Land Rover Defender 90 vs Mercedes-Benz EQA

The Land Rover Defender 90 starts from $98,400 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz EQA opens at $89,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz EQA the more affordable entry point by $8,500.

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 $108,240 and $98,890 respectively.

The Mercedes-Benz EQA qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Land Rover Defender 90, 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 90 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 90 stands out with Apple CarPlay and heated front seats that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz EQA. The Mercedes-Benz EQA counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender 90 gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz EQA offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 90 and 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQA.

The Land Rover Defender 90 uses a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid producing 183kW and 570Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 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 90 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 140kW. In the real-world sprint, the Land Rover Defender 90 is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Land Rover Defender 90 measures 4,323mm long on a 2,587mm wheelbase, 140mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz EQA at 4,463mm (2,729mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz EQA generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 397L in the Land Rover Defender 90 and 340L in the Mercedes-Benz EQA, giving the Land Rover Defender 90 a 57L advantage.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 90 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg 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 90) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz EQA). Both match on warranty length.