The Mercedes-Benz G-Class does 13.7 mpg combined (12.6 city, 15.2 highway), which works out to about $2,803 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl Hybrid does 18 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 12.4 — a difference of $964 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz G-Class engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class ranges from 18 down to 12.4 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $964 a year across 5 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 17 / 19 | 2025–2026 | $2,133 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 13.8 / 16.3 | 2019–2024 | $2,560 | |
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 11.9 / 14.7 | 2003–2018 | $2,954 | |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 11.5 / 14.5 | 2004–2009 | $3,072 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 11.4 / 13.8 | 2002–2008 | $3,097 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class burns a gallon every 13.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 876 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.234 |
| Fuel per year | $2,803 |
| Fuel over five years | $14,015 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$418 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,706 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class gives up 2.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 15.2 out there against 12.6 in town, a 21% drop worth $522 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 12.6 mpg | $3,048 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 15.2 mpg | $2,526 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2.6 mpg (21%) | Typical for its type |
How the G-Class changed over the years
The G-Class peaked in 2026 at 18 mpg (17 city, 19 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 12 — 6 mpg apart, or $1,067 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 18. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 / 19 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2025 | 17 / 19 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2024 | 13 / 16 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2023 | 13 / 16 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2022 | 14 / 17 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2021 | 17 / 19 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2020 | 13 / 15 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2019 | 13 / 15 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2018 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2017 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2016 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2015 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2014 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2013 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2012 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2011 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2010 | 11 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2009 | 11 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2008 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2007 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2006 | 11 / 13 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2005 | 11 / 13 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2004 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2002 | 11 / 13 | 1 | $3,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 25 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class — 5 engines across 2002–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $5,706. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz G-Class get?
13.7 mpg combined on average — 12.6 in the city and 15.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2002–2026.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz G-Class cost in fuel per year?
About $2,803 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $14,015 over five years, or 0.234 dollars a mile.
Which G-Class engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl Hybrid at 18 mpg, against 12.4 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $964 a year.
Is the G-Class good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world G-Class figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is $5,706 against the $2,803 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 18 and 12 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.