Verdict
The Lexus LS costs RM1,188,000, RM188,112 more than the RM999,888 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL, yet it is the more useful Malaysian luxury car: four doors, five seats and a 480-litre boot against two doors, four seats and 240 litres. Its 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 also makes 415 hp and 600 Nm, ahead of the AMG SL’s 375 hp and 480 Nm. But the Mercedes is 0.1 seconds quicker to 100 km/h, reaches 275 km/h and carries far lower RM376 annual road tax versus RM4,133. Choose purpose over badge here.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if rear-seat comfort and daily carrying capacity matter, with five seats, a 480-litre boot and 18-way heated, ventilated rear seats.
AMG SL
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL if you want the lower entry price, a convertible body and 4.9-second 0-100 km/h pace.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LS RM1,188,000; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM999,888.
- Engine output: Lexus LS 415 hp and 600 Nm; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 375 hp and 480 Nm.
- Performance: Lexus LS 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and 250 km/h; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 4.9 seconds and 275 km/h.
- Practicality: Lexus LS has 5 seats and a 480-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has 4 seats and a 240-litre boot.
- Annual road tax: Lexus LS RM4,133; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM376.
- Dimensions: Lexus LS is 5,235 mm long with a 3,125 mm wheelbase; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is 4,705 mm long with a 2,700 mm wheelbase.
LS
- 415 hp and 600 Nm from a 3,445 cc twin-turbo V6.
- Five seats, four doors and a 480-litre boot.
- 28-way massaging front seats plus heated and ventilated 18-way rear seats.
- RM188,112 dearer to buy and RM3,757 costlier in annual road tax.
- Slightly slower to 100 km/h at 5.0 seconds versus 4.9 seconds.
- 250 km/h top speed trails the AMG SL’s 275 km/h.
AMG SL
- RM999,888 price and RM376 annual road tax.
- 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time and 275 km/h top speed.
- Convertible body, 21-inch forged wheels and 17-speaker Burmester audio.
- Only four seats and two doors, against the LS’s five-seat four-door layout.
- 240-litre boot is half the LS’s 480 litres.
- 375 hp and 480 Nm trail the LS by 40 hp and 120 Nm.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,188,000 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Segment | Luxury | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM4,133 | RM376✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Mild Hybrid Assistance |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 375 hp at 6,750 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ | 480 Nm at 3,250 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 85.5 mm × 100 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 13 hp |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed Direct Shift | AMG Speedshift MCT 9G |
| Gears | 10 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Daimler |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds | 4.9 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 275 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 4,705 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,915 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,359 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 1,810 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 240 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 275/35R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 305/30R21 |
| Factory Tyres | — | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) | Sports Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side) | 5 (Driver and Front Passenger, Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | Both Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Digital Light LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Dynamic Light Design and Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | — |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Driver Side Auto Up & Down |
| 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto 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 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 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 LS & AMG SL for sale
LS vs AMG SL FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz AMG SL better?
The Lexus LS is better for chauffeuring and family use, with five seats, four doors, a 480-litre boot and extensive rear-seat adjustment. The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL is better for open-top driving, lower road tax and marginally quicker acceleration.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS costs RM1,188,000 and the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL costs RM999,888, so the Lexus costs RM188,112 more.
Which is more practical for Malaysian daily use?
The Lexus LS is decisively more practical. It has five seats, four doors, a 480-litre boot and a 3,125 mm wheelbase, compared with the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL’s four seats, two doors, 240-litre boot and 2,700 mm wheelbase.
