Land Rover Defender 130 vs Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

The Land Rover Defender 130 starts from $136,000 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV opens at $225,900. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $89,900.

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 $149,600 and $248,490 respectively.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Land Rover Defender 130, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

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

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Land Rover Defender 130 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV gets a 12.8-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 130 stands out with Meridian audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV counters with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Burmester audio. 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 EQS SUV offers nappa leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 4-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

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 EQS SUV responds with a Electric making 265kW and 800Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has the clear power advantage at 265kW vs 257kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Land Rover Defender 130 measures 5,099mm long on a 3,022mm wheelbase, 26mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV at 5,125mm (3,210mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 645L in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, giving the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV a 256L advantage.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 130 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 130) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV). Both match on warranty length.