Land Rover Defender OCTA vs Mercedes-Benz EQA
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Mercedes-Benz EQA scores higher, 67 vs 55
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 25 Jun 2026, price 24 Jun 2026
Land Rover Defender OCTA
24 of 27 standard · no option data · 3 no dataFrom
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid
- Power
- 467kW
- Economy
- 13.1 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- No data
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Mercedes-Benz EQA
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 140kW
- Energy use
- 16.9 kWh/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 340L
Top CarSorted Score, 67 vs 55
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$304,500RRP
- with the Mercedes-Benz EQA's standard kit: $304,500 (nothing to add)
$89,900RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Land Rover Defender OCTA OCTA
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $1,385 a week in repayments ($304,500 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Mercedes-Benz EQA EQA250+
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $393 a week in repayments ($89,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Mercedes-Benz EQA starts $214,600 lower on RRP.
The Mercedes-Benz EQA currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Land Rover Defender OCTA does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$393/wk(≈$1,701/mo)
Estimate on the Mercedes-Benz EQA at $89,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Land Rover Defender OCTADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender OCTA 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.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 6 on the Mercedes-Benz EQA.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Land Rover Defender OCTA
- REC-006645 · published 2 Jul 2026Driver airbag clock spring connector fretting corrosionYear range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006642 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006638 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2026
- 1 more on the model page.
Mercedes-Benz EQA
- REC-006695 · published 12 Aug 2026Nine model lines: door lock defect (campaign RC5219)Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2026
- REC-006475 · published 10 Nov 2025The high voltage battery may short circuit if charged over 80 percent capacity.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
- REC-005949 · published 15 Apr 2024The electrical power steering control unit back-up software may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
- 2 more on the model page.
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.
How long to charge
66.5kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 100kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 100kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Land Rover Defender OCTA 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 OCTA stands out with panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate 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 OCTA gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz EQA offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQA.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Land Rover Defender OCTA uses a 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid producing 467kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4 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 OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 140kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender OCTA is 4.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Land Rover Defender OCTA measures 4,813mm long on a 3,023mm wheelbase, 350mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz EQA at 4,463mm (2,729mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender OCTA generally means more rear legroom.
For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg 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 OCTA costs about $3,734 a year (13.1 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 OCTA) and 5 years / Unlimited (Mercedes-Benz EQA).
Where each one leads
The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 140kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).
The Mercedes-Benz EQA: the lower starting price ($89,900 against $304,500).
The Verdict
Mercedes-Benz EQA scores higher, 67 vs 55
The Mercedes-Benz EQA scores 67 to the Land Rover Defender OCTA's 55 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 OCTA ahead by 49 points), value (Mercedes-Benz EQA ahead by 36 points).
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$393/wk(≈$1,701/mo)
Estimate on the Mercedes-Benz EQA at $89,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Land Rover Defender OCTADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Land Rover Defender OCTA and Mercedes-Benz EQA?
The Mercedes-Benz EQA is the cheapest at $89,900 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Land Rover Defender OCTA by $214,600.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Land Rover Defender OCTA and Mercedes-Benz EQA, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which can tow the most?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA makes the most power at 467kW. The Land Rover Defender OCTA is quickest to 100km/h in 4s.
Track the Land Rover Defender OCTA & Mercedes-Benz EQA
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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