Mercedes-AMG G63 review

The biggest change is the new AMG Active Ride Control suspension system. Hydraulics replace torsion-bar cross-stabilisers and the shock absorbers gain hydraulic connections.

Essentially, you can decrease stiffness for off-roading and increase it to reduce roll while cornering on road.

This is the best handling G-Class yet, but you still need to reset your expectations after stepping out of a 'normal' car. No amount of hydraulic anti-roll bar trickery can disguise its height, mass and live rear axle.

James Disdale

Special correspondent

This makes for the sweetest handling G-Class ever. One of Mercedes' engineers was perhaps damning it with faint praise when he told us that you no longer have to steer three seconds before the corner on the autobahn, but we get where he’s coming from and he’s completely right. It’s certainly no Porsche Cayenne, but there’s a fluidity and preciseness that no longer makes the G63 quite so cheek-clenching in the bends.

There’s still a lot of dead around the centre of the steering and blatting through a set of S-bends is still a workout for the forearms, but it feels remarkably svelte and short, considering how unsvetle and tall it is. It feels SUV-like, rather than truck-like.

On UK roads, the G63's dynamic composure unravels a little. Throw in some ragged Tarmac and its cornering lines are more approximate, while a big dose of throttle results in armfuls of torque steer, despite four-wheel-drive traction. Bumps, crests and compressions will also have the G63 squirming, squirelling and squatting alarmingly from corner entry to exit.

The ride is mostly well contained, depending on which driving mode you’re in.

Comfort is relatively soft, with a gait well suited to the motorway. Although wind noise is definitely still a thing at motorway speeds, as is buffeting.