricky, you can switch the G63 into low range and can further individually lock the centre, rear and front diffs. Phew!

Should I buy one?

Look at the G63 AMG objectively and you’ll probably see it as a has-been that’s just trying to fit in the modern world. Performance is epic but on ride, dynamics and overall finesse, the G63 can’t match up to today’s SUV standards. In fact, Merc’s own monocoque-bodied ML63 AMG and GL63 AMG are far more complete as performance SUVs go.

Experience one though and in all likelihood, you too will be sold on the G63 AMG, flaws be damned. There’s just something inherently desirable about an old-school, rugged SUV with such an excess of power. True, the G63 doesn’t make for the most rational of purchases but then again, performance cars in India rarely ever do. Ahem, just the small matter of price. The G63 AMG Crazy Colour edition costs an equally crazy Rs 2.17 crores (ex-showroom, Delhi). You could save yourself some hard earned money if you opt for ‘standard’ white or black G63s that retail for a more digestible Rs 1.96 crore. Either way, you can be assured of owning an SUV like no other and one that’s unlikely to go out of fashion anytime soon.