2026 Mercedes-Benz G 580 EV Launch: Electric Icon at AED 689,000
Oliver Bennett·8 May 2026·9 min read
The electric G-Class is Mercedes' most audacious product in decades — taking an icon unchanged since 1979 and installing four electric motors. We cover the GCC launch in full.
In 1979, Mercedes-Benz launched the G-Wagen — a military utility vehicle that became one of the most enduring automotive icons in history. In 2024, Mercedes presented the G 580 EV. In 2026, UAE customers receive theirs.
The G 580 EV represents something remarkable: an electric powertrain so radical it can perform a manoeuvre impossible for any other vehicle — the G-Turn, where the four independent electric motors spin the front wheels forward while the rear wheels rotate backward, pivoting the car on its own axis like a tank.
Quick-Take Overview
Design & Exterior
The G 580 EV's exterior is deliberately, almost aggressively unchanged from the combustion G-Class. Same boxy profile. Same external door hinges. Same spare wheel cover. Same angular lines that have not changed in 45 years.
The differences are subtle: the grille no longer has the combustion engine's air intake requirements, so the mesh is decorative. The hood is flatter without a front engine. New 20-inch forged alloys with an aerodynamic design replace the traditional G-Class five-spoke units.
In Matte Black with AMG Line — the most UAE-appropriate specification — the G 580 EV looks identical to the AMG G 63. No one will know it's electric unless they are told.
Interior & Technology
The interior has been substantially redesigned for the EV G-Class. The MBUX Hyperscreen — optional but near-universal on UAE orders — installs a 12.3-inch + 17.7-inch + 12.3-inch three-screen glass panel replacing the previous dashboard.
The off-road specific additions are retained: locking differentials (now electronically actuated by individual motor control rather than mechanical locks), terrain modes, and the G-meter instrument cluster.
New for the EV G: a dedicated offroad battery management system that reserves 10% of battery capacity for recovery situations — if you get stuck in the dunes, the system ensures you have enough charge to crawl out.
Powertrain & Performance
| Spec | G 580 EV |
|---|---|
| Motors | 4 (one per wheel, 116 hp each) |
| Combined power | 579 hp |
| Combined torque | 1,164 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.7 sec |
| Battery | 116 kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 437 km |
| DC fast charge | 200 kW |
The G-Turn function uses the four motors independently to rotate the car on its own axis — practical for 3-point turns in confined off-road terrain and genuinely extraordinary to witness. Activating it at the Dubai Motor Show generated more social media content than any other reveal.
Torque per wheel is electronically managed — each motor can deliver from 0 to full torque independently, which creates a torque vectoring capability beyond any mechanical differential.
Pricing & Trim Guide
| Variant | UAE Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| G 580 EV (Standard) | 689,000 |
| G 580 EV AMG Line | 729,000 |
| G 580 EV Exclusive | 789,000 |
Verdict
The G 580 EV is one of the most extraordinary automotive propositions available in the UAE. It is simultaneously the most iconic and the most technologically advanced SUV you can buy for the money.
For UAE buyers: the 437 km range comfortably covers all UAE territory. The electric powertrain's instant torque is actually better suited to UAE dune conditions than the mechanical alternatives. The G-Turn is the most impressive cocktail party demonstration piece in automotive history.
Recommended: G 580 EV AMG Line in Matte Black — the specification that makes it unidentifiable as anything other than a G 63.