Lexus LC vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Verdict
The Lexus LC is the emotional buy: a CBU coupe with a 4,969 cc petrol engine, 470 hp and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the easier Malaysian luxury choice, because its 2,999 cc petrol hybrid/REV setup cuts rated fuel use to 1.0 L/100 km, adds a 28.6 kWh battery and gives 100 km of EV range. It also has five seats, a 350-litre boot and much lower annual road tax. The LC is quicker and more special on paper, but the S-Class does more daily work.
LC
Pick the Lexus LC if you want the faster, rear-driven coupe and can live with four seats, a 197-litre boot and RM10,991 annual road tax.
S-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz S-Class if you want a larger five-seat luxury sedan with hybrid/REV running, 100 km EV range and RM2,128 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LC RM1,379,000; Mercedes-Benz S-Class RM738,888
- Power and torque: Lexus LC 470 hp/540 Nm; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 362 hp/500 Nm
- 0-100 km/h and top speed: Lexus LC 4.4 s/270 km/h; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 5.2 s/250 km/h
- Fuel use and CO₂: Lexus LC 8.6 L/100 km/267 g/km; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1.0 L/100 km/22 g/km
- Size: Lexus LC 4,770 mm long with 2,870 mm wheelbase; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 5,289 mm long with 3,216 mm wheelbase
- Practicality: Lexus LC 4 seats/197 L boot; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 5 seats/350 L boot
LC
- Quicker 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- Higher 470 hp output
- Longer 5-year warranty
- Only four seats and a 197-litre boot
- High 267 g/km CO₂ figure
- RM10,991 annual road tax
S-Class
- 100 km EV range from a 28.6 kWh battery
- Five seats and a 350-litre boot
- 14 airbags and AEB
- Slower 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- Lower 362 hp output
- Shorter 4-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,379,000 | RM 738,888✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated, Otto/Atkinson Cycle with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Electric Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 4,969 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 470 hp✓ | 362 hp |
| Torque | 540 Nm✓ | 500 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V | Inline |
| Timing Type | — | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 94 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12.3 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 147 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Type | — | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | — | 28.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 100 km |
| Charger Type (AC) | — | Type 2 |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charger Type (DC) | — | CCS |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 60 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Direct Shift | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 10 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 5.2 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 8.6 L/100 km | 1 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 270 km/h✓ | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 267 g/km | 22 g/km✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,770 mm | 5,289 mm |
| Width | 1,920 mm | 1,954 mm |
| Height | 1,345 mm | 1,503 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm | 3,216 mm |
| Weight | 1,965 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 4 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 197 litres | 350 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R21 | 255/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R21 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001L Run-flats | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive F Suspension - Sachs | Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Rear Passengers, Front and Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Left Cushion |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point with Illumination and Rear Belt Bags |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two rear passenger seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, Driver Attention Monitor with Eye Tracking |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory, Heating and Massage Functions; Pillow Headrests; Passenger Seat Adjustment from Rear Seats |
| Rear Seats | — | Power Adjustable Outer Rear Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation, Massage and One-touch Recline Functions; Folding Rear Pillow Headrests with Built-in Neck Warmers; Powered Ottoman and Leg Rest for Left Seat with Massage Function; Centre Load-through |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | — | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 4 Front USB-C, 6 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Double Sun Visors, Powered Rear Windscreen and Rear Door Window Sunshades |
| Audio | 10.3" Lexus Premium Audio Remote Touch Controller with 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay | 12.8" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 11" Rear Entertainment Displays; 7" Rear Android Tablet; 15-speaker Burmester 3D Surround Sound System (710 Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Stop and Go and Speed Limit Assist |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Soft Close Function, All Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | MBUX Interior Assistant, Fingerprint Scanner, Front and Rear Qi Wireless Chargers, Rear Wireless Headsets |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 10,991 | RM 2,128✓ |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
LC vs S-Class FAQ
Is the Lexus LC or Mercedes-Benz S-Class better?
For most buyers, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is better because it has five seats, more boot space, 100 km EV range and far lower road tax. Choose the Lexus LC if acceleration and coupe character matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LC costs RM1,379,000, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class costs RM738,888. That makes the Lexus RM640,112 more expensive.
Which car is cheaper to run on paper?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is cheaper on paper, with 1.0 L/100 km rated fuel use, 22 g/km CO₂ and RM2,128 annual road tax. The Lexus LC is rated at 8.6 L/100 km, 267 g/km and RM10,991 road tax.