The austere, military-spec W461 G-Wagen ran on its own 24-volt electrical system — a deliberate break from the civilian G-Class that made it incompatible with ordinary 12-volt parts.
Median 200 hp across 741 similar cars
Lead trim: 230 GE / G 230 (M102 2.3 I4) · up to 181 hp
Mercedes-Benz G-ClassW461 · 1985–2022
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FactThe austere, military-spec W461 G-Wagen ran on its own 24-volt electrical system — a deliberate break from the civilian G-Class that made it incompatible with ordinary 12-volt parts.
The W461 has essentially the same chassis as the W460 but with the powertrain of the W463 and the body of the W460: after the new W463 was introduced in 1989 with an extensively updated chassis and a revised front end, production of the W460 ended in 1991 and was replaced by the W461. While the W463 is aimed at consumers who want more creature comforts and better driving dynamics, the W461 is built specifically for military, public authorities and non-governmental organisations, including a 24-volt electrical system (designer Bruno Sacco; body styles from a 2-door short-wheelbase convertible and cab chassis pickup to 3-door panel vans and a 5-door long-wheelbase station wagon; also sold as the Puch G). In the 1990s it was offered with a 2.3-litre four petrol and, from 1992 to 2001, a 2.9-litre five diesel; from 2001 to 2014 the military and authority model had a 2.7-litre inline-five turbodiesel (G 270 CDI Worker, 2001–2006) and later a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel (G 280 CDI Worker, 2007–2009 in the text, 2007–2014 in the table). Limited civilian "PUR" and "Professional" editions targeted consumers who wanted a stripped-down version: the G 280 CDI EDITION.30 PUR of 2009 (a five-door long-wheelbase station wagon, four seats in hard-wearing fabric or vinyl, rubber floor coverings, a wood floor in the load compartment, manual climate control and window winders, protective grilles, a walk-on hood, a front towing lug and two-section barn doors), then the G 280 CDI Professional in 2009 and G 300 CDI Professional in 2010, which grew to five body variations. Civilian production continued through 2019 and the military version through 2022, when it was replaced by the W464 announced on 1 October 2021. The page lists the EDITION.30 PUR and Professionals with a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) but no power figures, so they are not entered as trims.
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Trims & Figures
7 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 230 GE / G 230 (M102 2.3 I4) | 1992–2001 | 2.3 L Inline-4 | 125 hp | 139 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| 250 GD "Wolf" Bundeswehr (OM602 2.5 diesel I5) | 1990–1991 | 2.5 L Inline-5 | 91 hp | 114 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| 290 GD / G 290 Diesel (OM602 2.9 diesel I5) | 1992–1997 | 2.9 L Inline-5 | 94 hp | 142 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| 290 GD T / G 290 Turbodiesel (OM602 2.9 turbo diesel I5) | 1998–2001 | 2.9 L Inline-5 | 119 hp | 207 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| 300 GD "Wolf" (OM617 3.0 diesel I5) | 1985–1987 | 3.0 L Inline-5 | 119 hp | 127 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| G 270 CDI Worker (OM612 2.7 turbo diesel I5, military) | 2001–2006 | 2.7 L Inline-5 | 154 hp | 295 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
| G 280 CDI Worker (OM642 3.0 turbo diesel V6, military) | 2007–2014 | 3.0 L V6 | 181 hp | 295 lb-ft | — | 4WD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Mercedes never officially confirmed the W465 chassis code; media outlets coined it themselves after the old W463 ended.
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The austere, military-spec W461 G-Wagen ran on its own 24-volt electrical system — a deliberate break from the civilian G-Class that made it incompatible with ordinary 12-volt parts.
Long before AMG G-Wagens were a status symbol, AMG was already tuning the utilitarian G-Class: the 280 GE AMG pushed its 2.8-litre six up to 182 PS.
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Rivals
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