Land Rover Defender 130 vs Mercedes-Benz EQA

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender 130 a rating. ANCAP's published record does not give the Mercedes-Benz EQA a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Charging times

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.

Feature Showdown

The Land Rover Defender 130 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz EQA gets a 10.3-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 130 stands out with heated front seats and Meridian audio — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz EQA. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender 130 gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz EQA offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQA.

Drivetrain

The Land Rover Defender 130 uses a 3.0 i6 D350 Diesel Mild Hybrid producing 257kW and 700Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz EQA responds with a Electric making 140kW and 385Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 has the clear power advantage at 257kW vs 140kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender 130 is 1.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Land Rover Defender 130 measures 5,099mm long on a 3,022mm wheelbase, 636mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz EQA at 4,463mm (2,729mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 130 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Mercedes-Benz EQA's turning circle is 1.8 m tighter, 11.0 m against 12.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Land Rover Defender 130 costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and electricity for the Mercedes-Benz EQA about $811 a year (16.9 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender 130) and 5 years / Unlimited (Mercedes-Benz EQA). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Land Rover Defender 130), no data (Mercedes-Benz EQA).

Where each one leads

The Land Rover Defender 130: more power (257kW against 140kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,000kg against 1,800kg).

The Mercedes-Benz EQA: the lower starting price ($89,900 against $136,000).

The Verdict

Mercedes-Benz EQA scores higher, 67 vs 64

The Mercedes-Benz EQA scores 67 to the Land Rover Defender 130's 64 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (Land Rover Defender 130 ahead by 27 points), value (Mercedes-Benz EQA ahead by 21 points), practicality (Land Rover Defender 130 ahead by 16 points).

Common questions