Mercedes-Benz claims that 80% of all G-Wagens are still roadworthy

Released in 1979, and updated several times since, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class earned a loyal following by offering enthusiasts above-average durability. The brand crunched the numbers and came up with a statistic to prove this point: 80% of the Gs built are still on the road.

"The cars have a very long lifetime," said Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Schiebe during a roundtable, as reported by Motor1. "So here you can calculate [that while] maybe a G-Class needs a little bit more material than [your average] compact car, the durability, if you see the lifetime of a G-Wagen from 1979, I think you [will have had to have driven] many, many compact cars, in some cases, to keep up the lifetime of a G-Wagen," he added.

While the company didn't cite its source, we don't doubt that 80% of the Gs built are still around; it's a famously tough truck. Early examples suffered from rust-related problems, but they were available with many of the same engines found in some of Mercedes-Benz's most long-lasting cars, such as the W123. And, every G-Class regardless of age benefits from rugged body-on-frame construction as well as a strong resale value. The 500,000th G was built in April 2023, so that means there are over 400,000 examples left to choose from if you can find someone willing to part with one.

Mercedes-Benz just expanded the G-Class range with a long-rumored electric version called G580 with EQ Technology. While it's unlikely to become a high-volume model, even by the G's rather low volume standards, it might bring new customers into the German brand's stores.