Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class vs Lexus RZ450E

What's the difference?

The ‘Upper Large SUV over $120K’ segment of the Aussie new-car market is what you might call the top end of town, not only in terms of the extravagant models available but also their purchase prices, which stretch well into six figures and require monthly lease payments that rival home mortgages.

It’s where you’ll find some of the most prestigious marques in the automotive world including Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Range Rover, Lexus and BMW. And, of course, Mercedes-Benz with its big GLS which represents the flagship of the German manufacturer’s SUV fleet.

It was given a refresh in 2023 with cosmetic and multimedia upgrades along with powertrain enhancements, but there have only been minor changes since then. We were recently entrusted with the keys to the latest GLS to see if the ‘S-Class of SUVs’ leaves any room for improvement.

Far from just another mid-size SUV offering, the Lexus RZ bares the burden of much of the Japanese premium brand’s future.

While Lexus has been a trailblazer in the past, offering a wide range of hybrid luxury vehicles before every other brand, it’s a little late to the party with this car; it’s first ground-up electric vehicle.

The question is, has all this extra time given Lexus the luxury of perspective, or is it too little too late for the RZ to make a meaningful impact on the mid-size luxury SUV space? Stick with us as we find out.