Gac Emzoom vs Mercedes-Benz C350

What's the difference?

GAC might still be a new name to a lot of Aussie new car buyers, but the Emzoom Luxury isn’t here to quietly blend in. It’s sharply styled, keenly priced and carries just enough attitude to turn a few heads - which is a good start in a crowded small SUV segment.

It also keeps things simple. There’s just the one trim level on offer locally, and it comes in swinging against some well-established rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion Premium, Kia Seltos Sport+ and MG ZS Vibe Turbo.

But standing out on paper is one thing, backing it up with enough personality to stay interesting over time is another.

If you’re picturing the premium mid-size segment in Australia, you’re almost certainly picturing Mercedes-Benz. Honestly, the premium carmaker has the kind of powerful and unquestioning stranglehold on the segment that would have despots and dictators turning green with envy.

The C-Class often outsells its nearest competitor by a factor of two to one. Even more impressive, that nearest competitor is another Mercedes, the CLA. Audi and BMW are left off in the middle distance, duking it out for third and fourth place.

So yes, the C-Class is a very important car for Mercedes. And this new one, updated for 2019, is even more so. It’s the first major update in the current car’s four-year lifespan, with a handful of exterior tweaks, some new key cabin technology and, most importantly, a new and clever engine option for its top-selling version.

So is that enough to keep the C-Class at the top of the mid-size pile?