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4Matic is a brand name, not a technology. Like Quattro for Audi, MB uses 4Matic to denote anything that drives all four wheels. They've further qualified 4Matic with 4Matic+ in the AMGs, which are mostly RWD and can even fully decouple the front wheels for pure RWD drifting. Most 4Matic systems are technically AWD, whereas the system in the G would qualify as 4WD. If you are not familiar with the distinction, then perhaps do some Google searches. Yes, the G has manually locking differentials. All the diffs can be locked on demand via switches in the center console.
Thanks for the comprehensive reply. Sorry, I edited my post before your comment came in. What I’m trying to figure out is my 2016 GLE63s and GL63 have awful traction in the snow (even with right tires) whereas my GL550 is amazing. I believe it’s because the 2016 AMG SUVs had a fixed 60/40 split where the brakes were used to distribute power (stupid system).
So what I’m trying to figure out is how good is the G63 in the snow and does it automatically send power to the optimal wheels for traction similar to my GL550 system?
Ok, there are a few things to unpack here. Most 4Matic systems that MB uses have open differentials and as you say use the brakes to simulate a locking differential trying to get the spinning wheels under control to redirect torque to the wheels with traction. This is cost effective (read cheap) and works up to a certain point. Eventually slowing down wheels with the brakes gets to the point where nothing is moving anymore and the car is just stuck.
Newer AMG 63 models and above have automatic locking rear differentials. Either a mechanical LSD (used in the past on 63 models) or an electronic locking differential (used in the 63S models). This allows for active torque distribution on the rear axle, instead of using the brakes. This is mostly for performance reasons, though. Allowing for fast cornering and in case of the RWD models for drifting. The GL didn't have this and w/o looking it up I wanna say the 2016 GLE63 didn't have it either.
The G on the other hand as said doesn't do any of this automatically. If you are stuck and one wheel is spinning on a given axle, then it's up to you to engage the appropriate differential lock. The thing is with the G, the diffs are either open or they are fully locked. As you probably know, steering a car with locked differentials isn't gonna work very well, so you don't want to drive around on pavement with locked differentials. Locking the differentials is when off-roading where the wheels are allowed to spin and dig themselves out, or in deep snow, sand etc. The automatic locking differentials mentioned above have the benefit that they can be fully open, partially locked or fully locked. In case of the electronic locking differential the computer figures out multiple times a second how much to lock the differential to provide optimal traction while still allowing to steer the car.
So, there isn't really a one way is better than the other answer. An AWD system with automatic locking differentials and torque vectoring does its best to figure out where to send the torque w/o driver intervention. The G is superior in off-road situations, because you can fully lock the diffs, but on the road where you are going between pavement and snow covered roads, you gonna have to figure when and for how long to lock the diffs and still be able to steer it. If you need to dig yourself out of deep snow, then the G will likely do a much better job, but on mixed surfaces with a mix of high grip surface and slippery sections an AWD system will likely be superior, because it can figure out much faster where to send the torque and you as the driver don't have to decide when to manually lock the diffs and when to open them.
Just to throw in another option is Land Rover's Terrain Response system. It's somewhere between an AWD and 4WD. It's more like 4WD mechanically, but it handles the locking of the differentials automatically. You specify the terrain you are driving on such as mud, snow, sand etc. and it figures it out for you. Locking and unlocking the differentials as needed. With the G you kinda have to know the surface you are driving on and then before you start moving lock the appropriate differentials. Then when the surface changes, stop and unlock the differentials as needed before continue driving. A Land Rover on the other hand kinda just gets you through whatever terrain you are driving on.
Last edited by superswiss; 08-14-2023 at 06:24 PM.
superswiss, Thank you for such a detailed reply! I think I will need to read it a few times to understand the finer points of the MB 4Matic variations and what would work for me for snowy roads...
From practical experience I can tell you the G63 is an incredible snow mobile on northeast Ohio snow and ice covered roads if you change to snow tires.
Search the G owners manual for 4ETS. This is the MB torque management system that simulates the effect of locking differentials in the case where a vehicle has all differentials open and unlocked.
Yes, 4ETS is always there. That's the traction control system that all cars have just expanded to all four wheels. It's the brake based system that slows the spinning wheels as needed. The G has that in all variants, but in addition you can also manually lock the differentials. In the snow 4ETS as any traction control system can actually work against you by cutting power and braking wheels to the point where things are not moving anymore, which is why you often have to turn it off in those situations to let the wheels spin.
This video Shows perfectly how the G system works> Basically the only limitations are the cheap non off road tires it comes from factory, Just make sure you use the subtitles in English.
08-14-2023, 04:52 PM
