Verdict
The GLS costs RM999,888, a RM501,000 jump over the RM498,888 GLE. That money buys seven seats, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol with 362 hp and 500 Nm, plus a longer 3,135 mm wheelbase. Yet both reach 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. For Malaysian daily use, the GLE’s 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and RM440 annual road tax make a stronger case, against RM1,638 for the GLS. Pick the GLS only when its extra two seats and grander long-distance kit are essential.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, 355 litres of boot space behind them and the 362 hp 3.0-litre petrol engine.
GLE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if five seats suit your household and you can use its 114 km EV range to cut petrol use.
Key differences
- Price: GLS RM999,888; GLE RM498,888.
- Powertrain: GLS 2,999 cc twin-turbo petrol, 362 hp and 500 Nm; GLE 1,999 cc petrol PHEV, 248 hp and 400 Nm plus a 154 hp/440 Nm motor.
- Electrification: GLS has no drive motor or EV range; GLE has one motor, a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging.
- Size and seating: GLS is 5,207 mm long with a 3,135 mm wheelbase and seven seats; GLE is 4,924 mm long with a 2,995 mm wheelbase and five seats.
- Practicality: GLS has 355 litres of boot space; GLE has 490 litres.
- Running costs: GLS road tax is RM1,638 per year; GLE road tax is RM440 per year.
GLS
- Seven seats with a split-folding third row
- 362 hp and 500 Nm from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine
- Multibeam LED headlamps, head-up display and soft-close doors
- Costs RM501,000 more
- No electric-only range or battery warranty
- 355-litre boot is smaller than the GLE’s 490 litres
GLE
- 31 kWh battery delivers a listed 114 km EV range
- RM440 annual road tax and an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty
- 490-litre boot and powered front seats with massage and ventilation
- Five seats rather than the GLS’s seven
- 210 km/h top speed versus 250 km/h
- LED reflector headlamps rather than the GLS’s Multibeam LED projectors
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM999,888 | RM498,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with PHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 2,999 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 362 hp✓ | 248 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore | 83 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 154 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 31 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 114 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.1 seconds | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,207 mm | 4,924 mm |
| Width | 2,157 mm | 1,947 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,772 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,135 mm | 2,995 mm |
| Weight | 2,385 kg | 2,685 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 90 litres | 85 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 355 litres | 490 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R22 | 275/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R22 | 315/40R21 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) | Airmatic with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front 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 | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Multibeam LED Projector | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar | Powered Front Seats with Massage and Ventilation Functions |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | Panoramic Sliding Roof |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Door Window Shades | Sunroof Shade & Rear Window Shades |
| 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 | 12.3" MBUX Multimedia with Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 with Steering Assist and Stop and Go | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking | Yes |
| 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 | MBUX Interior Assistant, Qi Wireless Charger | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,638 | RM440✓ |
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 GLS & GLE for sale
GLS vs GLE FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS or Mercedes-Benz GLE better?
The GLE is the better fit for most five-seat Malaysian households because its PHEV system brings 114 km of EV range and much lower RM440 road tax. The GLS is better only if you genuinely need seven seats, more engine power and its larger cabin.
What is the price difference?
The GLS costs RM501,000 more than the GLE. Its RM999,888 price is more than double the GLE’s RM498,888, so the seven-seat layout and extra equipment need to be regular-use requirements.
Can the Mercedes-Benz GLE be charged at home?
Yes. The GLE supports AC charging at up to 11 kW and carries a 31 kWh battery. Its listed electric range is 114 km, while the GLS is a petrol-only model without an EV driving range.