Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is the more rational Malaysian luxury SUV: RM919,000 less buys seven seats, yet it keeps the 3.135-metre wheelbase, 90-litre tank, 9G-Tronic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS changes the brief completely, pairing a 549 hp V8 and 22 hp motor with a four-seat cabin, 520-litre boot and reclining, massaging rear chairs. Its 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.2 seconds quicker, but annual road tax rises from RM1,638 to RM3,211.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats and want the same wheelbase, all-wheel drive and 90-litre tank for RM919,000 less.
Maybach GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS if four-seat rear-seat luxury, a 549 hp V8 hybrid system and 4.9-second acceleration matter more than price and passenger capacity.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS RM1,918,888.
- Power and torque: Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp and 500 Nm; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 549 hp plus a 22 hp motor, and 770 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Mercedes-Benz GLS 6.1 seconds; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 4.9 seconds.
- Seating and boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLS 7 seats and 355 litres; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 4 seats and 520 litres.
- Kerb weight and road tax: Mercedes-Benz GLS 2,385 kg and RM1,638/year; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 2,785 kg and RM3,211/year.
- Wheels and tyres: Mercedes-Benz GLS 22-inch wheels with 285/45R22 tyres; Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 23-inch wheels with 285/40R23 tyres.
GLS
- Seven-seat cabin with split-folding second and third rows.
- RM919,000 cheaper to buy.
- 400 kg lighter with lower RM1,638 annual road tax.
- 362 hp and 500 Nm trail the Maybach GLS's 549 hp and 770 Nm.
- 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time is 1.2 seconds slower.
- 355-litre boot is 165 litres smaller.
Maybach GLS
- 549 hp V8 hybrid system with an additional 22 hp motor.
- Rear seats get heating, ventilation, massage, one-touch recline, an ottoman and left-side leg rest.
- Nine airbags and a 520-litre boot.
- Costs RM919,000 more than the GLS.
- Four seats instead of seven.
- RM3,211 annual road tax is RM1,573 higher.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM999,888✓ | RM1,918,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,638✓ | RM3,211 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing | 32-valve DOHC, Twin Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,999 cc | 3,982 cc |
| Horsepower | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm | 549 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm | 770 Nm at 2,500 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | V 8 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 92.4 mm | 83 mm × 92 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 22 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 250 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-Tronic | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.1 seconds | 4.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,207 mm | 5,205 mm |
| Width | 2,157 mm | 2,030 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,838 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,135 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 2,385 kg | 2,785 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 90 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 355 litres | 520 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R22 | 285/40R23 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R22 | 285/40R23 |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Pirelli P-Zero MO-S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 23" Polished Multi-spoke Forged Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy | 23" Polished Multi-spoke Forged Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Rear 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 | 7 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake | 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 |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Multibeam LED Projector | Multibeam LED Projectors |
| 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 | 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 and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation, Massage and One-touch Recline Functions; Powered Ottoman; Powered Leg Rest for Left Passenger |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 3 Front USB-C, 4 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Heated and Cooled Front, 2 Heated and Cooled Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Door Window Shades | Powered Rear Door Window Sunshades |
| 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" Touchscreen MBUX with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Voice Control and 13-speaker Burmester Surround Sound System (590 W) |
| 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 | 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 Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft Close Function, All Doors | Soft Close for 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 |
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 & Maybach GLS for sale
GLS vs Maybach GLS FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS or Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS better?
The GLS is better for family use because it seats seven and costs far less. The Maybach GLS is better for four occupants who prioritise rear-seat massage, ventilation, recline functions and much stronger 549 hp performance.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS costs RM919,000 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Which one is quicker?
The Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS reaches 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, beating the GLS's 6.1 seconds by 1.2 seconds. It also has 549 hp and 770 Nm, compared with 362 hp and 500 Nm.
