Cars that look like the Mercedes G-Wagen
Looking for cars like a G-Wagen? Here are some of the best recommendations we have.
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By Ben Welham
Last updated: 16 May 2025
If you want the utilitarian car style but don’t have a G-Class budget, we’ve got some top cars that look like the G-Wagen, without the hefty price tag... for some of them anyway.
So, what does a car need to be like a G-Wagen? We’re talking rugged, hard-wearing and handy off-road, while commanding real road presence.
Let’s take a look.
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Our top 10 cars similar to the G-Wagen
INEOS Grenadier
Land Rover Defender
Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan Patrol
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Range Rover Sport
Volvo V90 Cross Country
Audi RS Q8
Porsche Cayenne
BMW X7
G-Wagen alternatives
INEOS Grenadier
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Our pick: INEOS Grenadier Trailmaster Edition
Is it a bird? Is it a Defender? No, it’s an INEOS Grenadier.
This familiar-looking 4x4 has all the character traits of a Land Rover, making it a perfect G-Class alternative.
While the interior may not be as luxurious, it’s got a proper utilitarian look and feel with rugged materials and fighter jet-style roof-mounted switches.
It’s also exceptional off-road. We drove one in a muddy quarry and were suitably impressed by its ability to tackle steep inclines and side slopes with ease.
Land Rover Defender
 "Land Rover Defender off-road")
Our pick: Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE
The G-Wagen's closest competitor in the UK is the Land Rover Defender – a long-standing off-road vehicle with presence and luxury (in newer versions).
Available as a three-door (90), five-door (110) or eight-seater (130), there are plenty of versions to choose from.
Inside, it may not be quite as luxurious as a G-Class, but then again, very little is. But you do get a large 11.4-inch central screen and plush leather seats, all with a rugged edge, making it great for farmers or those after the agricultural look.
Whether it’s on the road or off it, a Defender drives really well. It feels very refined, has supple suspension (the optional air suspension is best) and can tackle off-road terrain with ease.
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Toyota Land Cruiser
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Our pick: Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8-litre diesel, AWD
Brought back as a proper boxy off-road SUV, the Toyota Land Cruiser offers solid off-road credentials and a smart interior to help it compete with the G-Wagen, plus it’s a lot cheaper.
It’s sold in one guise in the UK, but that’s no bad thing, with a 2.8-litre diesel engine giving 26.4mpg and plenty of grunt for muddy trails.
You also get AWD as standard, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, panoramic sunroof and JBL sound system.
While the new one is great, a used Land Cruiser from a few years ago would be just as good, if not better, because someone else has already taken the depreciation hit.
Nissan Patrol
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Our pick: Nissan Patrol LE Platinum City
Nissan doesn’t sell the Patrol in the UK, but that doesn’t mean a few haven’t found their way across the pond.
Extremely popular in the Middle East, the Patrol is everything the G-Class is but cheaper and probably more reliable in the long run.
The interiors are less plush but still premium and full of leather, and when it comes to off-roading capabilities, you can’t go wrong.
Plus, its powerful V6 engine isn’t to be sniffed at, being incredibly refined and responsive.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
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Our pick: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge
There are very few cars more luxurious than Mercedes’ top-end SUV, but the Cullinan pips it to the top spot.
All you need to do is peer inside to realise this Rolls-Royce is different gravy. It’s proof that money can in fact buy happiness.
Some of the highlights include the high level of interior customisation (colours, materials – you name it), 18 cow hides worth of leather and impressive sound deadening to cut off the outside world.
Under the bonnet is a 6.75-litre V12 engine that silently rumbles away in the background and wakes up to use its full 571hp and 850Nm of torque when needed.
Range Rover Sport
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Our pick: Range Rover Sport Autobiography
While the Defender is cool, a Range Rover Sport offers something a bit different – more refined, more power and sportier.
It’s the closest thing you can get to the Mercedes G63 while still getting a high degree of luxury and refinement.
While it can go off-road, you’re more likely to find a Sport out on the open road, absorbing the bumps and potholes in our British tarmac.
It also gets a massive 835-litre boot and a 4.4-litre V8 engine option, which sounds incredible.
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Volvo V90 Cross Country
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Our pick: Volvo V90 Cross Country Plus
Ok, hear us out. The Volvo V90 Cross Country isn’t an SUV, nor is it as capable as a G-Wagen off-road, but it’s a rugged estate alternative that has a lot to offer.
Not only does it have 65mm of extra ground clearance, but it gets four-wheel drive to give you extra bragging rights in the Waitrose car park.
Plus, it gets a roomy 560-litre boot and that classic minimalist Volvo interior to complete the look.
This car is proof that just because it’s lower to the ground, it doesn’t mean it isn’t capable.
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Audi RS Q8
 "Audi Q8 driving on a country road")
Our pick: Audi RS Q8 Performance Carbon Black
There’s the Audi Q8, then there’s the RS Q8 – a proper full-fat performance SUV that shares many of its parts with the Lamborghini Urus but without shouting about it quite as much.
Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that adds so much character to the Q8 - and isn’t a million miles off that found in the G63 AMG.
While it may be quick on the road, you wouldn’t really want to take it off-road, so if that’s what you’re after, stick with the Merc.
As well as not getting muddy, you’re also incredibly comfortable in the cabin, which, as with all high-end Audis, is lovely.
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Porsche Cayenne
 "Porsche Cayenne rear three quarters")
Our pick: Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
On paper, the Cayenne is an SUV. But pick the right road and it starts to feel more like a hatchback in the way it handles and tackles corners – a common trait of all Porsches.
We’re not saying it’s as diverse as a 911, but it’s certainly nimbler than the Mercedes. That said, when it comes to off-road driving, there’s no denying the G-Wagen is the more capable car.
One area the Porsche excels in is its hybrid system – something the G-Class doesn’t have. This means you can drive up to 53 miles on electric power alone (with E-Hybrid models), which is ideal for city commutes.
Plus, its sporty yet fancy interior takes inspiration from the sportier cars in Porsche’s arsenal, which is a lovely touch.
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BMW X7
 "BMW X7 front")
Our pick: BMW X7 M Sport
The BMW X7 is the biggest car the Munich-based brand makes, with incredible levels of luxury and a proper imposing look that would make even the G-Class quiver.
It’s probably more of a rival to the Mercedes GLS, but it looks somewhat like a G-Wagen in the way it towers over everything else on the road.
It won’t fare too well off the beaten track because the interior is what you’re really spending your money on with leather seats, a state-of-the-art infotainment system and seven usable seats.
But it’s a solid, dependable car with a great history of reliability from a trusty German car brand.
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Buy a used 4x4
As you can see from the rich selection of cars that look like a G-Wagen, there are some really compelling options to consider, but very few come as close to the mighty Merc.
We love a proper used 4x4 here at cinch and know all the best options available at different price points.
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