The success of the Mercedes G Wagon and Land Rover Defender comes on the back of decades of heritage and a deep understanding of their customer needs.
The appetite for rugged, old-school off-roaders has only increased their appeal in recent years, and Mercedes and JLR are now developing compact, more accessible versions, unofficially dubbed ‘Little G‘ and ‘Defender Sport,’ respectively.
Design
The Mercedes Little G “will be instantly recognizable,” Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has said.
As depicted in our rendering, it would have a squarish body, squarish windows, near-round headlights integrated in squarish housings, a prominent rectangular grille, flared wheel arches, and raised roof rails. It would also have modern touches, including an illuminated grille, Multibeam LED headlights, and a slim C-shaped taillight design.
The Land Rover Defender Sport will have a more modern and a rather sporty exterior, with a body stretched further horizontally, a slightly more raked windshield, and sleek headlights. Thus, along with a robust stance, it should possess the look of an everyday crossover.
Interior
Superscreen-led interior for the Little G
Inside, the Mercedes Little G would keep the authentic SUV feel with a high seating position and a high-set center console.
An optionally available floating MBUX Superscreen, spanning nearly the entire width of the dashboard and integrating a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger screen, would add a big dose of modern tech.
Chunky but digital-first for the baby Defender
The Land Rover Defender Sport’s interior should follow a more minimalist approach. A four-spoke steering wheel could link it to the bigger Defender, while exposed screws and a wide center armrest could contribute to its utilitarian character.
That said, we expect JLR designers to adopt a more elegant layout for the dashboard displays, keeping the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen separate and possibly avoiding a passenger touchscreen altogether.
That approach could work well for customers in places like Seattle or Denver, where buyers often want a rugged-looking product without sacrificing everyday usability.
Specifications
Little G with Hybrid & EV
Mercedes is developing the Little G on a new ladder-frame chassis to give it a proper SUV character and genuine off-road capability, as per a recent report from Autocar. The compact SUV is said to be around 4.4 meters (173.2 inches) long.
The three-pointed star will reportedly launch the Little G in mild-hybrid and all-electric variants. The former could pair a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor integrated into an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rely on a 1.3 kWh NMC battery pack. This engine could produce 188 hp and 221 lb.-ft. of torque.
The pure-electric variant should use two electric motors, with the primary unit powering the rear wheels and a lower-output unit with a disconnect function at the front. An 85 kWh NMC battery pack could be standard. This setup could enable an EPA-est. range of 275-300 miles, enough for a run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on a single charge.
Electric-only Defender Sport
The Land Rover Defender Sport will sit on an all-new skateboard platform called ‘EMA,’ short for Electric Modular Architecture.
According to a recent Autocar report, it will measure a little over 4.5 meters (177.2 inches) in length. This construction should give it a relatively more dynamic driving experience and refined drive comfort. It is unlikely to be as capable in off-roading as the Little G, though.
With an 80-85 kWh battery capacity, the Defender Sport could be capable of traveling 300 miles on a single charge, as per EPA. There’s no plan for a hybrid variant as the EMA is a pure-electric platform.
Price & Release Date
Given that these cars entered testing last year, they should go on sale in global markets, including the U.S., in 2027.
Also See: Rivian R2X midsize off-road SUV in the pipeline, RJ Scaringe hints
We expect the Defender Sport/Defender 80 to enter production in the first half of next year, and the Little G to follow in the second half of the year. Both electric SUVs are expected to be priced between USD 55,000 and USD 70,000, with the bulk of the demand concentrated in markets such as California, Florida, and New York.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
