Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs Polestar 3: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Polestar 3 burns about $800 of fuel annually against $1,200 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Polestar 3 leads in both cycles — 105 mpg city and 89 mpg highway against 68 and 56 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, 4.0), the Polestar 3 with no. Across 34 recorded Mercedes-Benz G-Class configurations and 12 for the Polestar 3, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is offered with 4-Wheel Drive, the Polestar 3 with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.