BMW Is Reportedly Developing an SUV to Rival the Mercedes G-Wagen

The Mercedes G-Wagen is a classic in many senses, but thought of as sui generis, meaning it would take some gall for Mercedes’ biggest rival, BMW, to try to capture some of the magic. Except, reportedly, now BMW is doing just that, developing an off-roading G-Wagen rival that could debut before the end of this decade.

The off-roading BMW and ostensible G-Wagen rival is based on the X5, according to Automotive News, and would probably have a gas engine and be built at BMW’s South Carolina factory. Production could start as soon as 2029. The car’s code name is G74. The car could even replace the BMW XM in BMW’s extensive lineup of SUVs.

The BMW XM is big, powerful, and maybe a little ugly—but also something of a modern classic. It’s expensive too, starting at $161,675, which might help explain why it was the worst-selling BMW model last year. A replacement car that rivals the G-Class would also likely be big, powerful, and expensive, but it would also have a more natural home in the constellation of SUVs that customers currently want.

The G74—or whatever BMW ends up calling its G-Wagen rival—would also appeal more towards those who think of themselves as off-roaders, or at least overlanders, even if for many that just remains an aspiration. The BMW XM, on the other hand, is suited more for track excursions, which might be an even smaller demographic.

There are no details just yet about the G74’s power, but it would likely compare favorably with the G-Wagen, which starts at $148,250. The base model G-Wagen is a hybrid with an inline six-cylinder engine that makes 443 horsepower, while the AMG G-Class has a V-8 making 577 horsepower. The AMG G-Class is hybrid too, and so could be the G74. The BMW G-Wagen rival would also likely have off-roading upgrades like underbody protection and more off-roady tires.

Robb Report contacted BMW for comment and will update this story if it hears back, though automakers typically decline to comment on future products as a matter of policy.

The G-Wagen is one of Mercedes’ signature vehicles, and it recently celebrated building 600,000 of them, while BMW’s SUV prowess keeps getting bigger and bigger, along with the plant in South Carolina that builds them, so perhaps a BMW G-Wagen rival was inevitable. It would also be a minor concession that the XM missed its target, even if it feels like the kind of car that, in a couple of decades, will be fondly remembered.