Verdict
The Lexus LM costs RM1,228,000, a RM228,112 step above the Mercedes-Benz GLS, yet its 2.5-litre hybrid pairs a 188 hp petrol engine with a 180 hp motor and keeps annual road tax to RM835. The GLS answers with 362 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds, but its road tax is RM1,638. For Malaysian buyers carrying luggage, the GLS’s 355-litre boot is far more useful than the LM’s 110 litres. The LM makes sense for its power sliding doors and five-year warranty; the GLS is the stronger all-round driver’s choice.
LM
Pick the Lexus LM if power sliding rear doors, ventilated 18-way front seats, a hybrid powertrain and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty matter more than luggage space and performance.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you want 362 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive, a 355-litre boot and rear-seat entertainment for RM228,112 less.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LM RM1,228,000; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Power and torque: Lexus LM 188 hp and 236 Nm petrol engine; Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp and 500 Nm.
- Driveline: Lexus LM front-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz GLS all-wheel drive.
- Boot space: Lexus LM 110 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLS 355 litres.
- Road tax: Lexus LM RM835 per year; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM1,638 per year.
- Warranty: Lexus LM five years unlimited mileage; Mercedes-Benz GLS four years unlimited mileage.
LM
- Hybrid system with a 180 hp, 270 Nm electric motor.
- Power sliding rear doors with soft-close and anti-pinch.
- Ventilated 18-way power front seats and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
- 110-litre boot is 245 litres smaller than the GLS's 355 litres.
- Front-wheel drive and 188 hp/236 Nm trail the GLS's all-wheel-drive 362 hp/500 Nm setup.
- No head-up display or automatic parallel and perpendicular parking.
GLS
- 362 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 355-litre boot, plus 90-litre fuel tank.
- AIRMATIC air suspension, head-up display and rear entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors.
- Costs RM1,638 a year in road tax versus RM835 for the LM.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage warranty is one year shorter than the LM's.
- Does not list power sliding rear doors, unlike the LM.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,228,000 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | MPV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM835✓ | RM1,638 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated, Atkinson cycle with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,494 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 188 hp | 362 hp✓ |
| Torque | 236 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 180 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 270 Nm | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | E-CVT | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | — | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,125 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,955 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 110 litres | 355 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R19 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R19 | 285/45R22 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Primacy SUV+ | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilated | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with Power Fold | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | Rear Panoramic Roof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front 12-volt, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 4 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Powered rear sun shade and rear door window shades | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14" Lexus Premium Audio Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 10 Speakers | 12.3" MBUX, COMAND Controller, Touchpad, Burmester Sound System with 13 Speakers (590W) and rear seat individual entertainment system, including two 11.6-inch monitors with wireless headphones, rear center armrest control/USB/audio interface |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding with Soft-close Function, One-touch Auto Close, Anti-pinch | 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, Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
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.
Used LM & GLS for sale
LM vs GLS FAQ
Is the Lexus LM or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The GLS is better for driving performance, luggage room and lower purchase price: it has 362 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 355-litre boot. Choose the LM for its hybrid motor, power sliding doors and five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LM costs RM228,112 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The LM is RM1,228,000, while the GLS is RM999,888.
Which has lower running tax in Malaysia?
The Lexus LM has lower annual road tax at RM835, compared with RM1,638 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS. That is an RM803 yearly difference in the LM’s favour.