What Mercedes-Benz India has done today was long overdue. It has doubled the G-Class portfolio with the introduction of the G 350 d variant. With a price tag of Rs 1.5 crore (ex-showroom India), it costs Rs 69 lakh less than the mad, AMG-tuned G 63. Compared to the Mercedes-Benz S 350 d, which has the same engine and wears a price tag of Rs 1.36 crore, the new G-Class derivative costs approximately Rs 14 lakh more. What that also means is that the G 350 d is BS6-compliant.

The power-plant in question is a 2.9-litre, turbo-diesel unit that churns out 282hp/600Nm. A 9-speed automatic transmission harnesses all that oomph and feeds into the permanent all-wheel-drive system. The diesel-fed SUV can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 7.4 seconds, and reach 199kmph at full stretch. Those who cannot be bothered to fathom those figures can relish the fact that this version is the most efficient (in terms of fuel economy) “G” Mercedes-Benz has ever made.

Do not for one moment think that the entry-level G-Class is all show and no go. Accompanying the diesel potent powertrain is Mercedes’ Agility Control suspension with selective passive damping system and three differential locks. Those features, along with multiple driving modes, enable the big SUV to handle the rough stuff. As far as the list of creature comforts goes, it includes ambient lighting, LED-powered headlamps, taillamps and DRLs, nine airbags, Active Lane Keeping Assist, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and electrically-adjustable front seats with memory function, three-zone climate control and keyless-go.

The G 63 is way too expensive for most. Even though the G 350 d costs considerably less than that, it isn’t too pocket-friendly either. But, the latter’s price tag is about the same as one would spend on either the Porsche Cayenne or the Range Rover Sport. Without a doubt, those alternatives are mouth-watering. However, if you want some old-school persona in a high-riding luxury SUV, the G-Class is in a world of its own.