Mercedes Benz G580: I wanted to hate it, but...

Описание: The battery-powered Mercedes G-Wagen is completely unsuitable for small parking spaces, for narrow city streets and because it's shaped like a brick, it doesn't have an amazing range per charge.

In theory, this should be the perfect recipe for a terrible vehicle but it's just so much fun to drive, you quickly forget about its shortcomings. I mean, it's not a sensible purchase, nor is it affordable for the average kiwi, but that sense of sensibility quickly vanishes when you put your foot down on this quad-motor electric powerhouse.

With 432 kW and 1164 Nm spread between four independently controlled electric motors, each with its own high/low ratio reduction box, the G580 is not only quick off the mark (despite it weighing 3085 kg!) but it's frighteningly good off-road.

Add some brutalist design and an artificial engine noise that actually stirs what's left of my soul, plus running costs that rival a 50cc scooter, it makes this electric G-Wagen simply too enjoyable to dislike. But despite my gushing praise, it's not without its drawbacks, as I soon discovered...

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