The legendary Mercedes-Benz G-Class has achieved a historic milestone after global sales surpassed 50,000 units, marking the best sales year ever for the iconic boxy SUV since its debut in the late 1970s. Capitalizing on this massive success, Mercedes-Benz has been developing a smaller sibling temporarily known as the “Little G” or “Baby G-Class,” aiming to deliver the prestige and rugged DNA of the full-size G-Class in a more compact and accessible package.
Mercedes Changes Course on the Baby G-Class
Originally, Mercedes planned for the small G-Class to launch exclusively as a fully electric vehicle. However, in a dramatic shift that proves internal combustion engines are far from dead, the company has officially confirmed that gasoline engines will now be offered in the upcoming compact G-Class lineup following strong pressure from U.S. dealers.
Why Mercedes AMG Backtracked
In comments made to Automotive News, Michael Schiebe confirmed that North American dealers played a direct role in changing the strategy.
According to Schiebe, dealers clearly told Mercedes they needed a gasoline-powered version, and the company agreed, adding that the engine would have to deliver proper performance worthy of the G-Class badge.
Beyond dealer pressure, Mercedes also faced the global slowdown in EV adoption and the lack of charging infrastructure in many key markets, factors that continue to create range anxiety among customers. Mercedes clearly does not want those concerns attached to what could become one of its biggest future sales successes.
A Real Off-Roader, Not Just Another Crossover
Former Mercedes technical chief Markus Schäfer previously confirmed that the Baby G-Class would remain a genuine off-road vehicle rather than a soft crossover.
Key expected details include:
- A dedicated ladder-frame platform rather than sharing the new CLA architecture
- Roughly 4.4 meters in length, making it around 75% the size of the standard G-Class
- Classic G-Class styling cues including the rear-mounted spare tire and round headlights
Spy prototypes have already been spotted testing near the Nürburgring.
Launch Timing and Expected Pricing
Mercedes is expected to launch the new Little G globally next year. Reports suggest the electric version could arrive first, with the gasoline model following later since it was added to development plans relatively recently.
For reference, the current Mercedes-Benz G-Class starts at well over $150,000. ArabGT expects the Baby G-Class to land between $55,000 and $65,000, making it dramatically more accessible to buyers wanting the G-Class image without the six-figure price tag.
ArabGT Opinion
Adding a gasoline engine to the Baby G-Class may be one of Mercedes’ smartest recent decisions. The G-Class has always represented toughness, durability, and desert-ready capability, environments where EVs still face real limitations today. Combining a rugged chassis, strong gasoline powertrain, and a far lower price point could make the compact G-Class a massive hit across Gulf and Middle Eastern markets. It would not be surprising to see the smaller model eventually outsell its larger sibling.
So if you had the choice, would you pick the turbo gasoline Baby G-Class or the fully electric version for your next adventure?
