When it comes to serious bundu-bashers, they don't come tougher than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the unstoppable Gelandewagen.
For 30 years Stuttgart's answer to the Land Rover Defender has been flattening the world, out-toughing the toughest working environments, taking adventurers to the ends of the earth and, more importantly, bringing them back again.
Problem is, for a number of years it hasn't been coming at all - to South Africa, that is.
But now Mercedes-Benz is re-introducing the G-Wagen to the SA market with a range of three models, from a rough-and-tough workhorse to a clean, green eco-warrior to an out-and-out charger with AMG badging.
The base model is the G300 CDI Professional, built on the 461 platform and aimed at commercial customers who need a durable, tough off-roader.
The interior trim, Mercedes admits, is a bit basic, but that allows for easy conversion to commercial applications such as game-drive vehicles, ski-boat towing and launching, and emergency response vehicles.
But it's also well-suited to the serious off-roader and the family that likes to play dirty, taking them and their playtoys down the road not travelled at all to where the real fun is.
Motivation is supplied by a 2987cc V6 turbodiesel for which Mercedes claims a conservative 135kW at 3800rpm and a seriously muscular 400Nm from 1600-2600rpm, at a cost of 11.7 litres/100km and 307 g/km of CO2.
That gets laid down through a five-speed, automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive with low range (electrically selectable on the move, hooray!) and three electrically lockable differentials (transfer case and both axles).
It has no less than three 60ah batteries to power the vehicle systems as well as 12V and 24V sockets on the centre console.
ABS and EBD are standard, as are automatic daytime running lights and front fog lights.
The G300 is trimmed in black vinyl with black checked fabric upholstery and available either as a four-seater with individual rear seats or a five-seater with rear bench.
A basic aircon is standard, as are wiring for a sound system, lockable storage and 16” steel rims with 225/75 all-terrain rubber.
The eco-warrior is the G350 BlueTec - based on the 463 platform - with the same three-litre V6 turbo-diesel, but in this case tuned for 155kW at 3400rpm and 540Nm from 1600-2400rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at 11.2 litres/100km and CO2 emissions at 297g/km - but the BlueTec insists on 50ppm “clean diesel”.
It drives the same transfer case and three locking differentials as its more basic sibling, but through a 7G-Tronic auto 'box, and runs on 18” alloys shod with 265/60 hiking boots.
The interior is trimmed in black leather - with power adjustment on the heatable front seats - and standard kit includes surround sound, auto aircon, central locking, cup holders, luggage compartment cover, rear parking sensor, Cruise control, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, bi-xenon headlights with washers and stability control.
Some say lots is good, more is better and too much is just about right. For them there's the G55 AMG, with all the luxury of the G350 and at least a couple of trees' worth of burr walnut trim - but propelled by a 5.5-litre turbocharged V8.
The big numbers are 373kW at 6100rpm and 700Nm from 2750-4000rpm, the small numbers are 0-100 in 5.5sec and 210km/h, and the expensive numbers are 15.9 litres/100km and 378g/km of CO2.
Permanent all-wheel drive is standard, as are low range and three locking differentials.
The G55 AMG also comes with a sunroof, stainless steel running boards and spare-wheel cover and multi-contour seats with “Designo” leather upholstery
PRICES:
G300 CDI Professional - R773 990
G350 BlueTec - R1 227 140
G55 AMG - R1 840 060
Prices include emissions tax and a service plan for the G300, MobiloDrive 120 for the G350 and G55.