Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz GLE costs RM113,916 more at RM498,888, but its 31 kWh battery, 154 hp motor and claimed 114 km EV range give it a distinctly different daily-use brief. Its annual road tax is also RM440 versus the Touareg’s RM1,632. The Volkswagen Touareg counters with 335 hp, 450 Nm, a 6.0-second sprint and an 810-litre boot, against 248 hp, 400 Nm, 6.1 seconds and 490 litres for the GLE. For a Malaysian buyer who can charge regularly, the GLE’s plug-in hybrid case is strong; for outright space and lower upfront outlay, the Touareg is hard to ignore.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if you want a 114 km EV range, RM440 annual road tax and powered front seats with massage and ventilation.
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you want 335 hp, an 810-litre boot and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty for less money.
Key differences
- Power and torque: GLE 248 hp and 400 Nm; Touareg 335 hp and 450 Nm.
- Acceleration and top speed: GLE 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and 210 km/h; Touareg 6.0 seconds and 250 km/h.
- Electrified hardware: GLE has one 154 hp, 440 Nm motor, a 31 kWh lithium-ion battery and 114 km EV range; Touareg has none.
- Boot space: GLE 490 litres; Touareg 810 litres.
- Road tax: GLE RM440 per year; Touareg RM1,632 per year.
- Warranty: GLE four years unlimited mileage plus an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty; Touareg five years unlimited mileage.
GLE
- 114 km EV range from a 31 kWh battery
- RM440 annual road tax
- Massage and ventilated powered front seats
- RM113,916 costlier
- 490-litre boot is 320 litres smaller
- 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time is 0.1 seconds slower
Touareg
- 335 hp and 450 Nm
- 810-litre boot
- Night vision and HD Matrix LED headlamps
- No plug-in hybrid motor, battery or EV range
- No panoramic sliding roof
- No front-seat massage or ventilation
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 498,888 | RM 384,972✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with PHEV Assistance | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,999 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 248 hp | 335 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | V |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 154 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 440 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Battery Capacity | 31 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 114 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 9 | 8 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.1 seconds | 6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,924 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,947 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,772 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 2,685 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 85 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/45R21 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 315/40R21 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Cross-drilled Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Airmatic with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two rear passenger seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Massage and Ventilation Functions | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade & Rear Window Shades | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | 12.3" MBUX Multimedia with Burmester Sound System | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| 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 | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 440✓ | RM 1,632 |
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.
GLE vs Touareg FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLE or Volkswagen Touareg better?
Choose the GLE for plug-in hybrid driving, its 114 km EV range and lower RM440 annual road tax. Choose the Touareg for 335 hp, a much larger 810-litre boot, night vision and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE costs RM113,916 more than the Volkswagen Touareg.
Which has the larger boot?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the larger boot at 810 litres, compared with 490 litres in the Mercedes-Benz GLE. That is a 320-litre advantage for the Touareg.