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The Mercedes G Class Gelandewagen: Model-by-Model Reference

The G Class Gelandewagen (G Wagon) began service in 1979 as a body-on-frame, locking-diff 4×4 designed for military and utility use. Over time, it expanded into civilian, luxury, and high-performance variants while retaining the core ladder-frame architecture and off-road hardware. Below is a model-by-model overview (oldest to newest). Each entry includes production window, chassis generation, purpose/significance, typical engines with output/aspiration, and primary markets.

G Class Models

230G/ 230GE

Photo Credit: Vintage Car Collector

  • Production years: 1979–1991 (W460 civilian); early 1990s G Wagons (W461/Puch 230GE military/civil)

  • Generation: W460 → W461

  • What it is: Early petrol gelandewagen which came in civilian and G Wagon military SWB/LWB/ Cabrio configurations. The military 230GE was Puch-badged, widely used by the Swiss military.

  • Engines: 2.3L inline-4 petrol ~109–125 hp, naturally aspirated.

  • Markets: Europe, Middle East, parts of Asia; Puch 230GE in Switzerland.

240GD

Photo Credit: classic.com

  • Production years: 1979–1987

  • Generation: W460

  • What it is: Early diesel old G Wagon workhorse favored by utility and public-service fleets.

  • Engines: 2.4L OM616 diesel ~72 hp, naturally aspirated.

  • Markets: Europe, Middle East; gray-market units elsewhere.

280GE

Photo Credit: Pinterest

  • Production years: 1979–1991

  • Generation: W460

  • What it is: Higher-output petrol option in the first wave of civilian G-Wagens.

  • Engines: 2.8L inline-6 petrol ~156 hp, naturally aspirated.

  • Markets: Europe, Middle East, Australia.

300GD

Photo Credit: Bidders Highway

  • Production years: 1980–1991

  • Generation: W460

  • What it is: Diesel inline-5 variant known for longevity in fleet and expedition use.

  • Engines: 3.0L OM617 diesel ~88–94 hp, naturally aspirated.

  • Markets: Europe, Middle East, Africa.

250GD “Wolf”

Photo Credit: Bring a Trailer

  • Production years: late 1990–1993

  • Generation: W461 (military)

  • What it is: Military-spec 250GD used by Nato militaries across the globe. Extremely capable off-road, field-serviceable, spartan interior.

  • Engines: 2.5L OM602 diesel ~93 hp, naturally aspirated; manual transmission.

  • Markets: Nato militaries.

290GD/ 290GDT

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  • Production years: mid–late 1990s

  • Generation: W461

  • What it is: Utility upgrades to the SWB military concept with more torque; “Professional” use.

  • Engines: 2.9L inline-5 diesel ~95 hp (NA) / ~120–125 hp (turbo).

  • Markets: Government, emergency services, military in Europe/ME.

300GE

Photo Credit: Bring a Trailer

  • Production years: 1990–1994

  • Generation: Early W463 (luxury pivot begins)

  • What it is: Early luxury-leaning petrol inline-6 with improved trim and features.

  • Engines: 3.0L petrol inline-6 ~170–180 hp, NA.

  • Markets: Europe, Japan, select others.

G320 / G300 Turbodiesel

Photo Credit: Cars & Bids

  • Production years: mid-1990s–early 2000s

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: Core W463 civilian models; diesel option notable for OM606 durability and smoothness—popular in g class custom and overland builds.

  • Engines:

    • G 320: 3.2 L petrol V6/I6 ~210–220 hp, NA

    • G 300 TD: 3.0 L OM606 inline-6 turbodiesel ~177 hp

  • Markets: Europe, Middle East, Asia.

G500

Photo Credit: classic.com

  • Production years: 1998–2018 (varies by market)

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: V8 petrol that cemented the luxury profile; first official U.S. import (2002).

  • Engines: 5.0 L V8 ~292–300 hp, NA; later updates.

  • Markets: Global, including U.S. from 2002.

G500 Cabriolet

Photo Credit: Import Authority

  • Production years: 1997–2013 (Final Edition in 2013)

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: One of the rarest body styles of the G Class Gelandewagen. The factory 2-door classic Mercedes convertible variant paired open-air driving with full-time 4×4 hardware. Production numbers were limited, making it highly collectible.

  • Engines: 5.0 L V8 ~292–300 hp (NA). Later models received updated versions of the 5.0 L with incremental improvements in efficiency and output.

  • Markets: Mainly Europe and select Middle Eastern regions. Never officially sold in the U.S., but some examples arrived through gray-market imports.

G55 AMG / G55 AMG Kompressor

Photo Credit: Hemmings

  • Production years: ~1999–2012 (varies)

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: Early AMG G-Class; Kompressor (supercharged) era brought major power increases.

  • Engines: 5.5 L V8 NA (~354 hp early) → 5.5 L supercharged V8 up to ~476–507 hp.

  • Markets: Global performance markets.

G550

Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz USA

  • Production years: 2009–present (model code shifts with W463a refresh in 2019)

  • Generation: Late W463 → W463a (2019+)

  • What it is: Core modern luxury G Wagon.

  • Engines: 5.5 L NA V8 (early U.S.) → 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 ~416 hp (W463a).

  • Markets: Global.

G63 AMG

Photo Credit: Edmunds

  • Production years: 2012–present (W463 → W463a)

  • Generation: W463 → W463a

  • What it is: Flagship AMG twin-turbo V8 performance model.

  • Engines: 5.5 L twin-turbo V8 (early) → 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 ~563–577 hp (W463a).

  • Markets: Global, especially U.S. & Middle East.

G65 AMG

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

  • Production years: ~2012–2018

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: Limited-production twin-turbo V12 G-Class.

  • Engines: 6.0 L twin-turbo V12 ~621 hp.

  • Markets: Limited allocations globally.

G550 4×4²

Photo Credit: The Car Connection

  • Production years: ~2015–2017 (select revivals/editions)

  • Generation: W463

  • What it is: Factory portal-axle extreme off-roader (U.S. badged G550 4×4²).

  • Engines: 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 ~416–422 hp.

  • Markets: Limited global release.

G63 AMG 6×6

Photo Credit: Bonhams

  • Production years: ~2013–2015

  • Generation: W463 (special)

  • What it is: Six-wheel, five-diff, portal-axle special build; pickup bed body.

  • Engines: 5.5 L twin-turbo V8 ~536 hp.

  • Markets: Limited run, mainly Middle East and special-order markets.

Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet

Photo Credit: Classic Cars

  • Production years: 2017 (limited to 99 units)

  • Generation: W463 (extended wheelbase)

  • What it is: Ultra-luxury landaulet; rear soft-top, first-class rear seating.

  • Engines: 6.0 L twin-turbo V12 ~621 hp.

  • Markets: Ultra-limited, global.

G350d / G400d

Photo Credit: Auto Trader

  • Production years: 2019–present

  • Generation: W463a

  • What it is: Modern diesel G-Class for Europe and other diesel markets.

  • Engines: 3.0 L inline-6 turbodiesel ~282–325 hp.

  • Markets: Europe, Asia, selected regions (not U.S.).

G 63 4×4²

Photo Credit: Edmunds

  • Production years: 2022–present (limited availability)

  • Generation: W463a

  • What it is: Factory AMG version of the portal-axle “4×4 squared” concept on the current G-Class; significantly increased ground clearance and track width compared with the standard G 63.

  • Engines: 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 (~577 hp), AMG 9-speed automatic, permanent 4MATIC.

  • Markets: Limited global release; examples offered in the U.S. market.

Mercedes-Benz G580 EV

Photo Credit: Top Marques Monaco

Production years: 2025–present

Generation: W463 (electric variant)

What it is: Fully electric G-Class with battery-integrated ladder frame; retains traditional Gelandewagen design while introducing EV-specific features such as “G-Turn” (on-the-spot rotation).

Engines: Four independent electric motors, combined ~579 hp and 859 lb-ft torque; 0–60 mph in ~4.2 seconds.

Markets: Global, including North America and Europe.

The Legacy of the G Wagon

Across decades and variants, the G Class Gelandewagen has covered a wide range of roles, from early utility diesels and military-spec Wolfs to modern AMG performance models. That breadth is exactly why our restorations aim to honor the platform’s origins while refining day-to-day usability. At Expedition Motor Company, we perform in-house, frame-off builds of the W461 250GD Wolf and related vintage G Wagon variants, taking bodies to bare metal and completely rebuilding and modifying them to accommodate today's driver. The goal is simple: preserve the geometry and mechanical feel that define the G, and improve drivability, reliability, comfort, and control. If you’d like to outline a specification, start with our custom G Wagon configurator here: https://www.expeditionmotorcompany.com/custom-g-wagon-wolf-builder/

Taken together, the models profiled above show why the G continues to matter: a clear lineage, technical transparency, and a platform that has adapted without losing its identity. Whether someone is studying early utility diesels, rare cabriolets, or modern AMG variants, the through-line is the same, purposeful engineering and enduring design.

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