Land Rover Defender 130 vs Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The Land Rover Defender 130 starts from $136,000 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class opens at $214,900. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $78,900.

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 $236,390 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

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

The Land Rover Defender 130 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-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 that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class counters with head-up display 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 G-Class offers nappa leather.

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 G-Class responds with a Diesel making 270kW and 750Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 257kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is 1.0s 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, 274mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at 4,825mm (2,890mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 480L in the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz G-Class a 91L advantage. The Land Rover Defender 130 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,000kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 130 and $2,480/year for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That is a $171 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 130.

Estimated annual total: $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130) vs $2,480 (Mercedes-Benz G-Class). The Land Rover Defender 130 saves you roughly $171 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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