According to Germany's Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz is said to be working on a miniature G-Class that is due in 2026.

Insiders have told the news agency that the automaker has plans to bring a smaller version of the off-roader to market by 2026. The newcomer is expected to be slightly shorter than the 189.7-inch G-Class and sport a far shorter roofline than the 77.5-inch tall status symbol.

The vehicle is expected to be a standalone model (as opposed to a sub-model of the G-Class) that may be called the GLG-Class. It will reportedly use the upcoming MMA vehicle architecture. The platform will arrive in 2024, with the new CLA-Class being the first vehicle to use it.

Mercedes has previously said the new platform will be reserved for smaller models, suggesting that the new baby SUV will join the GLA and CLA on the lower rungs of the Benz ladder.

The new Mercedes will arrive with a choice of gas-powered and electric setups, giving buyers in different regions more options. Currently, the G-Class is only available with a combustion engine, but an all-electric EQG will arrive in 2024.

Reports indicate the smaller off-roader will provide more than 310 miles of range on a single charge. Fast-charging capabilities come courtesy of the 800-volt architecture, ensuring future customers won't have to hang around and wait while their batteries charge.

Sources told the German publication that Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius is the driving force behind this new model. The chief executive believes a more compact version of the iconic G-Class is an essential part of the brand's success. Despite eye-watering prices, the iconic SUV remains one of the most in-demand Mercedes products.

Interestingly, news of the miniature Gelandewagen comes just weeks after Mercedes-Benz announced it would drastically reduce its lineup and cut an array of models, including wagons, coupe-style SUVs, and niche products like the CLS.

We will have to wait and see what the final product looks like, but we're guessing it will adopt many of the G's styling cues. After all, that is what people love most about the Austrian-built luxury off-roader. While this is purely speculation, we wouldn't be surprised to see a GLB-Class-sized SUV that is more at home on rougher terrain.

If Mercedes can introduce a smaller SUV that provides all the G-Class style and capability for half the price, it will have a winner on its hands. It will be important not to dilute the G-Class brand, though, as it remains one of the world's most desirable vehicles.