Mercedes small G-Class to reach showrooms within 24 months

The smaller G-Class, a compact sibling to the full-size G-Class, will go on sale in less than 24 months. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius told Bloomberg the model will arrive "sooner than you think." The brand has not yet announced a launch date, but his comments put the car on sale before the end of 2028.

Mercedes first revealed the vehicle in 2023 and published its first official teaser in 2025. The teaser used the lowercase phrase "g-Class," but the production model's name has not been confirmed.

Target buyers and off-road ability

Mercedes-AMG CEO Stefan Weckbach said the new compact off-roader will not target the traditional G-Class buyer. According to Weckbach, the company is aiming at a different customer profile from the loyal base that walks into dealerships asking for a full-size G-Class. Källenius also said the two models will not compete with each other. He added that the smaller car does not need to match the extreme off-road standards proven on the G-Class at the Schöckl mountain test site in Austria. The goal is to carry that spirit into a more compact body.

The compact model is focusing on suspension geometry, wheel sizes and axle articulation. Källenius confirmed that it will offer "quite capable off-road performance."

Petrol and electric options

Mercedes originally planned the model as electric only. Demand from North American dealers changed that, and the car will now be sold with both a combustion engine and a fully electric powertrain. According to Carscoops, weak interest in the large G580 and the dynamics of the charging market also influenced the decision.

The same report expects the electric version to use an 85 kWh NMC battery with a twin-motor AWD layout. A hybrid version could use the 1.5-litre electric motor found in the CLA. These details have not been officially confirmed and are reported as expectations. All-wheel drive is expected to be standard on both versions.

The model will be close in size to the GLA, GLB and CLA. Instead of the standard MMA platform, it will use a dedicated ladder-frame chassis for better off-road capability. Spy photos show the boxy body, flat surfaces, round LED headlights and low-mounted taillights inherited from the large G-Class. Its expected rival is a smaller version of the Land Rover Defender.

Key points:
- CEO Ola Källenius said the small G-Class will reach the market in less than 24 months
- The model was originally planned as electric only and will now come with petrol and electric options
- The vehicle will sit on a dedicated ladder-frame chassis instead of the standard MMA platform