Lexus Gx550 vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class

What's the difference?

The new Lexus GX 550 Sports Luxury looks fantastic and has enough mod cons to satisfy a family but it’s not as luxurious as you’d expect from a premium brand and the fuel economy and driving range will turn off some. But if you’re still interested, there’s a lot here that will make you happy and it’s one of the smoothest 4WDs I’ve driven.

The new AMG C 43 may lack the drama and excitement we’ve come to expect from the German performance brand, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad car. Yes, it could be more extroverted and the ride could be improved, but this is still a sharp-looking sports sedan with loads of punch.

This is a car that speaks to its times, with ever-stricter emissions regulations making it harder and harder for car companies to produce loud, wild and charismatic cars. So Mercedes-AMG has worked within those boundaries and come up with a car that retains at least some of those core elements that has made the brand so desirable over the years.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

The new GX 550 looks massive and while it shares the same platform as the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series, it doesn't share all of its bulk. They both stand at 1980mm wide but differ on length (5015mm vs 4980mm) and height (1670mm vs 1950mm), respectively.

The new design is fabulously rugged but each body panel looks meticulously crafted and is just the right size. This just means the proportions look right and your eye sort of glides over the big body rather than stopping on any one feature.

But having said that, there are a lot of nice features to focus on, like the long LED headlights and rear strip light, auto-folding side steps, 22-inch alloy wheels and sharply styled rectangular side mirrors.

The tailgate window can also be opened if you need to pop something into the boot but don't want, or have the space, to open the tailgate itself.

The styling takes a minor nose dive once you hit the cabin, though, because it doesn't look as sumptuous as you'd expect in a premium SUV.

I love the utilitarian and military vibe of the vertical dashboard, chunky air vents and relatively small windscreen. It looks great but some trims are plasticky and the touchpoints, while soft, are not Lexus-plush.

However, the technology looks gorgeous with an integrated 14-inch multimedia display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The fixed sunroof with its two settings (clear or opaque) is also a lovely feature.

But on a whole, the GX 550's European rivals outclass it with their flashier cabins.

Mercedes has created something of a problem for itself with its decision to introduce AMG styling packages for the majority of its range, including the C-Class.

It means the C 43 has to walk a fine line between looking like a unique AMG model, rather than just a C300 with a bodykit and not out-doing the C63.

To that end it has AMG’s now familiar grille with vertical bars, the unique and complex-looking 20-inch alloy rims and a small lip spoiler on the boot. But otherwise it is surprisingly understated for an AMG, lacking the more obvious and muscular stance of previous AMG offerings.

Inside, there’s a similar theme, with the typical Mercedes-Benz luxury appointments but with a sportier, AMG twist. The steering wheel is chunky and comes with AMG branding, metallic shift paddles and a pair of rotary dials/buttons that allow you to alter the various drive modes and settings.

The one on the right allows you to switch between the pre-set Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes, while the one on the left can scroll between the various individual aspects to tailor the settings to the conditions.

In typical modern fashion the design is tech-laden, with a digital display for the instrument panel (that can be switched between various graphics) and a large, tablet-style central multimedia touchscreen that controls the majority of the car’s non-driving functions.

The cabin of the new GX 550 is fairly practical with plenty of head- and legroom in each row (yep, even the third!). When you first hop in, it can feel a big snug on elbow-room but this feeling quickly dissipates.

Despite a 215mm ground clearance, access is pretty good for the front and middle rows due to the wide door apertures and side-steps. Third row access is a bit awkward for an adult but my eight-year old loved scampering back there this week.

The electric front seats are comfortable with their extra functions and I like the way the massage feature extends to the seat cushion as it limits fatigue on longer journeys. However, you sit on top of them rather sink into them which makes it feel a little trucky at times.

The wide middle row has a bench seat that will be comfortable for kids but an adult might get a sore behind on a long trip. The transmission tunnel also compromises foot room for adults but the seat is wide enough to make use of all three top-tether anchor points (there are ISOFIX mounts too).

It was a little bit of an effort to lift my big booster seat into the back because the GX 550 sits so tall but otherwise, there's plenty of room around a child seat for them not to feel like a sardine.

Individual storage is made up of a glove box that fits an owner's manual, a small shelf in the dashboard and a middle console that doubles as a cool box (mini fridge) and can fit up to four cans or bottles in it.

Each row gets four drinkholders and two USB-C ports but the front also enjoys a 12-volt socket and wireless charging pad. There's a 220V domestic plug port in the boot for larger appliances, too.

It's sometimes awkward to use the wireless charging pad because it's easy for your phone to slide around on it and it quite often disengaged from charging.

My son enjoyed all of the other amenities in the middle row, like the reading lights, climate control, two USB-C ports and retractable sunblinds and I applaud carmakers when they position rear directional air vents in the pillars and/or roof. It just makes it so much easier to cool down sweaty kids!

The 14-inch multimedia display has clear graphics and a responsive touchscreen. The layout is easy enough to get used to after spending some time with it and the sat nav is simple to use.

I like that the sat nav directions can be pulled into the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display.

There is a Lexus connected services app, which you get a three-year subscription to. It's easy to connect to the wireless Apple CarPlay and there is also wireless Android Auto.

The system also has Bluetooth and digital radio, which is a delight to use through the 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The cabin is rounded out by the well-shaped boot which has a massive 1063L of capacity when the third-row is folded. That's been more than enough for my family's needs this week and my German Shepherd was pretty comfy back there, too. The powered tailgate has a kick-function and there is a full-size spare wheel underneath the car.

The new C-Class has grown slightly in size compared to the model it replaces, most notably with a 26mm increase in the wheelbase which you can feel in the cabin.

The front seat space is good, with excellent adjustability for the power-adjustable seats and steering column. I had no trouble finding my ideal seating position which makes for a more enjoyable and uncompromised driving experience.

Rear space is a bit tighter (which is typical for this segment/size of vehicle), but thankfully the standard seats do have very deep sculpting in the backs which allow for more knee space and foot room.

However, at approximately 180cm (six-foot), I wouldn’t like to sit behind my seating position for long periods as my knees were touching the seat back, and headroom is compromised with the panoramic glass roof.

In terms of small item storage there’s a lidded console box in between the front seats as well as a pair of cupholders and a small tray where you can place your mobile phone.

It’s worth noting, though, that early examples of the C 43 in Australia do not have a wireless smartphone charging pad, with that reportedly being introduced from February production.

While that’s good news, it’s not really competitive in this day and age to offer a car costing six-figures without such technology.

There’s also only a single USB-C power outlet in the front, which is another disappointment, but there is a pair in the back.

Mercedes does win some points back for a respectable 455-litre boot, which has a nice wide load opening that will make packing luggage easier.

We’ll get to the major change under the bonnet shortly, but another significant alteration for this latest C 43 is the price.

It now starts at $134,900 (plus on-road costs), which pushes it well above its market rivals, the BMW M340i xDrive and Audi S4, which start at $104,900 and $106,200, respectively.

However, Mercedes has added more technology under the bonnet and loaded the C 43 up with standard equipment, including its '4Matic' all-wheel drive system, adaptive damping, rear-wheel steering and 20-inch alloy wheels.

In terms of creature comforts, the C 43 is well-appointed, with leather upholstery, a head-up display, augmented reality navigation, a panoramic sliding sunroof, and a Burmester 3D surround sound system.

There are two option packages for the C 43. The 'Digital Light Package' costs $2400 and adds Multibeam LED headlights with 'Ultra Range' highbeam, 'Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus' as well as active light function and cornering light function.

The 'Performance Ergonomics Package' includes AMG Performance front seats, an AMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leather and microfibre and the 'AMG Track Pace' system for an additional $5200.

All GX 550 grades share the same 3.5L V6 twin turbo-petrol engine which produces up to 260kW of power and 650Nm of torque.

This 4WD has high- and low-gearing, as well as a bunch of driving modes to suit most occasions, like 'Eco', 'Comfort', 'Sport' and 'Sport+'.

The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts through its gears smoothly and it always feels like it's engaged in the right gear. Which isn't always the case for a big SUV!

The Sports Luxury is fitted with a towing hitch and cover but unlike the base Sports grade which has a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, this model only has a 3130kg capacity which might not appeal to families with big toys to tow. 

The biggest talking point about this new car is the engine, with AMG downsizing from the old C 43’s six-cylinder to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

But it’s not just any turbocharged four-pot, because it is fitted with technology that Mercedes claims has been inspired directly from its Formula One team.

While the F1 team engine facility is based in England, this engine was designed and developed by the Mercedes-AMG team at its Affalterbach headquarters, but the concept of the electric turbocharger reportedly comes from the engine that powered Lewis Hamilton to multiple world championships.

The electric exhaust gas turbocharger - to give it its official name - uses a small electric motor on the turbocharger shaft to spin up the blades without having to wait for any exhaust gases to pass through it first.

To power the electric turbo the C 43 is equipped with a mild-hybrid 48-volt electrical system.

Mercedes claims this means reduced lag and improved throttle response for a sportier driving experience. 

It also helps make this small engine produce big amounts of performance, with AMG extracting 300kW of power and 500Nm of torque from this 2.0-litre, which is more power than the previous six-cylinder C 43 managed.

The engine is paired to a nine-speed multi-clutch transmission, which isn’t a dual-clutch with a pair of clutches operating on every second gear ratio, but instead uses a “wet start-off clutch” for better take-offs and smoother shifting on the move (at least in theory).

Power is sent to the road via all four wheels thanks to Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

I didn’t have high hopes for fuel economy because the official combined (urban/extra-urban cycle figure is a hefty 12.3L/100km but after mostly open-road driving, with some urban stuff mixed in, my real-world average came in at 11.8L.100km! This figure is based on my actual km travelled (358km) and litres of fuel used (42.41L).

While I’m surprised by the fuel usage result, I wouldn’t say this car has good fuel economy compared to its diesel-powered counterparts but it’s not terrible!

The GX 550 has a relatively small fuel tank compared to its Toyota cousins at 80L and based on the combined fuel cycle, you’ll get a theoretical driving range of up to 650km.

Not all that great. Not for a big family mover and not if you’re typically driving in the city, where fuel usage will be a lot higher.

The GX 550 only accepts premium unleaded petrol (95 RON), too.

Despite the smaller engine you can hardly call the C 43 miserly, with a claimed combined urban/highway cycle rating of 9.1-litres per 100km. That’s only a 0.2L/100km improvement over the old six-cylinder.

On test, which included a return trip from Sydney to Bathurst via motorways and some dynamic back road driving, we saw a return of 11.8L/100km on the car's onboard computer.

While hardly hybrid-worrying, it’s impressive to think that driven modestly, such a potent engine can return a single-digit fuel figure.

Oh my goodness the Sports Luxury is a masterclass on 4WD refinement! You never feel the bulk or weight of this massive SUV when you’re driving it. The power delivery is effortless and there’s lots of grunt available when you hit hills.

The handling is also very good with responsive steering and enough road feedback as a driver to make you feel comfortable with what the car is doing. There is some roll in corners but it can tackle more corners at speed than I thought it would. 

The high driving position makes me feel like I can see a long way ahead yet while visibility is mostly good, it can be compromised when you have the side window shades and the third row headrests up. Which is why I love the digital rear view mirror.

Overall, ride comfort is good with forgiving suspension and low cabin noise, even at higher speeds. It’s pretty easy to chat with all rows and there’s not a lot of engine noise which adds to the refinement. I do like hearing a V6 rumble but that’s just a personal preference. 

I was a little worried about hitting my local Westfield car park but this is a nimble SUV to manoeuvre and parking it is a breeze with the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors. 

Let’s start with the good news. The new Mercedes-AMG C 43 is a quick car. The engine may be small in size but the electric turbocharger does its thing and provides plenty of punch.

You can get a performance boost, too, thanks to the belt-driven starter generator, which acts as a mild hybrid and gives you a surge of 10kW for a brief period if you need a sudden burst of extra speed.

The chassis is well-sorted, too, at least from a dynamic point-of-view. The rear-wheel steering can provide up to 2.5 degrees of turning, which improves handling at speed and manoeuvrability when parking.

However, there are some less-impressive elements to the C 43, too. The obvious one is the drama, or rather the lack thereof.

As I said at the beginning, the C 43 has never been as wild or raucous as the V8-powered C 63, but when you buy an AMG there’s a rightful expectation that it will provide some thrills.

The C 43 simply doesn’t have that character about it. Yes, it’s fast, but it produces that speed with efficiency rather than excitement.

And it’s not an engine size problem, because even the 2.0-litre four-cylinder A 35 and CLA 35 offer more ‘wow factor’ than the C 43.

Yes, the engine makes noise under acceleration (and it can be altered between discreet and sporty) but even at its best it sounds muted and lacks the evocative tone of a V8 or six-cylinder engine. 

Another disappointment is the transmission calibration, with the gearbox awkwardly shifting out of first gear on multiple occasions during our test drive.

In the taller gears it felt smooth enough cruising along, but given its low speed shifts we’d like to spend more time in the urban environment before passing final judgement. 

The other notable element of the driving experience we struggled with was the ride quality. While fine on the smoother motorways, our test drive included time on some patchy country back roads and the C 43, even in the ‘Comfort’ suspension setting, was simply too firm.

Riding on low profile tyres, the adaptive dampers struggled to isolate the cabin from the imperfections in the road, leading to a fussy ride at times.

Overall the C 43 is a good car, but it feels like there are still some areas where Mercedes could improve it to make it really live up to the AMG badge.

The C43 gets a comprehensive list of safety equipment that leaves little out. Obviously there are the usual passive safety items, like 10 airbags, including dual-front combined pelvic/thorax airbags and a front centre bag that drops between the front seat passengers to minimise the chances of a head clash.

Also included as standard is autonomous emergency braking front and rear (covering speeds between 7.0-200km/h), adaptive cruise control with active stop/go, a 360-degree parking camera, 'Active Parking Assist', 'Active Lane Keeping Assist', 'Blind Spot Assist' and, of course, anti-lock brakes with 'Brake Assist' and 'Adaptive Brakes' with Hold function and electronic stability control.

Also included are dusk-sensing LED lights, rain-sensing wipers and run-flat tyres with tyre pressure warning.

The C43 also comes equipped with Mercedes’ 'Driving Assistance Package Plus', which adds even more safety gear. This includes 'Active Blind Spot Assist', 'Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function', 'Active Emergency Stop Assist', 'Active Lane Change Assist', 'Active Lane Keeping Assist', 'Active Steering Assist', and 'Active Stop-and-Go Assist'.

While the C43 hasn’t been specifically crash-tested, the latest C-Class was rated by ANCAP with a five-star score for all models except the upcoming C 63 S E Performance.

Lexus offers the GX 550 with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is fairly standard compared to its Euro rivals.

You get five years capped-priced servicing which costs $5950 but the servicing schedule is a bit of a bear at every six months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.

The C 43 is covered by Mercedes’ five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, which has become the new standard for the luxury car market.

Service intervals for the car are at 12 months/25,000km, which is on par with industry standard.

Mercedes-Benz Australia will offer a service plan for the C 43, prices were yet to be confirmed at the time of publication but the company has indicated it will be similar to the C300. 

That means $550 for year one, $900 for year two, the third service costs $1000 and the fourth year service costs $2450 - for a total of $4900 for the first four years of ownership.