The Mercedes G350D Is An Old Soul Trapped In A Modern Body

But that does not make it any less intimidating. It towers over everything on the road

- Dhiram Shah

AS A KID visiting the toney areas of Mumbai or Bombay as it was called back then, I’d indulge myself in an obsessive prowl to find the cars I’d spot on international magazines out there. South Bombay being South Bombay, I’d chance upon a Porsche or an occasional Morris that would have survived the decades. The G-Wagen has this delirious appeal in its being that would have teased my adolescent desires into meek submission. But I’d never see any of them around. This emblem of German automotive pride that dwelled from the '70s, a decade before I was born. Armored patrol vehicles never seemed to fit into the badge of the three-pointed star of Mercedes in my mind, until I learned that the three stood for land, sea, and air, two of which can be conquered by the legendary Wagen.

Taking that page out of history, today I’m here to share the same bigness and cumbersome storytelling that comes with the all-new Mercedes G350D. Unmistakably resembling nearly every other G-Wagen that preceded it, what amazes me is how they’ve kept offroading capabilities at the top of the heap and ensured that the luxury and modern additions are generously provided to keep this series relevant.