A Legendary German Off-Roader Is Getting a Smaller and More Accessible Little Sibling

Mercedes just confirmed some exciting new details about the hotly anticipated Mini G.

Rear side view of a matte gray Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, featuring a spare tire mounted on the back door with a protective cover, a roof rack, and a ladder attached to the rear side. The vehicle has tinted windows and modern LED tail lights. The license plate reads "S G 6325.

Published September 9, 2025

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Updated September 9, 2025

While the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen (or G-Class) started its life as a rugged, military-ready off-roader, over time, it’s become the vehicle of choice for transporting the ultra-rich to and from Rodeo Drive.

And the thing is — even when attached to an eye-watering six-figure price tag, the boxy Mercedes-Benz has only continued to attract buyers. Thanks to its celebrity associations, the SUV has quickly become one of the brand’s best-selling flagships.

So it should come as no surprise that Mercedes-Benz has been chomping at the bit to expand the lineup. Though the brand has teased the idea of a ‘Baby’ or ‘Mini G’ before, new details just surfaced that suggest it’ll be even better than previously expected.

Side silhouette of a boxy SUV with a spare tire mounted on the rear, highlighted by subtle lighting against a dark background. — The Cabriolet is making a return to the G-Class lineup, following the last appearance in Landaulet form.

Mercedes doubles down on teasers

Toward the end of last week, Mercedes-Benz posted a shadowy silhouette hinting at the revival of its G-Class Cabriolet (see above). Evidently, however, the brand wasn’t finished teasing future prospects for its boxy SUV.

That’s because it also showed off the first-ever photo of the Mini G as part of its 2025 IAA Mobility presentation. If you look closely, you can spot both it and the Cabriolet alongside the standard G-Class in the center.

A man in a dark suit stands on a glossy black stage, addressing an audience seated in dim blue lighting. Above him, three silhouettes of Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs are displayed with illuminated rear lights, accompanied by the text "G-CLASS FAMILY" in white at the top left. — If you look closely, you can see all three G-Class (Cabrio, standard and Mini) on the presentation screen.

Moreover, Mercedes chairman Ola Källenius stated during the presentation that “prototypes would be appearing on roads very soon.”

The announcement follows the brand’s official confirmation earlier this year that it would bring a smaller G SUV into production.

While Mercedes-Benz has continued to remain tight-lipped about the powertrain specifications, it did at least divulge a few new details about the chassis.

Blue Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV driving on a paved road with a clear blue sky and dry shrubbery in the background. The vehicle's headlights are on, and a person is visible behind the wheel. — The G-Class might be more of a pavement pounder nowadays, but Mercedes will build the Mini G as a real-deal off-roader.

More than mere hand-me-downs

Speaking to Autocar, Mercedes-Benz execs reportedly stated that the Mini G will ride on an all-new “miniature ladder-frame chassis” — not merely a scaled-down version of its bigger sibling’s platform. As such, it’s slated to be a real-deal off-roader in a bite-sized package.

And that extends to the rest of the SUV as well. Though the Mini G will echo the larger G-Class in its overall shape, the model will nevertheless incorporate a litany of vehicle-specific components. Per Mercedes-Benz, “everything has to be unique.”

Blue Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV driving on a dirt road through a desert landscape with sparse vegetation and distant mountains under a clear sky. — Even as a luxury SUV, the G-Class is heaped with off-road capability.

Accordingly, it will also bring slightly tweaked styling compared to its stablemate. Along with making it “younger” in spirit, Mercedes-Benz execs reportedly stated that it will be “more modern.”

Still, a G is G, and the designers at Benz clearly appreciate the model’s history, given special releases like the Stronger Than The 1980s Edition. As much as the Mini G will differ in its aesthetics, then, it’ll also supposedly stay true to the icon in many respects.

Green Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV parked on rocky terrain with a roof rack, surrounded by trees and mountains under a cloudy sky. — Retro clearly suits the G quite nicely. Is there a two-door 1980s edition that could come of the Mini G?

Growing the G lineup

In its pursuit of maximizing its G-Class profits, Mercedes-Benz is spinning the model off into its own sub-brand à la JLR and the Range Rover or Ford and the Bronco. Between the electrified G-Class, the droptop and the Mini G, the lineup is only continuing to grow.

As previously mentioned, Mercedes has stated that prototypes will be hitting the road soon. However, at this stage, it has yet to reveal powertrain specifications or pricing.

A black Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV is driving aggressively on sand, causing a large spray of sand and dust to fly around the vehicle. The headlights are on, and the front grille and license plate are clearly visible. The background shows a cloudy sky and a distant horizon. — Many automakers are doubling down on their staples, even going so far as to make certain models distinct sub-brands.

Still, as it is a smaller model that will be positioned as a little brother to the existing G-Class, logic dictates that the upcoming Mini G will have to be cheaper in price.

As such, it’s bound to be more accessible for more buyers. Will it be cheap enough that enthusiasts start seeing more examples out on the trails, though? Only time will tell.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.