Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4 Squared

The Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4 Squared makes its defining decision before the numbers are even considered: a V8, twin-turbocharged engine paired with AWD. In a catalogue of 600 cars, that layout places it in a distinctive corner, with 74 cars sharing the V8 and AWD combination, and 86 using a twin-turbocharged V8. The choice brings character and complexity, but it also reveals the trade-off. This is not a car shaped around chasing catalogue acceleration or top speed.

The G550 4x4 Squared ranks 588th for 0 to 100 km/h and 581st for top speed among the 600 cars, reaching 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and a maximum of 210 km/h. Those figures explain where it sits against a field built around outright performance. Its 416 bhp ranks 402nd, placing it in the top 67% for power, yet the numbers tell a broader story. This is a 2017 SUV that chooses a particular mechanical identity rather than a position near the sharpest edges of the performance rankings.

That identity comes from a 3,982 cc, 4.0 litre V8 with twin-turbocharging, producing 610 Nm of torque through AWD. The five-door SUV format carries a combination shared by a relatively small section of the catalogue, with the V8 and AWD pairing appearing in only 74 of 600 cars. Coming from Germany, and from Mercedes-Benz, it sits within a catalogue containing 197 German cars and 10 Mercedes-Benz models.

The price position adds another layer to its appeal. At a used price of £250,000, it ranks 141st of 600 for cost, making it more expensive than 459 cars in the collection. With a cost per bhp of £601, its value is not defined simply by power output. Instead, the numbers point towards a vehicle where the chosen specification matters as much as the headline figures.

In a dream garage, the G550 4x4 Squared occupies an unusual balance. It is far from the catalogue’s quickest and fastest choices, yet its V8, twin-turbocharged AWD formula separates it from many alternatives. For a collection of 600 cars, it represents a deliberate departure from chasing the top of every ranking, sitting instead as a highly priced German SUV with a mechanical combination that few others share.