Mercedes-Benz G63 vs Gac Aion V

What's the difference?

Everything you need to know about the Mercedes-AMG G 63's personality pokes out from underneath the polished alloy steps running down each of its flanks. Side pipes… no one does side pipes.

A colleague was pulled over in a G 63 because the cops thought the '60s muscle car-style exhaust was after-market and illegal. But it's not, and it's brilliant.

Launched globally in early 2018, this brutal take on the second-generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class might look the same as the G 63 it replaces, but under the skin it's a whole new ballgame.

The first-gen was like grandpa's axe, regularly updated but underneath it all the same basic framework. This is a whole new axe, including a fresh drivetrain, suspension set-up and interior treatment.

Yep, here comes another new brand. 

The Australian new car market has been flooded with new car brands in recent years, not exclusively but predominantly from China. GAC is the latest, joining the likes of BYD, Deepal, Geely, GWM, Leapmotor, MG and Xpeng in an increasingly crowded market.

Quite simply, the market is now so crowded it means any new company with long-term aspirations will need to find a way to cut through. Being cheap alone won’t do it, nor will being stylish or nice to drive. No single trait will be enough, instead you will need to tick as many boxes as possible to secure any long-term security.

Which puts a lot of pressure on the Aion V, the brand’s mid-size, all-electric SUV that has just arrived in Australia. It will go head-to-head with the likes of the Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10 at the more-affordable end of the electric SUV market. But does it tick enough boxes to make an impact? Read on to find out…