Mercedes-AMG E63 vs Lexus LX450D

What's the difference?

Feels like lately all the Mercedes-AMG buzz has been at the smaller end of the scale.

Most recently, the screaming GLA 45 S has arrived in Australia, pumping out more kilowatts and newton-metres than any compact SUV has a right to.

But here, we're doubling the cylinder count to eight, arranging them in a vee, and lighting the wick on AMG's powerhouse mid-size sedan, the recently upgraded E 63 S.

While the ferocious twin-turbo V8 and the rest of this beast's powertrain are unchanged, the car has been brought up to speed with some aero-focused styling tweaks, Merc's latest 'Widescreen' digital cockpit, as well as the MBUX multimedia system, and a tricky new multi-function sports steering wheel.

The price of fuel probably doesn't feature too highly on a 'Things to Worry About' list for people who can afford a luxury SUV. If you're spending more than $130,000 on a vehicle then, chances are, you glide on through service station forecourts with nary a concern about the cost of go-juice, but nevertheless Lexus has introduced its diesel-sipping LX 450d to the ever-growing arena of upmarket wagons. It has a claimed fuel consumption of 9.5L/100km – using just under five litres per 100km less than the eight-seater LX 570, its petrol stablemate.

But does this five-seater up-scale offering deliver much in the way of anything different to any other pricey people-mover, other than the fact it's an oil-burner? Read on.