Mercedes AMG G63 Crazy Colour Edition: Road Test Review

The Bi-xenon headlamps in the AMG G63 come with automatic headlight range adjustment and headlamp cleaning system is standard. The LED daytime running lamps are integrated into the headlamp fascia below the headlamps. The SUV also comes with a sliding sunroof that should be never be used in Delhi’s sticky weather lest you get mauled by the mosquitoes and end up with dengue!

Step inside the G63 AMG crazy colour edition and it’s then you realise that the ‘G’ stands for Grand.  The top notch stitching on the top notch material inside is done in the colour of the exterior paint finish….it’s simply awesome. This stitching gives a sporty look to the black nappa leather on the seats, centre console and dashboard, as well as on the handbrake and beltlines and grab handles on the doors. As for the steering wheel, it is strong to feel when driving and it comes all wrapped in perforated nappa leather with chrome elements and a flat bottom. Sexy? Ooh la, la, la!

The seats of the driver and front passenger can be electronically adjusted with several buttons on the sides of the doors as well as buttons on the sides of the seats. The seats are climatised too which means that small fans are integrated into the upholstery to distribute an even airflow beneath the leather covering of the backrest and seat cushion. Then there are these automatic climate control that provides two climate zones and increases individual climate comfort.

The G63 AMG is not just a beast to admire. It’s a beast you fall in love with. If you think the engine is powerful and driving the AMG is sweeter than being high on cocaine, then you have got to admire the safety this vehicle has to offer. A plethora of safety airbags like window bags, side bags and pelvis bags makes travelling by the G63 AMG bliss by all means. 

And then there are these electronically controlled features that should set your mind at ease when you drive the G63 AMG. The vehicle comes with Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Brake Assist system with brake servo assistance, Electronic Traction System 4ETS for all-wheel drive, Acceleration skid control (ASR), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Adaptive Brake with HOLD function and Hill Start Assist function and even a tyre pressure monitoring system.

On the road, while driving this huge machine, I felt the vehicle was exceedingly planted on the road and drove like a breeze. The engine is mated to the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission. The AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic transmission features steering-wheel shift paddles and the transmission modes "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport) and "M" (Manual). The fun starts the moment you go off-road. Toss it around in slush, mud or gravel and you realise the competence of the permanent all-wheel drive feature with differential gear. The differential locks are 100pc electrically engageable while in motion on front- and rear-axle differentials.  The vehicle can also wade through 600mm deep water and has an 80pc gradient climbing capability. In short, it’s versatile in every way possible. The three electrically engageable 100pc differential locks are a key factor behind the off-road capabilities of the G-Class. Locking all the differentials ensures that the wheels on both axles, as well as each wheel of an axle, have exactly the same rpm. This means that the drive torque is actually directed to those wheels which are able to obtain traction. This was amply demonstrated when we tested it on the rough.

While I enjoyed the versatility of the vehicle on some off the road tracks on the outskirts of the Delhi, I must confess I did not bother to play around too much with what lay before me on the car’s console. While the vehicle comes with an instrument cluster in twin-tube design with a 4.5-inch multifunction display, it’s multimedia system that impresses you with its various functions, be it navigation, Bluetooth, Mercedes-Benz Apps for internet connectivity, USB interface and AUX-IN connection (in centre armrest) and a lot more.

The AMG 5.5-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine is truly versatile. Spray-guided direct petrol injection with piezo injectors and twin turbochargers, four valves per cylinder with camshaft adjustment, air-to-water inter-cooling and the ECO start/stop function blend high efficiency with high output.  The brilliant performance is quite evident both on road as well as off road. Is it the ultimate grandmaster? Oh yes, by all means!