Land Rover Defender 130 vs Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

The Land Rover Defender 130 starts from $136,000 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class opens at $199,900. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $63,900.

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 $219,890 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 GLS-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 GLS-Class. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class counters with head-up display, panoramic roof, 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 GLS-Class offers nappa leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 4-zone in the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.

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 GLS-Class responds with a Petrol making 270kW and 750Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 257kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 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, 116mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class at 5,215mm (3,135mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 355L in the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, giving the Land Rover Defender 130 a 34L advantage.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 130 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 300kg 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 $2,223/year for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. That is a $86 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130) vs $2,223 (Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class). The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class saves you roughly $86 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 GLS-Class). Both match on warranty length.