Verdict
The Lexus LS costs RM188,112 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLS, yet its 415 hp and 600 Nm V6 cuts the 0-100 km/h sprint to 5.0 seconds versus 6.1 seconds. It is also 230 kg lighter and brings 10 airbags, but asks RM4,133 a year in road tax against RM1,638. The GLS makes the stronger Malaysian family case: seven seats, all-wheel drive and a 3,135-mm wheelbase. Choose the LS for rear-seat limousine hardware; choose the GLS for carrying more people and greater day-to-day flexibility.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if rear passengers matter most, with 18-way rear seats, heating, ventilation, a rear touchscreen and a 480-litre boot.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, all-wheel drive and a lower RM999,888 entry price.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LS RM1,188,000; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Performance: Lexus LS 415 hp, 600 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp, 500 Nm and 6.1 seconds.
- Seating: Lexus LS 5 seats; Mercedes-Benz GLS 7 seats.
- Driveline: Lexus LS rear-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz GLS all-wheel drive.
- Road tax: Lexus LS RM4,133 per year; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM1,638 per year.
- Boot space: Lexus LS 480 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLS 355 litres.
LS
- Quicker 5.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 10 airbags versus seven.
- Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats plus heated and ventilated 18-way rear seats.
- RM188,112 dearer to buy and RM2,495 dearer in annual road tax.
- Five seats instead of the GLS's seven.
- Rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive.
GLS
- Seven-seat cabin with sliding, split-folding second row and split-folding third row.
- All-wheel drive.
- Rear-seat entertainment has two 11.6-inch monitors and wireless headphones.
- Slower 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time against 5.0 seconds.
- Only seven airbags against the LS's 10.
- 355-litre boot is 125 litres smaller.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,188,000 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM4,133 | RM1,638✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 85.5 mm × 100 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed 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 | 5 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 355 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 285/45R22 |
| Factory Tyres | — | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side) | 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 | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer 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) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 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 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 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 | 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 | 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 | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View 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 | 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 |
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 LS & GLS for sale
LS vs GLS FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The GLS is better for a family needing seven seats, all-wheel drive and lower ownership entry costs. The LS is better for a five-seat luxury sedan buyer who wants 415 hp, 600 Nm, more airbags and extensively powered rear seating.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS is RM188,112 more expensive than the Mercedes-Benz GLS: RM1,188,000 versus RM999,888. Its annual road tax is also RM2,495 higher, at RM4,133 versus RM1,638.
Which has the better rear-passenger setup?
The Lexus LS has the richer five-seat rear cabin, with 18-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation, a touchscreen and powered rear sunshades. The GLS counters with a seven-seat layout, folding third row and rear entertainment screens.
