Verdict
The Lexus LS is the limousine choice: RM1,188,000 buys a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with 415 hp, 600 Nm and a 5.0-second 0-100 km/h time, plus a 3,125 mm wheelbase and proper powered rear-seat hardware. The Lexus RX is the pragmatic luxury pick at RM468,888, with 612 litres of boot space, five-door SUV access, all-wheel drive and far lower RM754 road tax. The RM719,112 gap is huge; the LS feels justified only if rear-seat comfort and pace matter more than family practicality.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if you want the faster, longer, rear-seat-focused Lexus with air suspension, soft-close doors and 28-way front seats.
RX
Pick the Lexus RX if you want the more usable luxury Lexus with SUV packaging, a bigger boot, all-wheel drive and much lower running tax.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LS RM1,188,000; Lexus RX RM468,888
- Power and torque: Lexus LS 415 hp/600 Nm; Lexus RX 275 hp/430 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Lexus LS 5.0 seconds; Lexus RX 7.6 seconds
- Boot space: Lexus LS 480 litres; Lexus RX 612 litres
- Wheelbase: Lexus LS 3,125 mm; Lexus RX 2,850 mm
- Road tax: Lexus LS RM4,133/year; Lexus RX RM754/year
LS
- Much stronger 3,445 cc twin-turbo V6 with 415 hp and 600 Nm
- Quicker 5.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- More luxury-cabin hardware: 28-way front seats, 18-way powered rear seats, rear touchscreen and soft-close doors
- Costs RM719,112 more than the Lexus RX
- Smaller 480-litre boot versus the RX’s 612 litres
- Much higher RM4,133 annual road tax
RX
- Far cheaper to buy and tax, with RM754 annual road tax
- Bigger 612-litre boot and five-door SUV body
- Gets all-wheel drive, a 14-inch touchscreen, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay
- Less powerful at 275 hp and 430 Nm
- Slower 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- Less rear-seat luxury hardware than the LS, with no 18-way powered rear seats or rear touchscreen
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,188,000 | RM 468,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC Direct and Port injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp✓ | 275 hp |
| Torque | 600 Nm✓ | 430 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 85.5 mm | 87.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | 11 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed Direct Shift | 8-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Aisin |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds✓ | 7.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 4,890 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,920 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 1,914 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 68 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 612 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 235/50R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 235/50R21 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 21" Multi-spoke Alloy with Hyper Chrome Metallic Machined Finish |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 21" Multi-spoke Alloy with Hyper Chrome Metallic Machined Finish |
| 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 Variable Suspension (AVS) | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage | 10-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | Power Folding and Recline, 40:20:40 Split-folding, Heated and Ventilated |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 1 Front 12-volt, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 14" EMV Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Wired Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay and 12-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four 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 |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with 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 Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera and 3D Function |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft close function, all doors | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 4,133 | RM 754✓ |
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.
LS vs RX FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Lexus RX better?
The Lexus LS is better for chauffeured comfort and performance. The Lexus RX is the better all-round Malaysian buy because it costs far less, has a bigger boot, all-wheel drive and much lower road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS costs RM1,188,000, while the Lexus RX costs RM468,888. That makes the LS RM719,112 more expensive before considering the LS’s higher RM4,133 annual road tax.
Which has more space for luggage?
The Lexus RX has more boot space, with 612 litres against the Lexus LS’s 480 litres. It also has a five-door SUV body, so loading bulky items should be easier than in the sedan.