News / 9 April 2025 / Michael Taylor

First electric Mercedes G-Wagen officially launched in South Africa – Pricing

Mercedes-Benz has finally launched the new G580 in South Africa.

Better known to fans as the iconic G-Wagen, the G580 is the first model in the series to feature an all-electric powertrain.

Prices for the exclusive SUV start at R3,823,457, making it one of the most high-end purchases in the Mercedes catalogue.

Powertrain

The new G-Class is powered by no less than four electric motors placed over each corner, which the company describes as “individual-wheel drive.”

Each motor produces 108kW, which contributes towards an impressive combined total of 432kW and 1,164Nm.

The result is that the luxury SUV can bolt from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds before hitting an electronically capped top speed of 180km/h.

The motors source their electricity from a 116kWh battery, which has enough juice to run for 473km between top-ups.

Speaking of which, the battery supports both 11kW AC and 200kW DC charging speeds, the latter of which can achieve a 10-80% charge in just 32 minutes.

Regarding its off-road capabilities, the new G-Wagen has a ground clearance of 250mm and can wade through up to 850mm of water.

It also boasts an approach angle of 32 degrees, a break-over angle of 20.3 degrees, and a departure angle of 30.7 degrees.

The SUV’s ladder frame chassis has been reinforced to accommodate the new battery, and it features the same adaptive damping suspension as the combustion-engine models.

The active suspension can respond to road conditions in real time and works in tandem with the car’s roll and pitch stabilization to maintain optimal comfort levels.

While the G580 is electric, it still features a low-range “gearbox” function, which creates a lower power ratio with better temperature management when tackling difficult terrain.

The individual-wheel configuration also means owners can make use of G-Turn and G-Steering to rotate 360 degrees on the spot in tight conditions.

Features

As we’ve come to expect, the G-Wagen can hardly be described as a modest vehicle.

The new models feature a closed front grille with four louvres, a black badge, and illuminated surrounds, which complements a pair of circular daytime running lights and adaptive LED headlights.

It wears an 18-inch alloy wheels in a five-twin-spoke design with a high-gloss black finish, and side mirrors with puddle lamps displaying the G logo.

Inside, the setup is very similar to the petrol version with a Nappa leather steering wheel, keyless start, electric front seats, leather upholstery, a Burmester 3D stereo, ambient lighting, temperature-controlled cupholders, a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, and two entertainment screens on the back seats.

It also has a dual 12.3-inch driver and media display running the brand’s latest MBUX software with onboard navigation, voice commands, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Assistance features then include adaptive cruise control, crawl control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera with a transparent bonnet function that can show what’s going on underneath the car.

In South Africa, the G580 is also being offered in a special “Edition One” trim, which as its name suggests, is a limited-edition model.

This version has five exclusive paint schemes, including Manufaktur South Sea Blue Magno, Obsidian Black Metallic, Manufaktur Opalite White Magno, Manufaktur Opalite White Bright, and Manufaktur Classic Grey Solid.

It also boasts 20-inch AMG 10-spoke alloys, black door handles and mirror caps with G branding, silver running boards, “Edition One” lettering on the rear storage mount, silver/pearl/black Nappa leather seats with blue stitching, a three-twin-spoke Sports steering wheel, and carbon fibre finishes for the cabin.