There is nothing quite like getting away to the Hamptons. You will definitely want a vehicle that complements your lifestyle. And, more than likely, fits some of your friends, their luggage, and perhaps your surfboard or whatever gear you’ll need for the weekend. So, if you are looking for something with some room and yet, you don’t want to be cruising the backroads in a minivan, what are your options?
When it comes to the G-Class vs. Land Rover Defender, the G-Class is a showy, turn-key experience. It may lack some of the raw character of a Defender. It will be fast, quiet, comfortable, and unflappable, basically everything a dedicated road car should be. If you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort for the old school charm, put a hold on that Land Rover Defender. The Defender can be had for a few hundred less per day.
Quite a Bit in Common
The Defender and the G-Wagen actually have quite a bit in common. They started life as rugged, tough trucks for military or agricultural work. Mercedes launched the G-Class in the late 1970s, and Land Rover produced the Defender starting in the 1980s. The Defender was designed by a farmer, the G-Class by engineers. And you can feel that as you drive.
The other difference: production of the G-Wagen in Graz, Austria, is still going on. The 600,000th was built recently. And as for the Defender, well, its last day of production in Solihull, England, was 29 January 2016, after 67 years and just over two million Series and Defender models.
The 1979 model was called the W460. By the 1990s, the G-Class had become a status symbol. It only went on sale in America as an official Mercedes for the 2002 model year.
The Modern G-Class Is a Better Vehicle
The G-Class is faster, quieter, safer, and rides better than an old Defender. The 2026 G 550 makes 443 horsepower from a 3.0-liter turbo inline-six with hybrid assist and comes with three locking differentials to keep you moving when the going gets tough. If you need to bring friends, the G 550 will seat five in comfort and hold up to 37.4 cubic feet of luggage. The EPA says to expect 18 mpg combined on premium fuel, but who cares? Park one outside a restaurant and heads turn.
Here’s the honest take. The classic Defender had only a lockable center diff and open diffs front and rear, so on paper the G wins. And if I had to drive to work on a Monday, I’d pick the G. A G63 AMG at full throttle sounds ferocious.
The design of the classic Defender, though, was created to be fixed by a soldier in a field. Its 300Tdi 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine produced just 111 hp but had no ECU and no complex electronics.
Every classic Defender was hand built at the famous Solihull factory. About 56 hours on the line per vehicle, which means real humans were involved with every step of the process. They’re loud, for sure. But it has a soul no Nappa leather or Burmester speakers can replicate. Park one next to a G-Wagen and people will walk past the Mercedes to look at it.
Good luck finding an old Defender for cheap. A mint 1997 NAS 90 with under 1,325 miles hammered for $176,400 at RM Sotheby’s in Miami in February 2025. Its base sticker was $27,900. These are collector pieces now, not weekend toys.
If you prefer the look, you can instead opt for the new 2026 Defender 110. With the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 mild hybrid, the EPA rates it at 17 mpg combined, so a touch thirstier than the G 550. The Defender 110 will be your choice for a summer getaway if you value uniqueness, but if it’s just the turn-key experience that brings you to Mercedes, look at the G 550.
It pays to do your homework before you plunk down your credit card.
The Law
It’s worth checking what the state lets companies do. New York’s attorney general says they must rent to licensed drivers 18 or older but can charge more if you’re under 25. Even if the law says 18, though, one Hamptons outfit wants you to be at least 21 and have a valid license and proof of auto insurance.
And if you’re picturing that 4×4 on the sand, slow down. Before you can drive on the beach, you need a Town of East Hampton 4×4 beach driving permit, and you can only get it from the East Hampton Town Clerk’s Office. That’s true for any of the Town or Village beaches. But just because you have the permit, that doesn’t mean you can drive on the sand at the Village beaches between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 15 to September 15.
So which one? If you want comfort, quiet and luxury on the drive out and around town, book the G-Class. If you’d rather have character and heritage, take the Defender. One is a luxury product. The other is something with a soul.
