Verdict
The RM188,112-cheaper Mercedes-Benz GLS is the practical choice for a Malaysian family: it has seven seats, all-wheel drive and foldable second- and third-row seating, plus auto parking. The Lexus LS is a five-seat limousine with the stronger 415 hp/600 Nm 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6, reaching 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds versus 6.1 seconds. It also gives rear passengers 18-way powered, heated and ventilated seats with a touchscreen. But its RM4,133 annual road tax is RM2,495 higher than the GLS’s RM1,638.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if rear-seat comfort, 415 hp and a 5.0-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than seven-seat utility.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, all-wheel drive, fold-flat rear rows and save RM188,112 upfront.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LS RM1,188,000; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Performance: Lexus LS 415 hp, 600 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp, 500 Nm and 6.1 seconds.
- Seating: Lexus LS has 5 seats; Mercedes-Benz GLS has 7 seats.
- Driveline: Lexus LS is rear-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz GLS is all-wheel drive.
- Boot space: Lexus LS 480 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLS 355 litres.
- Road tax: Lexus LS RM4,133 per year; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM1,638 per year.
LS
- 415 hp and 600 Nm, with 5.0-second 0-100 km/h acceleration.
- 28-way front seats plus 18-way rear seats with heating, ventilation and rear touchscreen.
- 480-litre boot and rear cross traffic alert with auto brake.
- Five seats versus the GLS’s seven.
- Rear-wheel drive versus the GLS’s all-wheel drive.
- No auto parking; the GLS parks itself in parallel and perpendicular bays.
GLS
- Seven seats with sliding, split-folding second and third rows.
- All-wheel drive and a 90-litre fuel tank.
- Auto parking, six front and rear parking sensors, plus rear-seat entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors.
- 362 hp and 500 Nm trail the LS’s 415 hp and 600 Nm.
- 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.1 seconds behind the LS.
- 355-litre boot is 125 litres smaller than the LS’s.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,188,000 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM4,133 | RM1,638✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp✓ | 362 hp |
| Torque | 600 Nm✓ | 500 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 85.5 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed Direct Shift | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 10 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 355 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 285/45R22 |
| Factory Tyres | — | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side | 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 | 5 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 |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| 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 | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System 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 | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 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 Rear | 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 | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 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 | 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 | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Panoramic 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 | Soft close function, all doors | 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 LS & GLS for sale
LS vs GLS FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The GLS is better for seven-seat family use, all-wheel drive and folding-seat flexibility. Choose the LS for stronger performance and far more elaborate powered, heated and ventilated rear seating.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS costs RM1,188,000 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM999,888, so the LS is RM188,112 more expensive.
Which has lower annual road tax?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS has lower annual road tax at RM1,638, compared with RM4,133 for the Lexus LS. That saves RM2,495 each year.