Stuck in traffic, I see some people filming the SUV that I am driving and when I stopped for our shoot, people came in requesting me to take a pic with it too. That is the G63 AMG for you. This is a celebrity in the SUV world and has its own fan following and despite its Rs 3.6cr asking price, all 120 are sold out in the initial batch. In this shade, the G63 is an attention magnet but it is the design which is just cool. Boxy, mean and standing tall, the G63 is a proper ladder frame hulk and in its updated form, the basic recipe has not changed but the bumper is tweaked and the all black plus darkened star logo gives it a more menacing stance.
There are more aerodynamic changes to the A pillar and windscreen too. Elsewhere, the indicators, exposed door hinges and the round LED headlamps remain- as they should. That said, Mercedes has added keyless entry while the door locks work like a bank vault with a loud sound. It is a climb to get in- even for tall passengers and you have to shut the door with all of your strength too-such is the heavy build. It is seriously one of the toughest SUVs ever but now there is more tech too with twin 12.3-inch screens including a touchscreen finally along with the latest MBUX tech. Which means there is the latest augmented reality navigation and also now AMG has added ADAS features but unlike the E-Class, you have to switch off brake assist every time you get in. It is still a G which means there are proper switches and a grab handle plus there is a new short cut to off-road functions. Space at the back is decent and three can get in too.
You sit high in the G63 and the seats hug you while tightening around corners. The AMG steering wheel is lovely to hold and has the quick short cut to the dynamic functions. Start the V8 and it immediately bursts out but I remember, this engine isn't as loud as the earlier G63. While it is loud, it isn't too much like the earlier one. In comfort mode, it is more restrained but push it hard and it does move with shocking aggression. This massive tall SUV with such an engine is an unique combination and you are amazed at how it gets to speed. The V8 makes 585bhp but there is now a mild hybrid system while we think, the 9-speed auto plus the engine is now smoother.
It is less jerky and easier to drive now while the ride quality is much better than before too. Sure, it has the bounciness of a ladder frame SUV but it is much more compliant. Back to the engine and AMG has added launch control, which means you can do 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and it has a top-speed of 240 km/h! The other surprise is the handling as while cannot move completely away from the rules of physics, the handling is impressive for such a tall SUV with so much weight along with its nature which is an offroad SUV. At heart, the G63 is an offroader with its huge 229mm ground clearance yet it is remarkable how AMG has turned it into a performance car. Now it is even more comfortable and handles better with more tech/features. Yes, it is expensive at Rs 3.6 cr and the efficiency is in low single digits but for its owners it probably does not matter as the star value plus the appeal it has is what makes the G63 a star!
What we like- looks, quality, performance, offroad ability, features
What we did not like- efficiency, price
