It was supposed to be the electric crown jewel of Mercedes’s legendary G-Class lineup. Instead, the all-new G580 EQ is turning into one of the brand’s biggest recent disappointments — and now, even insiders are admitting it.
A scathing report from Handelsblatt quotes a Mercedes executive who didn’t hold back: “The car is sitting at dealerships like a rock… a complete failure.” This brutal honesty reflects a reality that’s hard to ignore. By April 2025, Mercedes had sold just 1,450 units of the electric G, while nearly 9,700 gas-powered G-Classes found buyers. That’s not just a dip — it’s a seven-to-one rejection by the very audience the EQ was supposed to impress.
Too Expensive, Too Heavy, Too Limited
Let’s start with the price. The Electric G-Class, or the G580 EQ starts around €180,000 in Europe — over €40,000 more than a similarly specced G500. Add inflation and economic uncertainty to the mix, and that premium becomes nearly impossible to justify.
But price is just the beginning. Utility — one of the G-Class’s defining traits — takes a major hit. The electric version can only tow about 415 kg. That’s not a typo. Gas versions tow up to 3,500 kg. And while the G580 EQ looks the part, it weighs over 3,000 kg — hundreds more than the V8. That weight crushes its range, which tops out at just 385 km on a full charge, and even less in real off-road conditions.
Buyers Want the Real Thing
One Mercedes exec said it best: “People want a real G-Class… with a V8.” The market isn’t just rejecting the EV — it’s sending a clear message. The G-Wagen is more than a silhouette and a badge. It’s about raw power, sound, and capability. And right now, the electric version doesn’t deliver on any of those fronts.
Is There a Way Back?
Mercedes isn’t giving up yet. A smaller “Baby G” is reportedly in development for 2027, and it might not be electric-only — a turbocharged combustion option is on the table. That could be the key to winning back the core audience.
The electric G-Class was meant to electrify the brand’s most iconic SUV. Instead, it’s become a cautionary tale. You can’t strip the soul out of a legend and expect people not to notice. Mercedes now has to ask itself: can the future of the G really be silent, slow, and soulless?
