Compare the2026 Mercedes G-ClassVS 2026 Tesla Model X

The G-Class’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G-Class are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The G-Class has a standard Maneuvering Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the G-Class’ standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

The G-Class has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the G-Class and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are over 83 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the G-Class’ warranty.

The G-Class stops much shorter than the Model X:

For better traction, the G-Class’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (295/40R22 vs. 265/35R22).

The G-Class has a standard full size spare (not available on 580) so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The G-Class has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The G-Class AMG 63 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Model X doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The AMG G 63 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Tesla doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Model X.

The G 580 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Model X (26 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the G-Class has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model X (9.5 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the G-Class to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The G 580’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Model X (9.8 vs. 8.1 inches).

The G 550 is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the Model X, making the G-Class easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The G-Class has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model X.

The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume than the Model X with its rear seat up (37.4 vs. 14.8 cubic feet).

The G-Class’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The G-Class’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model X’s (7000 vs. 5000 pounds).

While the Model X w/22” Wheels can only tow 3500, any G-Class can tow a minimum of 7000 pounds.

The G-Class 580 can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the G-Class can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Model X can’t be towed flat on the ground.

An ASSYST PLUS is standard on the G-Class to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Model X, the G-Class has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The G-Class’ power window, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model X’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the G-Class has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The G-Class has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Model X doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The G-Class’ sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The G-Class has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The G-Class offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model X.

The G-Class is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model X, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the G-Class offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model X.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the G-Class equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model X, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Mercedes G-Class empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.