IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE

Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.

- Saneet Dsilva

Among the handful of cars I photographed with a sense of reverence was a 2014 Mercedes-AMG G 55. And while the salesman gave me little more than a half-smile when I expressed a longing to sit inside, I was thrilled enough to see it up close. As a kid with a camera in hand, capturing that moment was enough to leave a lasting impression. That goes to show you how the Geländewagen has indeed been an icon that is stronger than time.

Fast forward a decade, and here I am, with the privilege of reviewing the latest G Wagen from Mercedes-AMG, one of the most over-the-top, unapologetically brash SUVs ever made. After years of dreaming, I’m now granted the pleasure not only to sit in it but also to send it sideways and, yes, criticise it all for BBC Top Gear India. Pinch me! The irony, the thrill! Sometimes, life surprises you in the best possible ways.

The G-Class has always been, in essence, a contradiction in metal. At first glance, you’d think Mercedes-Benz has done absolutely nothing to this new G 63, and that’s precisely the point. The G-Wagen has stubbornly straight lines since 1979 and is in all its boxy glory. Mercedes-Benz knows that the appeal of the G 63 lies in its classic, boxy design, sharp angles, a towering stance, and round headlamps that have remained since the first G-Wagen rolled off the line. The familiar bug-eye indicators, rear-mounted spare wheel, and those chunky door handles that scream’ vault door’ remain, albeit now made of metal for better keyless entry integration. That’s a first for the G Wagen.