Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is the rational Malaysian buy at RM498,888: it reaches 100 km/h in the same 6.1 seconds as the RM999,888 GLS, while its plug-in hybrid system brings a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging. The GLS earns its RM501,000 premium only for buyers who need seven seats, a 3,135 mm wheelbase and its 362 hp, 500 Nm inline-six. It is also 283 mm longer, but its 355-litre boot is smaller than the GLE’s 490 litres with seats up.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, 362 hp and 500 Nm, plus the stronger rear-seat entertainment and driver-assistance kit.
GLE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if five seats are enough and you want 114 km of EV range for roughly half the GLS’s purchase price.
Key differences
- Price: GLS RM999,888; GLE RM498,888.
- Seats: GLS 7; GLE 5.
- Powertrain: GLS 362 hp/500 Nm 3.0-litre inline-six; GLE 248 hp/400 Nm 2.0-litre inline-four plus a 154 hp/440 Nm motor.
- EV capability: GLS has no battery or EV range; GLE has a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging.
- Dimensions: GLS is 5,207 mm long on a 3,135 mm wheelbase; GLE is 4,924 mm long on a 2,995 mm wheelbase.
- Boot space: GLS 355 litres; GLE 490 litres.
GLS
- Seven seats and a 3,135 mm wheelbase.
- 362 hp and 500 Nm from a 3.0-litre inline-six.
- Multibeam LED headlamps, head-up display and rear-seat entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors.
- Costs RM501,000 more.
- Annual road tax is RM1,638 versus RM440.
- 355-litre boot is 135 litres smaller.
GLE
- RM498,888 price and RM440 annual road tax.
- 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging.
- 490-litre boot and powered front seats with massage and ventilation.
- Five seats instead of seven.
- 248 hp and 400 Nm engine output trails the GLS’s 362 hp and 500 Nm.
- No head-up display, soft-close doors or adaptive cruise control with steering assist and stop-and-go.
| 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 at 5,500 rpm✓ | 248 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ | 400 Nm at 2,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 92.4 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 | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (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 costs RM498,888, matches the GLS’s 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time and can travel 114 km on electric power. Choose the GLS for seven seats, a 3.0-litre inline-six and more rear-seat equipment.
What is the price difference?
The GLS costs RM999,888 and the GLE costs RM498,888, a difference of RM501,000. The GLS also has RM1,638 annual road tax, compared with RM440 for the GLE.
Which Mercedes SUV has the larger boot?
The five-seat GLE has the larger quoted boot at 490 litres. The seven-seat GLS has 355 litres, 135 litres less, though it provides two additional passenger seats.
