Lotus Emira vs Mercedes-Benz GLS
Verdict
The Lotus Emira costs RM1,131,800, the Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888, so the Lotus is RM131,912 dearer before you even count road tax: RM4,182 versus RM1,638 a year. What you get is very different. The Emira is a 2-seat manual, rear-drive coupe with 400 hp and a 4.3-second 0-100 km/h time. The GLS is a 7-seat AWD SUV with 500 Nm, a 355-litre boot and a 90-litre tank. One is for driving; the other is for carrying people.
Pick the Lotus Emira if you want a manual, rear-drive petrol sports car with 400 hp, two seats and a 4.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, all-wheel drive, 500 Nm and far more cabin and luggage space than the Lotus can offer.
Key differences
- Price: Lotus Emira RM1,131,800; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888
- Seats: Lotus Emira 2; Mercedes-Benz GLS 7
- Output: Lotus Emira 400 hp/420 Nm; Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp/500 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Lotus Emira 4.3 s; Mercedes-Benz GLS 6.1 s
- Boot space: Lotus Emira 151 L; Mercedes-Benz GLS 355 L
- Road tax: Lotus Emira RM4,182/year; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM1,638/year
Emira
- Quicker 4.3-second 0-100 km/h time
- Manual rear-wheel-drive layout
- Lotus’ last internal combustion engine model
- Only two seats
- Small 151-litre boot
- Higher RM4,182 annual road tax
GLS
- Seven-seat cabin
- Higher 500 Nm torque output
- All-wheel drive and conventional automatic
- Slower 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time
- Much larger 5,207 mm body
- Shorter 4-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,131,800 | RM 999,888✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | SUV |
| Segment | Sports Car | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, supercharged (Roots) with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 3,456 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 400 hp✓ | 362 hp |
| Torque | 420 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 94 mm | 83 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Six-speed Manual | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 6 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.3 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,412 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,895 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,225 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,575 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 1,405 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 2 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 151 litres | 355 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/35R20 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 285/45R22 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United Kingdom (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated, Perforated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Touring or Sports Suspensions Available | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | — | 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 |
| Seat Belts | 2 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Projector LED | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Dynamic Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | — | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | — | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.25" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android, KEF Reference Audio | 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 | Automatic Front Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Entry | 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 | Remote Control Activated | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | No | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | No | 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 | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 4,182 | RM 1,638✓ |
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.
Emira vs GLS FAQ
Is the Lotus Emira or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The Lotus Emira is better for pure driving: it is lighter in purpose, manual, rear-wheel drive and quicker to 100 km/h. The Mercedes-Benz GLS is better as a family car, with seven seats, AWD, more boot space and 500 Nm.
What is the price difference?
The Lotus Emira is RM131,912 more expensive, at RM1,131,800 versus RM999,888 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Its annual road tax is also higher: RM4,182 against RM1,638.
Which one is more practical for Malaysian daily use?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is far more practical. It has seven seats, a 355-litre boot, AWD and a 90-litre fuel tank. The Lotus Emira has two seats and 151 litres of boot space, so it is best treated as a driving car.