AUSTRALIA is in the unusual but perhaps enviable position of being the sole market for a rugged, go-anywhere workhorse built in Austria by Mercedes-Benz.

Arriving on the private buyer list a bit more than a year before the Nissan Navara-based X-Class Mercedes ute, the G-Professional G300 CDI is based on the austere G-Class wagon model, but tuned and rebodied to hit the heavy end of the workforce.

It is the only single-market model in Australian showrooms and will rely on niche demand to ensure ongoing viability. However, it has two main rivals in the Toyota Land Cruiser 70-Series and the Iveco Daily 4×4 that are both less expensive.

Mercedes-Benz Pacific Australia manager of public relations and product communications Jerry Stamoulis said the G300 is now available from dealerships in one model and only as a cab-chassis, giving the buyer responsibility for sourcing a suitable tray back or custom body to suit the intended purpose.

However, a wagon version will be added by mid next year that will offer seating for five adults. It will be based on the civilian G350 body but sharing the 461 military-spec drivetrain with the cab-chassis model.

Only about 10 per cent of buyers for the cab-chassis are expected to be private, with the bulk sourced from agriculture, emergency services (such as fire fighting), mining (despite not having a five-star crash rating) and the Australian Defence Force.

“We have already sold about 100 G300 units to fleet customers in Australia,” he said.

“We had a lot of interest from other people so the introduction of the vehicle is driven not from us, but by customers. We took the request to Germany (head office) and were given access to production out of the plant in Austria.

“We are now offering these to anyone else, though the target is predominantly corporate.”

Mercedes expects to sell to its target market but added that it has recently had unprecedented interest from the mining industry.

It said that its conversations with mining companies showed there was no requirement for a five-star crash rating, which the G300 is unlikely to achieve.

Mr Stamoulis said the mining companies were particularly interested in a vehicle that had a high load-carrying “but not towing” ability and was able to work in tough environments.

Mercedes has no sales targets and said there was no pressure from the manufacturer in Austria.

“It’s possible we could sell 250 a year – maybe more,” he said.

The cab-chassis is based on the 461 military-spec G-Class wagon that harks back to 1974 and is the first time that private buyers can get close to what the military uses.

It differs from the civilian two-model G-Class wagon 350d at $163,615 plus on-road costs, and the 63 AMG at $233,615, that have different drivetrains and a far higher equipment level.

The austere G300 has a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel rated at 135kW/400Nm driving through a five-speed automatic to all wheels and then through a low-range gearbox. The driver can select high-range or low-range on the move.

It has three locking differentials that can be engaged while the vehicle is moving.

Its civilian counterpart has a similar engine but is rated at 180kW/600Nm attached to a seven-speed automatic and mounted on a shorter wheelbase.

More importantly for buyers, the G300 has a payload in excess of two tonnes, can tow 2.2-tonnes (which is surprisingly under-rated for its potential), and can ford 650mm streams, has a 252mm ground clearance while having an approach angle of a steep 38-degrees.

It is priced at $119,900 plus on-road costs. There is no luxury car tax because it is a commercial vehicle. Options include a walk-on bonnet with a 100kg payload ($1900), winch preparation pack ($1900), heated seats ($900) and cyclonic air cleaner for especially dusty conditions ($500).

It comes up against the Toyota Land Cruiser 70-Series (from $56,990) and the Iveco Daily 4×4 in single-cab and dual-cab priced from $96,800 (See table for other competitors).

Mr Stamoulis said the G300 will not be available as a dual-cab or with a 6×6 drivetrain. There will be no manual transmission option and the V6 turbo-diesel will be the only engine available.

The vehicle is sold without a tray – making it illegal to drive in most states – and Mercedes-Benz has no plans to become a supplier or fitter of trays. It said Quikcorp was a national tray-top supplier that would be recommended to buyers wanting a conventional tray back.

However, most buyers are expected to have specific and custom-made backs available from the purchase of the vehicle.

By Neil Dowling