2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class works on its quads (motors, that is)

It has four motors, 579 hp, and an off-road heritage that goes back further than the Rivian R1S, GMC Hummer EV, and Tesla Cybertruck. With the electric version of its military-grade G-Class, Mercedes-Benz promises even more freedom from pavement than all those American-built flagwavers, and it does it all with batteries.

Joining the G-Class in the 2025 model year will be this G 580 with EQ Technology—not, as had been speculated, the “EQG.” From here on out, new EVs from Benz will adopt the first names of their classic model lines, with their electric DNA tagged at the end. E-Class, GLE-Class, and S-Class—all will get battery-electric models in the future, which could make today’s EQE and EQS cars the German equivalent of one-hit wonders.

2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology

G-Class EQ: A big battery floor

The electric G sports its usual ladder-frame construction, but instead of an ICE under the hood, it rides atop a 116-kw lithium-ion battery mounted in its floor. Housed in a flex-resistant case, the battery pack integrates with the frame and wears thick metal protection as a skid plate. The pack combines 216 cells into 12 modules in two layers, cooled with three circuits. There’s no mention of the rumored silicon-anode battery chemistry that Mercedes has been keen to introduce to speed charging times.

With a quad-motor setup, each generating a maximum of 108 kw, the G 580 EQ nets out at 579 hp and 859 lb-ft of torque. Each motor has its own transmission, which enables a low-range mode for off-roading and relieves it of the need for its gas cousin’s three locking differentials. Mercedes promises a 0-62 mph time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph.

In addition to the G 580 EQ’s Comfort, Sport, and Individual drive modes, a duo of Trail and Rock govern its off-road ability. Trail mode allows higher-speed driving, while Rock mode opens the door for Low to be engaged. When it is, it reduces the gears’ ratios to 2:1 and limits the speed to about 53 mph.

2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology

That mode also slips the G 580 EQ into two stunt-drive modes. G-Steering enables all-wheel steering that reduces turning radii on low-friction surfaces, while