Mercedes had planned to sell the smaller G-Class exclusively as an EV.
Dealers in the United States insisted it should have gas engines as well.
Uneven EV adoption was also a contributing factor.
With nearly 50,000 units sold in 2025, the venerable G-Class had its best year since the reputable off-roader came out in the late 1970s. Mercedes is now preparing to capitalize on the Geländewagen’s commercial success with a so-called “Little G” designed to capture the essence of its bigger brother in a more compact package and at a lower price point.
It’s been a long time coming. The German luxury brand first teased the model nearly three years ago. More recently, a camouflaged prototype was spotted near the Nürburgring looking exactly as you’d expect: like a 75-percent-scale version of the full-fat G. While the test vehicle was purely electric, Mercedes has now confirmed there will also be a combustion engine under the hood.
