Verdict
These cars answer very different Malaysian briefings. At RM1,379,000, the Lexus LC costs RM379,112 more, yet delivers a 470 hp 5.0-litre V8, 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time and 270 km/h top speed. The RM999,888 Mercedes-Benz GLS is the rational luxury carrier: seven seats, 355 litres of boot space and a 3,135 mm wheelbase against the LC’s four seats, 197 litres and 2,870 mm. The LC is the performance-led two-door choice; the GLS carries people and equipment with far less compromise.
LC
Pick the Lexus LC if a 470 hp naturally aspirated V8, rear-wheel drive and a 4.4-second sprint matter more than rear-seat access or seven-seat practicality.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, a 355-litre boot, all-wheel drive and rear-row amenities while spending RM379,112 less.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LC RM1,379,000; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Performance: LC 470 hp and 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; GLS 362 hp and 6.1 seconds.
- Seating and doors: LC has 4 seats and 2 doors; GLS has 7 seats and 5 doors.
- Boot space: LC 197 litres; GLS 355 litres.
- Size: LC is 4,770 mm long with a 2,870 mm wheelbase; GLS is 5,207 mm long with a 3,135 mm wheelbase.
- Road tax: LC RM10,991 per year; GLS RM1,638 per year.
LC
- 470 hp 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 with 540 Nm.
- 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time and 270 km/h top speed.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty with 5-year/100,000 km free service.
- RM379,112 dearer to buy and RM9,353 more in annual road tax.
- Only 4 seats, 2 doors and a 197-litre boot versus the GLS’s 7 seats, 5 doors and 355 litres.
- No rear air-conditioning, sunroof or auto parking.
GLS
- Seven seats with sliding, split-folding second-row and split-folding third-row seats.
- AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping and all-wheel drive.
- 360-degree camera, auto parking and rear-seat entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors.
- 362 hp and 500 Nm trail the LC’s 470 hp and 540 Nm.
- 6.1-second 0-100 km/h acceleration is 1.7 seconds slower than the LC’s 4.4 seconds.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage warranty is one year shorter than the LC’s.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,379,000 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM10,991 | RM1,638✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated, Otto/Atkinson Cycle with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 4,969 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 470 hp at 7,100 rpm✓ | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 540 Nm at 4,800 rpm✓ | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 8 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 94 mm × 89.5 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12.3 | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 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 | 4.4 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 8.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 270 km/h✓ | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 267 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,770 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,920 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,345 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 1,965 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 197 litres | 355 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R21 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R21 | 285/45R22 |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001L Run-flats | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive F Suspension - Sachs | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (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 | 4 Three-point | 7 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, 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), TPMS | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated | 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 | Dual-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 | 1 Front | 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 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.3" Lexus Premium Audio Remote Touch Controller with 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay | 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 | Two 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 | Active 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 | Remote Control Operation | 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 | — | 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 | 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 |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | — |
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 LC & GLS for sale
LC vs GLS FAQ
Is the Lexus LC or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The GLS is better for family use, with seven seats, five doors and 355 litres of boot space. The LC is better for outright performance, using 470 hp to reach 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds versus 6.1 seconds for the GLS.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LC costs RM1,379,000 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM999,888, so the LC is RM379,112 more expensive.
Which has lower annual road tax?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS has much lower annual road tax at RM1,638, compared with RM10,991 for the Lexus LC. That is a RM9,353 yearly difference.
