Mercedes-Benz GLS vs Toyota Fortuner
Verdict
At RM999,888 against RM195,880, the Mercedes-Benz GLS is a very different spend from the Toyota Fortuner. The GLS has the big numbers: 362 hp, 500 Nm, 6.1 seconds to 100 km/h and a 3,135 mm wheelbase. It is wider and has more boot space too. The Fortuner counters with diesel torque, a lower RM754 road tax bill, a five-year warranty and a 4-star ASEAN NCAP rating. Same seven seats, very different brief.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you want the quicker, larger seven-seat SUV with 362 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and auto emergency braking.
Fortuner
Pick the Toyota Fortuner if you want a diesel seven-seater with all-wheel drive, lower running-tax exposure and a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888; Toyota Fortuner RM195,880
- Power and torque: Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp/500 Nm; Toyota Fortuner 148 hp/400 Nm
- Size: Mercedes-Benz GLS 5,207 mm long and 2,157 mm wide; Toyota Fortuner 4,795 mm long and 1,855 mm wide
- Wheelbase and boot: Mercedes-Benz GLS 3,135 mm and 355 litres; Toyota Fortuner 2,745 mm and 200 litres
- Fuel and engine: Mercedes-Benz GLS petrol 2,999 cc; Toyota Fortuner diesel 2,393 cc
- Ownership cover: Mercedes-Benz GLS 4-year warranty and RM1,638 road tax; Toyota Fortuner 5-year warranty and RM754 road tax
GLS
- Much stronger 362 hp output
- Quicker on paper at 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds
- Larger boot at 355 litres
- Costs RM804,008 more
- Higher yearly road tax at RM1,638
- Shorter 4-year warranty
Fortuner
- Far lower RM195,880 price
- Diesel torque is still a useful 400 Nm
- Longer 5-year warranty
- 148 hp is well down on the GLS
- Smaller 200-litre boot
- No 0-100 km/h or top speed figure listed
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 999,888 | RM 195,880✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Truck/4X4 |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC with Common-rail Direct Injection, Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,999 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Horsepower | 362 hp✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Bore | 83 mm | 92 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 15.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 6-speed Automatic with Sequential Shifter |
| Gears | 9 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz | Toyota |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.1 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,207 mm | 4,795 mm |
| Width | 2,157 mm | 1,855 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,835 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,135 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 2,385 kg | 2,090 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 90 litres | 80 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 355 litres✓ | 200 litres |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R22 | 265/65R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R22 | 265/65R17 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Bridgestone Dueler A/T |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Ladder-frame |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated, Perforated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Hydraulic Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars — With 7 airbags and stability control |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 4 stars — With 3 airbags and no stability control |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver 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 for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Multibeam LED Projector | Halogen Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with one-touch tumble, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with one-touch space up |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser | Manual Air-con |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Rear Vents with Blower control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Middle Row, 1 Boot, 1 Front USB |
| 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 | 4 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Door 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 | Radio CD/MP3 Player with 6 Speakers |
| 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 | — |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse 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 | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Convenience Notes | MBUX Interior Assistant, Qi Wireless Charger | Qi Wireless Charger, Premium Solar and Security Tint, Front Digital Video Recorder |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 5 years✓ |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 1,638 | 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.
GLS vs Fortuner FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS or Toyota Fortuner better?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is better for performance, size and boot space. The Toyota Fortuner is better for cost control, warranty length and diesel running. Both seat seven, so the decision is really budget and usage, not seating capacity.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM804,008 more than the Toyota Fortuner. That gap buys much more power, a larger body, a longer wheelbase and a bigger boot, but also brings higher road tax.
Which one has more boot space?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS has more boot space, with 355 litres against the Toyota Fortuner’s 200 litres. If all seven seats are often in use, that 155-litre difference matters.