AMG G63

The other day, when we visited my husband’s family home with the kids, I noticed a new AMG G63 (W464) parked in the driveway. It was recently purchased by my brother-in-law. He kindly said, “Why don’t you take it for a spin?” so after finishing our errands at the house, my husband and I decided to give it a try.

This G-Class has attracted a lot of attention as it is the first full model change in 39 years. It’s extremely popular and apparently quite hard to get in Japan right now.

AMG G63 Specifications

The AMG G63 is equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine producing 585ps and 850Nm of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. I’d never heard of a 9-speed AT before lol It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 220 km/h (240 km/h for models with the AMG Driver’s Package).

The vehicle weighs 2560 kg, with dimensions of 4873 mm in length, 1984 mm in width, and 1966 mm in height. Wow, this is one seriously huge car.

By the way, some notable points about my brother-in-law’s G63 include the European-spec dual side-exit stock mufflers (I was surprised the exhaust pipes come out the sides, not the rear),

the European-spec 22-inch stock wheels (the tires and wheels together reportedly cost over 1 million yen (about $9,000) easily (；ﾟДﾟ)),

and a very rare design for the spare wheel cover with AMG decal (custom made).

So first, I got in the passenger seat. At first, I didn’t know how to open the door, but after a while I figured out you push the keyhole on the door to open it.

Since the car sits so high, I struggled a bit getting in. When I said, “I don’t know where to put my feet or hands to support myself,” my brother-in-law laughed and said, “I still don’t know either lol.”

This G63 has the AMG Exclusive Package, making the interior more luxurious. The seats are thick and supportive, offering a relaxed feel, but according to my brother-in-law, “Compared to the S63 AMG, the seats are smaller and get tiring on long drives.”

Once we started driving, I was surprised at how high the seating position was. It’s much higher than it looks from the outside, making it very easy to drive despite the wide body.

The ride quality reminded me a lot of the relaxed feel of the S63 AMG coupe we had before.

メルセデス・ベンツAMG S63 4MATIC クーペ （C217）を所有してみた感想

Another surprising thing was the number of bugs hitting the windshield on the highway. You constantly hear the “splat splat” of insects hitting and getting crushed, and the windshield quickly gets dirty… (-_-) According to my brother-in-law,

“Because the windshield is so upright, it can’t be helped. But it gets even worse when driving on the highway at night. You have to wash the car right after just one highway run. This is a G-Wagen owner classic.”

Classic, huh… lol

After my husband drove for a while, it was my turn. While the high seating position made it easy to drive, handling in curves was tricky. Even when steering like I would in the Panamera (ours has rear-axle steering, so maybe that made it harder), I couldn’t turn as sharply as I wanted and ended up making wide turns several times.

Off-road vehicles designed to handle rough, unpaved roads are built so that the steering has a bit of play to avoid being too twitchy, which explains this design.

I see — even within the same car category, sports cars and off-roaders are completely different.

I drove for about 10 minutes, but I was so excited thinking, “I can’t believe I’m driving a G-Wagen!” that I don’t really remember much about the ride quality. What I wrote above is basically all I recall (pretty thin content, huh). So I’ll share my husband’s impressions next.

AMG G63 Husband’s Review

Doors / Interior

You open the door by pressing the keyhole on the handle, accompanied by a satisfying “click.” This feels very similar to an air-cooled Porsche. The door latch uses an old-fashioned mechanism unlike modern cars. The door closes with a metallic “clang,” but because it seals tightly, you have to be careful not to leave it half-closed if the windows are up. This is also very reminiscent of air-cooled Porsches.

The interior scent is similar to the AMG S63 coupe, with a lavish and splendid cabin. This particular car features off-white leather, and an IWC clock is prominently mounted below the center console.

Engine / Ride Quality

Starting the engine awakens the M117-type 585ps V8 with a lively roar. It’s noticeably louder than the S63 coupe.

The car moves off smoothly, and you don’t feel the 2.5-ton weight at all when starting. The low-speed roll and smoothness are among the best.

Because the steering gear ratio is low, you need to turn the wheel a bit more than usual to avoid wide turns. This requires some getting used to, especially when switching from a sports car. The tires are 22-inch Continental SportContact 5s, which fit the car perfectly. In Comfort mode, there’s no harshness or heavy feeling in the suspension.

In stop-and-go city traffic, as long as you’re gentle with the throttle, the ride is quite smooth and gentle. However, if you’re rough with the accelerator, the G63’s power can cause some jerky moments. This is likely due to differences in driving style between the owner and myself, causing the automatic transmission’s learning system to mismatch.

Highway

Leaving the city and entering the highway, pressing the accelerator hard at the toll gate delivers quick and powerful acceleration, yet again, you don’t feel the car’s weight. It actually feels like driving a lighter car around 1600 kg.

The specs say “585ps, 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds,” but due to the high ride height, the actual acceleration doesn’t feel as intense as the numbers suggest. Still, on Japanese highways, it’s nearly unbeatable. Even if you’re in a sports car, you definitely don’t want to challenge the G63 to an acceleration battle.

The exhaust note is a somewhat dry, rumbling V8 growl. It sounds drier than the S63 coupe. Opening the exhaust valves with a button makes the engine louder and more fun to drive.

I haven’t driven the previous generation properly, so I can’t compare ride quality in detail, but it’s definitely not the feel of a traditional ladder-frame hardcore off-roader. It’s closer to a regular SUV (but only “closer”).

On straight roads and in city driving, it feels like a passenger car, but in curves and high-speed corners, there’s a bit of body sway. When I drove the Mercedes-Benz GLS before, even in those situations, it felt more planted to the ground, which is a difference from the G-Class.

メルセデス・ベンツGLS450でLA観光−乗り心地の感想やポルシェとの違い

Modes / Transmission

Comfort mode is best for cruising steadily on the highway. The ride is well-damped and smooth, with no unpleasant vibrations or jolts.

Switching to Sport mode via the switch by the hand stiffens the suspension a bit, and even when following fast cars in the passing lane on the quiet Chugoku Expressway, you feel solid contact with the road.

In Sport Plus mode, the suspension stiffens further and stability improves. However, the ride becomes harsher with more bumps and vibrations, so personally I prefer Sport mode for the best balance.

Using manual mode with the paddles, the shifts aren’t especially quick but not slow either. There’s no shift shock, making it a comfortable transmission. It feels capable of sporty driving when needed.

Brakes and More

The brakes are satisfactory, providing sufficient stopping power. Control is good, and like a Mercedes, the balance between pedal effort and stroke is excellent, so the harder you press, the stronger the braking.

Next, we took the car on mountain roads. It’s not a car to talk about cornering with, so of course there’s noticeable body roll and vertical movement, but it does its job well, so you don’t feel the anxiety or instability of a typical family car. Rather, it’s a car that makes you want to drive calmly without rushing.

Overall Impression

Although it’s an AMG, the immense power feels like it’s there not to race but to provide a sense of ‘room to spare’. Even on empty roads, you don’t really feel like pushing it hard; instead, you want to cruise peacefully. This is completely different from Porsche Macan or Cayenne.

Sports car enthusiasts might find it lacking excitement, but with its great visibility, ease of driving, and comfort, it’s a great choice for those who love the G-Class design and want a relaxed long-distance cruiser with family or friends around town.

If I get the chance, next time I’d love to test its off-road performance by driving on snowy roads.