Vehicle Overview

More than one automaker would like to believe that its sport utility vehicle is the ultimate one. Mercedes-Benz took a bold step in that direction with the G-Class (G500), which evolved from the no-compromises Geläendewagen that had been sold in Europe. Introduced during the 2002 model year, the limited-production G500 had a sticker price of $72,500 (not including the destination charge). Because of its midseason debut, only minor modifications are likely for 2003, but Mercedes-Benz has not yet released any information.

With its M-Class model on sale in the United States since 1998, Mercedes-Benz focused largely on road-going manners. The Geläendewagen, in contrast, is a hard-core offroad machine inspired by the demands of military service but transformed into a high-end luxury SUV. The German automaker claims that it will climb an 80-percent grade and remain stable on a 54-percent lateral slope. Handcrafted in Graz, Austria, the G500 faces such competitors as the V-8-powered BMW X5, the Land Rover Range Rover 4.6 HSE, the Lexus LX 470 and even the Hummer H1. Far more than the M-Class, the G500 is nearly in a class by itself.

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    Automatic transmission
    - Shift the transmission to position P. The transmission position display in the multifunction display shows P. You can also start the engine when the transmission is in position N. ...

    Adjusting the NECK-PRO head restraints
    Adjusting Adjusting Pull or push the bottom of NECK-PRO head restraint 1. Resetting The NECK-PRO head restraints are moved forwards in the event of a rear collision in the direction of tr ...

    Cleaning the exterior lighting
    – Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior lights with a wet sponge and a mild cleaning agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or cleaning cloths. Only use cleaning agents or cleaning clo ...