Land Rover Defender OCTA vs Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV scores higher, 62 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.
$304,500RRP
- no option data for this car
$225,900RRP
- with the Land Rover Defender OCTA's standard kit: $225,900 (nothing to add)
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 EQS SUV EQS 450 4MATIC SUV
$225,900
RRP when new; no longer sold new in Australia. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV starts $78,600 lower on RRP.
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 Land Rover Defender OCTA.
Finance
≈$1,385/wk(≈$6,001/mo)
Estimate on the Land Rover Defender OCTA at $304,500 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. We hold no ANCAP data for the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. 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 8 on the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.
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 EQS SUV
None open on our record
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
108.4kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 200kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 200kW 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 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 OCTA stands out with Meridian audio — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 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 OCTA gets leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV offers nappa leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 4-zone in the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.
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 EQS SUV responds with a Electric making 265kW and 800Nm, paired to a 1 spd auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 265kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender OCTA is 2.1s 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, 312mm 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.
For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,500kg 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 EQS SUV's turning circle is 0.4 m tighter, 12.4 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 EQS SUV about $1,070 a year (22.3 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 EQS SUV).
Where each one leads
The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 265kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 2,000kg).
The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: the lower starting price ($225,900 against $304,500).
The Verdict
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV scores higher, 62 vs 55
The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV scores 62 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 18 points), value (Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV ahead by 16 points).
Ways to buy
For the Land Rover Defender OCTA.
Finance
≈$1,385/wk(≈$6,001/mo)
Estimate on the Land Rover Defender OCTA at $304,500 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 EQS SUV?
The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the cheapest at $225,900 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Land Rover Defender OCTA by $78,600.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Land Rover Defender OCTA, and we hold no ANCAP data for Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, 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 EQS SUV
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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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