The Mercedes G500 is the latest Mercedes model to get the Brabus treatment. Ok, so that’s not really saying a lot, but in the past week, the German tuner has gone into overdrive, releasing one Mercedes tuning program after another. The Mercedes-Benz E 63 S and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S already got their turns. Now, it’s the G500’s time in the spotlight, and in true Brabus fashion, the aftermarket prescription is exactly what the doctor ordered.

2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G500 by Brabus

Specifications
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  • Model: 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G500 by Brabus
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

As far as appearances go, the Mercedes G500 gets a smattering of carbon fiber upgrades, some of which you probably won’t even notice. Up front, the SUV’s standard hood was ditched in favor of a custom carbon fiber hood, complete with its own functional hood scoop. The G500’s front grille also got the ‘ol heave-ho, replaced by a tailor-made front grille that also includes Brabus’ unmistakable “double B” logo occupying the spot where Merc’s Silver Arrows logo used to be. Approach the SUV or pull its door handles and the logos, as well as the round Brabus signets on both ends of the front fascia attachment, light up in blue. Neat trick there, Brabus.

Up on the roof, the tuner installed a pair of thin auxiliary headlamps, both of which are encased in a composite material and are available in either matte or high-gloss finishes. Move to the rear and you’ll be greeted by a new BRABUS rear spoiler that gives the G500 a more identifiable look.

The final piece of this puzzle is impossible to miss, too. There are four of them, in fact, sitting on both sides of the SUV. The set of Monoblock wheels is a Brabus specialty, and for the G500, the tuner is offering customers a chance to choose from a number of different wheel designs to go with sizes measuring from 20 to 23 inches. One of these options, the Brabus Platinum Edition forged wheels, is available as massive 23s and can be wrapped in 305/35 R 23 performance tires.

Interior

Don’t sleep on what Brabus is offering for the interior of the Mercedes G500. Sure, the traditional leather and Alcantara interior, aluminum pedals, scuff plates, and backlog Brabus logo on the passenger cabin and trunk are the only standard options worth mentioning, but if your pockets are deep enough, you can go all-out on the extra options that the tuner has to offer.

There’s literally too many of them to mention here, but suppose you’re into Mastik leather, Brabus has you covered. Should you want previous wood components and carbon fiber elements, the tuner offers them in a huge variety of versions.

Brabus’ objective in personalizing the interior of a G500 depending on the customer is evident in its program for the Mercedes G500. From the choice of premium materials to how they’re applied in the cabin, you can pick and choose what you want to put and how you want to put it.

In other words, have at it with the interior of the G500. The chances are that if you want something specific on it, Brabus has you covered.

Drivetrain

The engine upgrade is always the main event. That’s the indisputable fact when it comes to Brabus tuning programs, and this kit for the Mercedes G500 comes with that same blueprint.

At the heart of the tuner’s engine upgrade program is the new Brabus B40-500 PowerXtra performance kit, which features a plug-and-play control module that can be adapted to the electronic engine control unit of the vehicle. With the system fully installed, the G500’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine gets a notable increase in power, amounting to 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. Considering that the “standard” G500 already packs 422 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, a simple case of addition reveals a new output of 500 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 524 pound-feet of torque that can be tapped consistently between 2,250 and 4,250 rpm. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends all that power to the wheels, resulting in the hulking SUV’s ability to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds before topping out at 130 mph.

Ok, so the top speed didn’t really increase, and it’s still electronically limited. But where it lacks on over-the-top speed, the Brabus-tuned G500 can be fitted with a stainless sports exhaust system that features actively controlled flaps and a pair of chrome tailpipes on each side of the SUV. This specific exhaust system was designed exclusively for the Mercedes G500, proving yet again the kind of dedication the German tuner has on the programs it builds for the German automaker.

Price

Brabus hasn’t released pricing details for the Brabus-tuned Mercedes G500, but you can expect that it won’t come cheap. The G500, by itself, starts at $123,600. If you factor in the cost of Brabus’ tuning kit, you could be looking at costs approaching $150,000, maybe even more. The good news is that the program comes with either a three-year or 100,000-km/62,000-mile BRABUS tuning warranty.

Conclusion

You could argue that the Mercedes G500 doesn’t need any tuning programs to stand out. The mere sight of this SUV is enough for people to start reaching for their prayer beads. But, like everything else in life, there’s always room for something good to become better and something better to become the best. I don’t know if this is the best tuning kit we’ve seen for the G500, but it will certainly leave a mark on those who will end up buying it. Just make sure you’re prepared to contain yourselves when you’re driving this beast down the road. Mercedes G500 owners have been known to lose it from time to time, a byproduct of owning a car that can do what this mighty machine is capable of with a Brabus tuning program behind it.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG G63.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.