G 550 vs AMG G 63: which G-Class should you buy?

What the two share

Both are five-seat SUVs on the same 113.8-inch wheelbase, with 37.4 cu ft of cargo space behind the rear seat, a 26.4-gallon tank and premium fuel. Both are rated to tow 7,000 lbs.

Both also keep the G-Class off-road hardware: permanent all-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case and three differentials you lock one at a time, center, rear, then front. Mercedes-Benz USA lists 9.5 inches of ground clearance and up to 27.5 inches of fording depth for the G 550.

Engine and acceleration

The G 550 uses a 3.0L turbo inline-6 with mild hybrid drive and an electric auxiliary compressor: 443 hp and 413 lb-ft through a 9-speed automatic, and 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Mercedes-Benz USA says it makes more peak power than the biturbo V8 it replaced.

The AMG G 63 uses a 4.0L V8 biturbo with hybrid assist: 577 hp and 627 lb-ft through the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-speed, and 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds. Each engine is built by hand and signed by the technician who built it, and AMG Cylinder Management can shut off four cylinders when you're cruising.

Top speed on the G 63 is electronically limited to 137 mph, or 149 mph with the increased top speed that comes in the AMG Performance Package.

Fuel economy

The EPA rates the 2026 G 550 at 17 mpg city and 19 highway, and the 2027 AMG G 63 at 14 city and 16 highway. With the same 26.4-gallon tank, that works out on paper to roughly 500 highway miles between fill-ups for the G 550 and about 420 for the G 63.

If you drive a G every day, from Boca Raton to Miami and back, that gap shows up at the pump every week.

Brakes, sound and ride

The G 63 comes with AMG high-performance brakes: perforated, ventilated discs at all four wheels, 14.8 inches in front with six-piston calipers. Its AMG Performance Exhaust runs through real side pipes ahead of the rear wheels, and it adds the AMG DRIVE UNIT controls on the steering wheel.

Both have adaptive damping. The G 63 also offers AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL, an active anti-roll system that keeps the body flatter in corners and smooths out bumps on one side of the road. It's available on its own or as part of the AMG Performance Package or the AMG Offroad Package PRO.

If you like the AMG look but not the fuel bill, the G 550 offers an AMG Line package with AMG body styling, 20-inch AMG wheels and a sport exhaust.

Size and weight

The G 63 is slightly bigger and heavier. Mercedes-Benz USA lists it at 191.9 inches long against 190.0 for the G 550, 78.1 inches wide without mirrors against 76.0, and 5,842 lbs against 5,534 lbs. Height is about the same, 77.4 and 77.7 inches.

Turning circles are almost identical, 44.3 and 44.6 feet, so the G 63 is no harder to park. Measure your garage for either one: at nearly 78 inches tall, a G-Class doesn't fit every condo garage door.

What about the electric G 580?

There is a third G now. The 2027 G 580 Electric has four electric motors, one near each wheel, for 579 hp and 859 lb-ft, 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds, a 117 kWh battery and an EPA-estimated 249 miles of range. It can turn in place on loose surfaces with G-TURN.

Mercedes-Benz USA doesn't list a towing figure for the G 580, and cargo space is 34.8 cu ft. If you tow a boat, stick with the G 550 or G 63.

For most G buyers, the G 550

For most people who want a G, the G 550. It has the same look, the same toughness and the same space, it's about a second slower to 60, and it goes about 80 more highway miles on a tank.

The G 63 is for the buyer who wants the V8, the side-pipe sound and the AMG brakes, and will enjoy them every time they drive it. Drive both on the same stretch of road, one after the other. Tell me when you're coming and I'll have both ready.

Questions people ask

How much faster is the G 63 than the G 550?

Mercedes-Benz USA lists 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds for the AMG G 63 and 5.3 seconds for the G 550, a 1.1-second difference.

Does the G 550 still have a V8?

No. The current G 550 uses a 3.0L turbo inline-6 with mild hybrid drive, 443 hp. The AMG G 63 keeps a 4.0L V8 biturbo.

Can the G 550 and G 63 tow the same?

Yes. Mercedes-Benz USA rates both at 7,000 lbs.

Which G-Wagon gets better gas mileage?

The G 550: the EPA rates it at 17 city and 19 highway, against 14 and 16 for the AMG G 63.

Models in this guide

• Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Keep reading

• The 2027 G-Class: trims and engines
• AMG vs AMG Line: what's the difference
• See the G-Class on the lot