Verdict
At RM999,888, the GLS costs twice as much as the RM498,888 GLE, and its case is clear only if seven seats matter. Its 3,135-mm wheelbase, third row and 355-litre boot suit a larger family, while adaptive cruise with steering assist, Multibeam LEDs and rear-seat entertainment justify its more lavish brief. The GLE is the more rational Malaysian buy: its 31-kWh battery delivers a claimed 114 km EV range, annual road tax is RM440 versus RM1,638, and it still matches the GLS’s 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time. But its five-seat cabin cannot replace the GLS’s people-carrying role.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, a 3,135-mm wheelbase and long-distance rear-seat entertainment.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if five seats suffice and you want 114 km of EV range with RM440 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888; Mercedes-Benz GLE RM498,888.
- Seats: Mercedes-Benz GLS 7; Mercedes-Benz GLE 5.
- Powertrain: Mercedes-Benz GLS 2,999 cc twin-turbo petrol, 362 hp and 500 Nm; Mercedes-Benz GLE 1,999 cc petrol plug-in hybrid with a 154-hp, 440-Nm motor.
- EV range and battery: Mercedes-Benz GLS has neither; Mercedes-Benz GLE has a 31-kWh battery and 114 km EV range.
- Dimensions: Mercedes-Benz GLS is 5,207 mm long with a 3,135-mm wheelbase; Mercedes-Benz GLE is 4,924 mm long with a 2,995-mm wheelbase.
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLS 355 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLE 490 litres.
GLS
- Seven seats with split-folding second and third rows.
- Adaptive cruise control with steering assist and stop-and-go.
- Multibeam LED headlamps and rear-seat entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors.
- RM999,888 costs RM501,000 more than the GLE.
- Annual road tax is RM1,638 versus the GLE’s RM440.
- 355-litre boot is 135 litres smaller than the GLE’s.
GLE
- 31-kWh battery with a claimed 114 km EV range and 11-kW AC charging.
- 490-litre boot is larger than the GLS’s 355 litres.
- Powered front seats add massage and ventilation functions.
- Five seats instead of the GLS’s seven.
- 210 km/h top speed is 40 km/h lower than the GLS’s 250 km/h.
- Passive cruise control lacks the GLS’s steering assist and stop-and-go function.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM999,888 | RM498,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,638 | RM440✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with PHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 2,999 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 362 hp✓ | 248 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore | 83 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 154 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 31 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 114 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.1 seconds | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,207 mm | 4,924 mm |
| Width | 2,157 mm | 1,947 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,772 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,135 mm | 2,995 mm |
| Weight | 2,385 kg | 2,685 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 90 litres | 85 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 355 litres | 490 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R22 | 275/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R22 | 315/40R21 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) | Airmatic with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Multibeam LED Projector | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar | Powered Front Seats with Massage and Ventilation Functions |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | Panoramic Sliding Roof |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Door Window Shades | Sunroof Shade & Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 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 | 12.3" MBUX Multimedia with Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking | Yes |
| 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 | 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 GLS & GLE for sale
GLS vs GLE FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS or Mercedes-Benz GLE better?
The GLE is better for most buyers because it matches the GLS’s 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time, has 114 km EV range and costs far less. Choose the GLS only when its seven-seat layout and extra rear-cabin equipment are essential.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM501,000 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLE. That gap buys two extra seats, a longer 3,135-mm wheelbase, Multibeam LEDs, rear entertainment and more advanced adaptive cruise control.
Which has the larger boot?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE has the larger quoted boot at 490 litres, against 355 litres for the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The GLS trades luggage volume for its third-row seating.
