At last: The 'Baby' G-Class from Mercedes-Benz Caught Testing for the First Time

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      Just last month, Mercedes hinted that the new junior G-Class would be revealed “very soon.” Today, we have the first spy images of this smaller off-road SUV, which we anticipate will begin production in time for the 2027 model year. These two prototypes were seen being loaded onto a transporter in Germany, and thanks to the nearby vehicles, we’re getting our first impression of its compact size.

      In short: Very compact. At certain angles, the baby G could easily be mistaken for a fully electric Kia Soul (or, if I may say, a Scion xB?). Generally, Mercedes-Benz has closely followed the design cues of the G-Class, but there are a few differences. For instance, the dual front lighting setup has been eliminated; instead, the visible LED outlines function as both daytime running lights and turn signals.

      The images below provide some perspective. You can see that the baby G is significantly outsize by the two-row EQS 450 SUV (the grey crossover in front of it, in line for the carrier in the upper left photo) and the Mazda5-sized Metris passenger van beside it in the following images. It might even be smaller than the utility tug visible in the background.

      These prototypes also feature what seem to be full-length roof racks—one even has a complete ladder setup, hinting at potential accessories. This aligns with CEO Ola Källenius’s earlier remarks about targeting younger, active consumers. Its compact size and optional electric powertrain will likely resonate with urban customers in Europe, where many major cities are imposing restrictions (or additional fees) on combustion engine vehicles. Don’t fret; I believe that’s just additional camouflage on the prototypes above, not body bags.

      Given earlier speculations that the baby G would use the same “MMA” platform that supports the new CLA and GLA, its small size shouldn’t come as a surprise. We expect the interior will incorporate features we’ve seen in other models on this platform, including the Superscreen setup recently teased for the updated GLB three-row.

      With Toyota introducing a downsized Land Cruiser FJ overseas (rather cheeky) and Mercedes focusing on a smaller off-road (or more likely, soft-roader), we can’t help but question Jeep’s decision to position its electrified Recon at… well, we’re not quite sure who it’s targeting since it’s a significantly larger vehicle than the two just mentioned. This choice allowed Jeep to align the Recon’s destiny with the STLA Large platform found under nearly all new models in the Stellantis US portfolio; the trade-off, however, is that it had to be quite Large.

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