Lexus LS vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The Lexus LS starts from $199,850 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class opens at $278,900. That makes the Lexus LS the more affordable entry point by $79,050.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $219,835 and $306,790 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz S-Class by roughly $2,280 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Lexus LS features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets a 12.8-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Lexus LS stands out with power tailgate and Mark Levinson audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class counters with panoramic roof and Burmester audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Lexus LS gets leather accented upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers nappa leather.

The Lexus LS uses a 3.4L V6 Twin-Turbo Petrol producing 310kW and 600Nm of torque, sent through a 10-speed automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class responds with a Petrol making 280kW and 500Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The Lexus LS has the clear power advantage at 310kW vs 280kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is 0.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus LS measures 5,235mm long on a 3,125mm wheelbase, 56mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at 5,179mm (3,106mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus LS generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 480L in the Lexus LS and 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz S-Class a 30L advantage.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,850/year for the Lexus LS and $2,394/year for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That is a $456 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,850 (Lexus LS) vs $2,394 (Mercedes-Benz S-Class). The Mercedes-Benz S-Class saves you roughly $456 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years (Lexus LS) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz S-Class). Both match on warranty length.