Test Drive: Northumberland In The Mercedes G 580

By Jeremy Taylor & Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby

18 hours ago

All-electric Mercedes SUV on a road trip to the huntin’, shootin’, fishin’ heart of Northumberland

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Test Drive: Northumberland In The Mercedes G 580

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby visit the Kirkstyle Inn driving a legendary off-roader: the Mercedes G 580.

Test Drive: Mercedes G 580

JT-P – Is it the start of the fishing season this week?

JT – That’s correct. The season generally runs from March to September and is one of the country’s biggest participation sports. Some three million people own a rod – incredible. Not sure I’d want to be on a freezing river bank right now though.

Which explains our visit to Northumbria in the go-anywhere Mercedes G-Wagen. Cooler than a Land Rover Defender, more capable than an Ineos Grenadier and very, very expensive.

Well, if you like game hunting then Northumberland has it all – including one of the best pubs we’ve visited in a while. The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest, to give it its full title, is a gorgeously refurbed pub surrounded by grouse moors, rivers and open countryside. A real hidden gem.

Yes, in the winter months you may well need a G-Wagen to reach the front door because the unfortunately named Slaggyford is well off the beaten track in the South Tyne Valley. Don’t rely entirely on sat nav to find it.

And our car being the latest, all-electric model, the inn is fortunate enough to have a charger for guests. Which is good because Lordy knows where the next one is to be found.

So, I’ve read that the Kirkstyle is run by Michael Parkinson’s son, Nick. Hugely experienced, he also owns The Braywood restaurant in Maidenhead, which is currently attracting rave reviews.

My Dad loved watching ‘Parky’s chat show on TV. The Kirkstyle is a down-to-earth, non-nonsense gastropub that also serves the local community. There’s even a darts board – it’s brilliant! Modern and appealing, it’s swapped swirly carpets and velvet chairs for flagstone floors and comfy wooden benches and cushions.

You may need a comfy seat because the menu is very tempting. Try the game terrine, damson and hazelnut starter, with Vanessa’s lamb shoulder and artichoke as a main, followed by rhubarb and custard soufflé.

And after that you may want to book a suitably comfy and stylish bedroom to sleep it all off. There are four to choose from, or you can stay next door at the Old Rectory, a six-bed, self-catering holiday home.

The Kirkstyle is award-winning – but my advice is get there before it wins any more! Our vibrant blue Mercedes didn’t quite match the scenery but it was definitely the right car for the job.

On paper, a three-ton off-roader powered by batteries might now seem the perfect choice but the G580 is also quiet and smooth or tarmac. I also know that it’s unstoppable in the worst of Northumberland weather. The G-Wagen has been around for 45 years and is famously robust – the EV version lives up to the reputation.

At around £155,000, it is expensive but very few vehicles have quite the same kudos. It may only manage around 240 miles between charges and, surprisingly, the electric version doesn’t tow, but what a machine all the same.

Plenty of room in the back for your fishing rods and waders, too.