We all need something to dream about, and for many people intrigued by what’s arguably the most iconic 4×4 still on the market, the Mercedes-Benz G550 holds legendary appeal.

The ultra-boxy German luxury off-roader, also known as the Galendewagen (German for “off-road vehicle”) has lived a variety of lives, starting in the late ’70s as a civilian rendition of an authentic German army vehicle.

Mercedes tried to pull the plug on the G-Wagen a few years back and shift customers to the new and more traditional GLS SUV, but this boxy and brutish machine lives on, thanks in part to customers like the Kardashians.

I mention that sad truth in connection to the shock I got by not paying that much attention to the 2025 G550’s window sticker, concentrating instead on its marvelous, old-school design and pleasantly updated interior. 

Take a closer look and you’ll learn that the base G-Wagen now retails for an alarming $148,000 — before any tariff-related readjustments — and the charming but not stratospherically fancified, Desert Sand-colored test vehicle I drove was an even more gasp-inducing $170,000, largely thanks to a $12,400 Interior Plus upgrade.

That’s all pretty close to the price of the ultra-Kardashian-styled Maybach SUV, at least a few years ago, and shows the serious price attached to a vehicle that is also not the new all-electric G580 version ($161,500 base) nor is it a high-output AMG G63 ($186,000 base). 

The new G550 is certainly no slouch, with an extra-output, partial hybrid assist inline-6 turbocharged engine that makes 443 horsepower, far more than other six-cylinder setups, such as the 375-hp variant found on the E450 4Matic All-Terrain wagon.

I doubt I’ll get a chance to try out that 579-hp, 859 lb-ft electric boost found on the EV version – the one that also has the ability to spin in a circle like a tank, thanks to its four electric motors – nor the 577 horsepower from the AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.

The G550’s motoring is a peculiar mix of experiences, with an exhaust and engine note that’s maybe a little disappointing as the vehicle moved away from its own twin-turbo V8 of the past, despite an added $450 tuning job here to give the inline-6 a “sporty engine sound.”

But it will indeed get the 5,554-pound vehicle moving as quickly as you feel comfortable doing, which itself has a bit of a learning curve. The 114-inch wheelbase can feel very abrupt if you turn a corner too quickly on the 18-inch wheels (here, oddly, equipped with the same Falken Wildpeak A/T tires as a new Chevy Equinox or a Japanese import).

Learn to cope with the physics associated with a 190-inch-long, 78-inch-tall bank vault on wheels, and the G-Wagen’s actually pretty impressive on paved curves. Or, do what none of the Hollywood types will ever do, and take it out on muddy gravel roads, and … its historic purposes come to life.

Like the very old days of the vehicle, the G550 still packs a three-way set of sequentially lockable front/center/rear differentials, with controls prominently placed on the beautiful dash. Slightly chintzy black plastic buttons call up the G550’s impressive off-road digital displays, “invisible hood” ground views and recording cameras, as well as kicking the full-time 4×4 into a very, very low range.

Fully engaged, the G-Wagen has remarkable dexterity and all the historic climbing and crawling capabilities, provided you can suspend your disbelief about its sticker price. Those who’d like to go crazy with their very costly toys can handle trails with very impressive chops.

Somewhat more realistically, the G550 happily chugged along as I hit snowmelt muddy roads around Idaho Springs, and will certainly take on snowy highways with equal poise.

Inside, the new G-Wagen sparkles with all of the high-end finishings you can imagine, from full-cabin black Nappa leather to real walnut wood trim; even the rear door is outfitted in quilted leather and trimmed in wood.

It’s a genuine hike to climb aboard but once planted, the oversized front and side glass provides views more like a Mercedes van than a regular SUV. The 12.3-inch touchscreen offers comprehensive controls and easy pairing with a phone.

Another surprise, given its bulky looks, is a not-gigantic second row and a rear cargo space that’s ample but only 34.8 cubic feet in size. Reality TV-sized families may need to seek out the three-row GS models.    

Andy Stonehouse’s column “Mountain Wheels” publishes Saturdays in the Summit Daily News. Stonehouse has worked as an editor and writer in Colorado since 1998, focusing on automotive coverage since 2004. He lives in Golden. Contact him at summitmountainwheels@gmail.com.