Verdict
At RM1,188,000, the Lexus LS costs RM112,000 less than the RM1,300,000 Porsche Panamera, yet brings 415 hp and 600 Nm to the Porsche’s 348 hp and 500 Nm, reaching 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds against 5.1 seconds. The Porsche counters with all-wheel drive, a 272 km/h top speed, five doors and a 494-litre boot. For Malaysian ownership, its RM1,865 annual road tax is far lower than the Lexus’s RM4,133. Pick the LS for chauffeured luxury; the Panamera is the more practical fastback-shaped choice.
Pick the Lexus LS if rear-seat comfort matters most, with 18-way rear adjustment, heating, ventilation, a rear touchscreen and rear side airbags.
Pick the Porsche Panamera if you want all-wheel drive, five-door access, a 494-litre boot and much lower annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LS RM1,188,000; Porsche Panamera RM1,300,000.
- Output: Lexus LS 415 hp and 600 Nm; Porsche Panamera 348 hp and 500 Nm.
- Driveline: Lexus LS rear-wheel drive; Porsche Panamera all-wheel drive.
- Top speed: Lexus LS 250 km/h; Porsche Panamera 272 km/h.
- Boot space: Lexus LS 480 litres; Porsche Panamera 494 litres.
- Road tax per year: Lexus LS RM4,133; Porsche Panamera RM1,865.
LS
- 415 hp and 600 Nm, with a 5.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 18-way powered, heated and ventilated rear seats with touchscreen control.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty and rear side airbags.
- Rear-wheel drive versus the Panamera’s all-wheel drive.
- 480-litre boot is 14 litres smaller than the Panamera’s 494 litres.
- RM4,133 annual road tax versus RM1,865.
Panamera
- All-wheel drive and a 272 km/h top speed.
- Five doors, 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats and a 494-litre boot.
- Matrix LED headlamps, auto parking and a panoramic glass roof.
- 348 hp and 500 Nm trail the LS’s 415 hp and 600 Nm.
- Rear seats are split-folding rather than powered, heated and ventilated.
- Four-year, 100,000-km warranty versus the LS’s five-year unlimited-mileage cover.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,188,000✓ | RM1,300,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM4,133 | RM1,865✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, twin-turbo with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 2,894 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp✓ | 348 hp |
| Torque | 600 Nm✓ | 500 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 85.5 mm | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed Direct Shift | PDK |
| Gears | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Porsche |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds✓ | 5.1 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 272 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 5,052 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,937 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,423 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 2,950 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 1,980 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 494 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 265/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 295/45R20 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) | Porsche Active Suspension Management with Adaptive two-chamber air suspension and two-valve dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side | Driver and Passenger, Driver and Front Passenger Knee, Front Side, Front Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Matrix LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| 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, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | 40:20:40 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot; 2 USB-C Ports Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades | Side Window Sunshades, Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Porsche Communications Module, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 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 | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| 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 & Panamera for sale
LS vs Panamera FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Porsche Panamera better?
The Lexus LS is better for rear-seat luxury and stronger straight-line output, with 415 hp, 600 Nm and powered rear seats. The Porsche Panamera is better for all-wheel drive, five-door practicality, a larger boot and lower road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Panamera costs RM112,000 more than the Lexus LS: RM1,300,000 versus RM1,188,000.
Which is better for rear passengers?
The Lexus LS is clearly better for rear passengers. It has 18-way powered rear seats, heating, ventilation, a centre-armrest touchscreen, powered rear and rear-door sunshades, plus rear side airbags. The Panamera has a 40:20:40 split-folding rear bench.
