Verdict
The Lexus NX costs RM395,888, leaving a substantial RM343,000 gap to the RM738,888 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That buys the Mercedes 362 hp, 500 Nm and a 100-km EV range from its 28.6-kWh plug-in hybrid system, versus the NX’s 184 hp, 221 Nm hybrid setup; 0-100 km/h is 5.2 versus 7.7 seconds. Yet the Lexus has the more useful 520-litre boot, five doors and a far less intimidating 4,660-mm length. For Malaysian buyers prioritising rear-seat luxury and electric running capability, the S-Class is in another class; the NX is the rational premium SUV choice.
NX
Pick the Lexus NX if you want a RM343,000 cheaper, more compact five-door SUV with a 520-litre boot, all-wheel drive and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
S-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz S-Class if you want 362 hp, a 100-km EV range and exceptional rear-seat equipment including reclining, ventilated and massaging outer seats.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus NX RM395,888; Mercedes-Benz S-Class RM738,888.
- Performance: NX 184 hp, 221 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds; S-Class 362 hp, 500 Nm and 5.2 seconds.
- Electrification: NX has two motors but no quoted battery capacity or EV range; S-Class has one motor, a 28.6-kWh battery and 100 km EV range.
- Dimensions: NX is 4,660 mm long with a 2,690-mm wheelbase; S-Class is 5,289 mm long with a 3,216-mm wheelbase.
- Boot space: NX 520 litres; S-Class 350 litres.
- Road tax: NX RM830 per year; S-Class RM2,128 per year.
NX
- RM343,000 lower purchase price.
- 520-litre boot and five-door SUV body.
- All-wheel drive and five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
- 184 hp and 221 Nm trail the S-Class's 362 hp and 500 Nm.
- No quoted EV-only range or battery capacity, against the S-Class's 100 km and 28.6 kWh.
- Rear occupants get vents only, not the S-Class's powered, heated, ventilated and massaging outer seats.
S-Class
- 362 hp, 500 Nm and 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 28.6-kWh plug-in hybrid battery with 100 km EV range.
- Air suspension, adaptive dampers and extensive rear-seat comfort equipment.
- RM738,888 costs RM343,000 more than the NX.
- 350-litre boot is 170 litres smaller than the NX's 520 litres.
- At 5,289 mm long and 1,954 mm wide, it is much larger to place in tight urban spaces.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM395,888✓ | RM738,888 |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM830✓ | RM2,128 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing and hybrid assistance | 24-valve DOHC with Electric Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,487 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 184 hp at 6,000 rpm | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 221 Nm at 4,300 rpm | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 87.5 mm × 103.4 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 133 hp | 147 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 208 Nm | 440 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | — | 28.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 100 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 60 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Direct Shift | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.7 seconds | 5.2 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 22 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,660 mm | 5,289 mm |
| Width | 1,865 mm | 1,954 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm | 1,503 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm | 3,216 mm |
| Weight | 1,765 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 55 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 520 litres✓ | 350 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R20 | 255/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/50R20 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza 001 Run-flats | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbone | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Dark Grey Metallic with Bright Machined Finish Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Dark Grey Metallic with Bright Machined Finish Alloy | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 14 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Rear Passengers, Front and Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Left Cushion) |
| 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 | 5 Three-point with Illumination and Rear Belt Bags |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, Driver Attention Monitor with Eye Tracking |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | 3 LED Projectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory, Heating and Massage Functions; Pillow Headrests; Passenger Seat Adjustment from Rear Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | Power Adjustable Outer Rear Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation, Massage and One-touch Recline Functions; Folding Rear Pillow Headrests with Built-in Neck Warmers; Powered Ottoman and Leg Rest for Left Seat with Massage Function; Centre Load-through |
| 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 | Rear Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear | 4 Front USB-C, 6 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Double Sun Visors, Powered Rear Windscreen and Rear Door Window Sunshades |
| Audio | 14" Lexus Premium Audio Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 10 Speakers | 12.8" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 11" Rear Entertainment Displays; 7" Rear Android Tablet; 15-speaker Burmester 3D Surround Sound System (710 Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Stop and Go and Speed Limit Assist |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered 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, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| 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 | Qi Wireless Charger, Smart Card Key | MBUX Interior Assistant, Fingerprint Scanner, Front and Rear Qi Wireless Chargers, Rear Wireless Headsets |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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 NX & S-Class for sale
NX vs S-Class FAQ
Is the Lexus NX or Mercedes-Benz S-Class better?
The S-Class is better for performance, EV-only range and rear-seat luxury, with 362 hp, 100 km EV range and powered massaging rear seats. The NX is better suited to buyers wanting a compact SUV, a 520-litre boot and a much lower RM395,888 entry price.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class costs RM738,888 and the Lexus NX costs RM395,888, so the difference is RM343,000.
Which has the larger boot?
The Lexus NX has the larger boot at 520 litres. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 350 litres, a 170-litre deficit despite its much longer 5,289-mm body.
