Mercedes’ “Mini G-Wagen” is Coming—But It’s Not Their First Small G-Wagen

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on a “baby G-Wagen,” a smaller version of its iconic G-Class. And while that sounds exciting—because, let’s be honest, the G-Wagen is one of the coolest vehicles on the planet—there’s some hilarious irony in all of this.

Point of Clarification: The correct spelling is “G-Wagen,” which is short for “Geländewagen,” a German word meaning “cross-country vehicle” or “off-road vehicle.” Mercedes-Benz has been producing the G-Class (officially named the G-Wagen) since 1979. I know I was confused by this, so I had to research it to make sure I said it the right way. “G-Wagon” is a common misspelling or mispronunciation of the vehicle’s name, likely due to the similarity in pronunciation between “Wagen” and “Wagon” in English. However, the official name used by Mercedes-Benz is “G-Wagen.”

See, Mercedes has already been making a smaller, stripped-down, military-grade G-Wagen for decades. You just couldn’t buy it.

A “New” Idea That’s Actually Decades Old

Before we dive into what this new “Mini G-Wagen” could be, let’s talk about the vehicle that Mercedes conveniently forgot to mention: the Puch G (also known as the “Wolf” in military circles). Developed by Austrian manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch alongside Mercedes, this smaller, no-nonsense version of the G-Class has been in production since 1979. That’s right—since disco was still a thing.

It was built for military use, meaning it came with exactly zero of the cushy luxuries you’d find in today’s civilian G-Wagens. No diamond-stitched leather, no Burmester surround sound system—just a rugged, go-anywhere, do-anything 4×4 with the sole purpose of getting troops (or high-ranking government officials) from point A to point B, no matter how bad the terrain was.

Countries like Austria, Switzerland, and several NATO allies have used the Puch G for decades. These things were built to last, with simple but rock-solid engines, minimal electronics, and body panels that could take a beating. They weren’t just tough—they were overengineered in that classic German way, where even the hinges on the doors felt like they belonged on a bank vault.

So, yeah, Mercedes has made a smaller G-Wagen for years. They just never gave regular folks the option to buy one.

Now You Can Have a Mini G-Wagen—But at What Cost?

According to Autoblog, Mercedes is finally giving the people what they want: a smaller, (hopefully) more affordable version of the G-Class. The only problem? It might not be what enthusiasts actually asked for.

The current G-Wagen is absurdly expensive—starting at around $140,000 before options—so there’s definitely a market for a “budget” version. And assuming it keeps the classic boxy shape and off-road chops, this Mini G could be a huge hit. But then Mercedes went and did the most Mercedes thing possible: they’re considering making it electric.

An Electric G-Wagen? No Thanks.

Look, I get it. EVs are the future, blah blah blah. But an electric G-Wagen? For the U.S. market? That’s just dumb.

The G-Wagen is supposed to be a beast—a V8-powered, growling, gas-guzzling, unapologetic truck that looks like it could drive straight through a brick wall and come out the other side unscathed. Trying to make it quiet, efficient, and eco-friendly completely misses the point.

People don’t buy G-Wagens because they care about saving the environment. They buy them because they want to own a tank with heated seats. They want to hear the burble of a Mercedes twin-turbo V8 or the clatter of an old-school diesel. They want to be able to roll coal on a Prius while laughing maniacally from their leather-wrapped throne.

An electric G-Class makes sense in Europe, where emissions regulations are squeezing every last drop of fun out of the auto industry. But in America? We don’t want a silent, battery-powered SUV pretending to be a G-Wagen. We want one of Mercedes’ legendary engines under the hood—a proper gas or diesel powerplant that lets you feel like a dictator on a budget.

Will It Be Cool, or Just Another EV Dud?

If Mercedes gets this right—meaning, they make it gas-powered, keep the iconic styling, and don’t neuter its off-road abilities—this Mini G-Wagen could be one of the coolest SUVs on the market.

But if they go full EV, load it up with unnecessary tech, and turn it into yet another “soft” crossover that’s all about image and not capability, it’s a hard pass.

The real ones—the people who actually love the G-Wagen for what it is—aren’t asking for an electric version. They’re asking for something like the Puch G: rugged, simple, and built to last.

Mercedes has done this before. They know how to make a proper mini G-Wagen. The only question is whether they have the guts to do it right.

Reference: Autoblog.com