Verdict
At RM685,800, the BMW 7 Series undercuts the RM999,888 Mercedes-Benz GLS by RM314,088 and brings 87 km of EV range from its 18.7-kWh battery. It is also quicker to 100 km/h at 4.9 seconds and has a larger 525-litre boot. The GLS answers with seven seats, 362 hp and 500 Nm, plus a genuinely SUV-shaped 1,823-mm roofline. For Malaysian buyers carrying five and able to charge, the BMW is the sharper financial call; the Mercedes is for regular seven-seat duty.
7 Series
Pick the BMW 7 Series if you want RM314,088 in hand, an 87-km plug-in-hybrid electric range and a quicker 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, a 50:50 split-folding third row and 362 hp from its 3.0-litre petrol inline-six.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 7 Series RM685,800; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Power and torque: BMW 7 Series 308 hp and 450 Nm; Mercedes-Benz GLS 362 hp and 500 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 7 Series 4.9 seconds; Mercedes-Benz GLS 6.1 seconds.
- Seating and boot space: BMW 7 Series five seats and 525 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLS seven seats and 355 litres.
- Dimensions: BMW 7 Series 5,391 mm long and 1,544 mm tall; Mercedes-Benz GLS 5,207 mm long and 1,823 mm tall.
- Warranty: BMW 7 Series two years manufacturer warranty plus three years extended warranty; Mercedes-Benz GLS four years manufacturer warranty.
7 Series
- RM314,088 less expensive
- 87 km EV range from an 18.7-kWh battery
- Quicker 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time and 525-litre boot
- Five seats versus the GLS's seven
- Lower 308 hp and 450 Nm outputs
- Higher RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM1,638
GLS
- Seven seats with split-folding second and third rows
- 362 hp and 500 Nm from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six
- Four-year manufacturer warranty
- Costs RM314,088 more
- Slower 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time
- 355-litre boot is 170 litres smaller
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM685,800✓ | RM999,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM1,638✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 308 hp at 5,000 rpm | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 450 Nm at 1,750 rpm | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 10.5 |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 18.7 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 87 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Automatic | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 22 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,391 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,950 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,544 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,215 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 525 litres✓ | 355 litres |
| Front Tyre | — | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | — | 285/45R22 |
| Spare Tyre | No | — |
| Factory Tyres | — | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 Airbags (2 Front, 2 Side, 2 Curtain, 1 Driver's Knee) | 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 |
| Seat Belts | — | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | Multibeam LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | Sky Lounge Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | — | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 4 | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | 2x side sunshades, 1x rear sunshade | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Live Cockpit Professional 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 | 4 | 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 with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround 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 | Yes | 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 Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 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 7 Series & GLS for sale
7 Series vs GLS FAQ
Is the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The BMW 7 Series is better for a five-seat luxury car with plug-in capability, 87 km EV range and stronger acceleration. Choose the Mercedes-Benz GLS if seven seats and a folding third row are non-negotiable.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM999,888, which is RM314,088 more than the RM685,800 BMW 7 Series.
Which has more passenger and luggage space?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS carries seven people against five in the BMW 7 Series. However, the BMW has a 525-litre boot, 170 litres more than the GLS's 355 litres.
