‘It’s a Completely New Development’

Even though the G-Class nameplate is nearly 50 years old, it remains one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic vehicles. Now, the German automaker is looking to build on that legacy with a new model—unofficially dubbed the “Baby G”—set to arrive sometime in the next year.

Since its initial announcement in 2023, the Baby G has been the subject of numerous rumors and speculations. But now, Mercedes has confirmed one important detail: it won’t simply be a scaled-down version of the G-Class.

Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Källenius spoke at IAA Mobility in Munich this past weekend, revealing that test mules for the Baby G will be “appearing on roads very soon.” The company also showed a brief teaser of the two off-roaders side-by-side (pictured below). Källenius also emphasized that the Baby G will ride on its own unique platform, rather than borrowing directly from the existing G-Class architecture.

‘The G is a very special, authentic car, and the Mini G has to be authentic. So I cannot take just a platform, I cannot take an existing platform, I have to create my own. It’s a completely new development.’

Chief Operating Officer Markus Schäfer simultaneously confirmed to Autocar that the Baby G will still feature a body-on-frame chassis, just like its larger sibling. This suggests it should be equally capable off-road.

However, Schäfer also noted that the compact SUV will use “a lot” of components that are entirely unique. In fact, not even the door handles will be shared with the standard G-Class. Schäfer said:

‘You know. I can’t even take a door handle from [the current] portfolio, because the G-Class has such unique door handles.’

While the current G-Class is available with both gasoline and electric powertrains, the Baby G is expected to launch exclusively as a battery-electric vehicle. Based on what we’ve seen with the recently announced electric GLC, it’s likely the Baby G could feature a similar setup—possibly a 94.0-kilowatt-hour battery delivering up to 483 horsepower.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the Baby G, but it’s expected to debut sometime in 2026, with sales beginning later that year or in early 2027. Early pricing estimates suggest a starting price between $55,000 and $65,000.