The small Mercedes G-Class will be completely electric
Mercedes-Benz's small G-Class was originally planned as an electric-only model — but the story has moved significantly since that plan was first announced, and it's worth walking through what's actually confirmed today versus what's changed.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius first confirmed the small G-Class project in September 2023 during IAA Mobility in Munich, describing it at the time as an electric-only "Little G" — smaller than the traditional model and aimed at a new category of customer. That confirmation followed a bold step Mercedes had already taken toward an all-electric future: showcasing the technology at CES 2024, and confirming that this compact off-roader would share advanced technology with the full-size electric G-Class, a project engineered with Magna Steyr.
Markus Schäfer, then Mercedes' technical chief, confirmed that the small G-Class would use its own dedicated platform rather than the company's modern MMA architecture built for entry-level EVs — instead drawing components from Mercedes' larger, rear-driven cars to preserve genuine off-road ability. Schäfer specifically emphasized that the goal was to make the small G-Class "as authentic as possible" to the G-Class name, which is why Mercedes ultimately settled on a dedicated ladder-frame chassis rather than a shared crossover platform.
The full-size electric G-Class has already arrived — and it's called something else
The full-size electric G-Class launched in April 2024, but not under the "EQG" name that had been expected for years. Mercedes instead called it the G 580 with EQ Technology, breaking from the EQS/EQE/EQB naming pattern used for its other electric models. Mercedes has confirmed the G 580 outperforms its combustion-engined counterparts in off-road capability, running on four independently controlled electric motors — one per wheel — which enables a party trick borrowed from the playbook of rivals like the Rivian R1T: the "G-Turn," letting the vehicle rotate in place on its own footprint by spinning the wheels on each side in opposite directions.
Why the "electric-only" plan for the small G-Class changed
This is the detail that has changed most since the small G-Class was first announced, and it directly overturns the original electric-only plan: as of reporting through February 2026, Mercedes has confirmed the "Little G" will also be offered with a hybrid combustion powertrain, not exclusively as an EV. The hybrid version is expected to use a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the new CLA, while the electric version is reported to use dual "eATS 2.0" motors.
The reason for the reversal is straightforward: reporting points to underwhelming sales of the full-size electric G 580 as a key driver behind the decision, layered on top of a broader industry-wide slowdown in EV demand. Rather than risk repeating that result on a model aimed at a wider, more price-sensitive audience, Mercedes chose to hedge with a combustion option — a notable walkback from Källenius's original 2023 framing of the car as electric-only.
Updated timeline: 2027, not 2026
The small G-Class's launch date has also slipped. It was originally expected in 2026, but current reporting places the debut in 2027 instead, with the electric version launching ahead of the hybrid. Mercedes is set to build the model at its Kecskemét plant in Hungary, its main European small-car production hub, rather than at the Austrian facility that builds the larger G-Class.
Spy shots of camouflaged prototypes have shown a five-seat vehicle expected to measure up to 4,400 mm in length — significantly shorter than the standard G-Class's roughly 4,700 mm — and notably lower in height too; test mules have appeared shorter than a Mercedes EQS SUV, despite the EQS SUV itself not being a particularly tall vehicle. Regardless of powertrain, the small G-Class is expected to come exclusively with four-wheel drive, staying true to the sub-brand's off -road positioning. Pricing is estimated to start around $70,000 in the U.S. — meaningfully below the roughly $154,000 starting price of the current full-size G550.
Who it's actually competing against
Mercedes appears to be positioning the small G-Class against a specific new wave of compact, rugged-styled off-roaders rather than mainstream crossovers: Land Rover's "Defender Sport," Toyota's Land Cruiser FJ, Ford's European-built Bronco, and — on the electric side — the Rivian R2. It's a genuinely new competitive category that barely existed when the "Little G" concept was first announced in 2023, which may be part of why Mercedes felt it needed a combustion option to compete credibly across that broader field rather than only chasing EV buyers.
Why this matters beyond one model
Despite the small G-Class's rocky path to production, the G-Class name itself is thriving: Mercedes confirmed the G-Class line crossed 600,000 units sold as of August 2025, and Källenius has separately noted that the G 580 electric is the best-selling electric vehicle in its price class worldwide, even if that performance has fallen short of Mercedes' internal expectations for the segment as a whole. The small G-Class's shift to a dual-powertrain strategy isn't a retreat from electrification broadly — it's a recalibration of how fast Mercedes believes this specific, more budget-conscious segment of off-road buyers is actually willing to go electric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the small Mercedes G-Class be fully electric?
No — as of the latest reporting, Mercedes has reversed its original electric-only plan and will offer the small G-Class with both a fully electric powertrain and a hybrid combustion engine, with the electric version launching first.
When will the small G-Class be released?
Production is now targeted for 2027, a year later than the 2026 timeline originally announced.
What is the electric G-Class called?
The full-size electric G-Class is officially named the G 580 with EQ Technology, not "EQG" as widely expected before its April 2024 launch.
How much will the small G-Class cost?
Estimates point to a starting price of around $70,000 in the U.S. market, well below the roughly $154,000 starting price of the current full-size G550.
What will the small G-Class compete against?
Reported rivals include the Land Rover Defender Sport, Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, Ford Bronco, and the electric Rivian R2.
Watch the electric G-Class walkaround
Mercedes-Benz's official walkaround of the G 580 with EQ Technology — the full-size electric G-Class already on sale — is below, covering the design and technology shared with the upcoming smaller model.
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