Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is the rational Malaysian choice if you need five seats, SUV access and a 620-litre boot: that is 270 litres more luggage room than the S-Class. Its RM440 annual road tax is also far easier to absorb than RM2,128. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is in another league for rear-seat travel, performance and electrification, with 362 hp, a 28.6-kWh battery and 100 km of EV range. But its 350-litre boot and 5,289-mm length demand more compromise in tight urban use.
GLC
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you want all-wheel drive, a 620-litre boot and much lower annual road tax in a shorter SUV.
S-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz S-Class if rear-seat luxury, 5.2-second performance and 100 km of electric range matter more than luggage space and running costs.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLC RM329,888; Mercedes-Benz S-Class RM738,888.
- Power and torque: Mercedes-Benz GLC 201 hp and 320 Nm; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 362 hp and 500 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Mercedes-Benz GLC 7.8 seconds; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 5.2 seconds.
- Electrification: Mercedes-Benz GLC has no stated battery or EV range; Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a 28.6-kWh battery and 100 km EV range.
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLC 620 litres; Mercedes-Benz S-Class 350 litres.
- Annual road tax: Mercedes-Benz GLC RM440; Mercedes-Benz S-Class RM2,128.
GLC
- 620-litre boot is 270 litres larger
- All-wheel drive
- RM440 annual road tax
- 201 hp and 320 Nm trail the S-Class' 362 hp and 500 Nm
- 7 airbags versus 14
- No stated EV range or battery capacity
S-Class
- 362 hp, 500 Nm and 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- 28.6-kWh battery with 100 km EV range
- Air suspension, adaptive dampers and deeply equipped rear seats
- RM2,128 annual road tax versus RM440
- 350-litre boot versus 620 litres
- Rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM329,888✓ | RM738,888 |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM440✓ | RM2,128 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing, Mild Hybrid Assist | 24-valve DOHC with Electric Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,999 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 201 hp at 5,800 rpm | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 320 Nm at 1,600 rpm | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 92.4 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 23 hp | 147 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 205 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 | 9G-Tronic | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.8 seconds | 5.2 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 221 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 22 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,716 mm | 5,289 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 1,954 mm |
| Height | 1,640 mm | 1,503 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,888 mm | 3,216 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 62 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 620 litres✓ | 350 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 255/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/40R20 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 20" Twin 10-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 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, Driver's 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 outer two rear 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 | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side, Driver Attention Monitor with Eye Tracking |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory & Heating | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory, Heating and Massage Functions; Pillow Headrests; Passenger Seat Adjustment from Rear Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 4 Front USB-C, 6 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Double Sun Visors, Powered Rear Windscreen and Rear Door Window Sunshades |
| Audio | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 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 Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | 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 | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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, Fingerprint Scanner, Front and Rear Qi Wireless Chargers, Rear Wireless Headsets |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 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 GLC & S-Class for sale
GLC vs S-Class FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLC or Mercedes-Benz S-Class better?
The GLC is better for daily practicality, luggage and lower annual road tax. The S-Class is better for outright pace, electric driving and rear-passenger comfort, but it is far longer and has a smaller boot.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class costs RM409,000 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Which one is better for carrying luggage?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is decisively better for luggage, with a 620-litre boot versus 350 litres in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Both seat five, but the SUV gives you 270 litres more cargo room.
