Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class vs Land Rover Defender 90

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class starts from $199,900 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 90 opens at $98,400. That makes the Land Rover Defender 90 the more affordable entry point by $101,500.

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 $219,890 and $108,240 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 90 by roughly $3,420 in fuel alone.

Both the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and Land Rover Defender 90 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 7 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 9 in the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and 6 in the Land Rover Defender 90.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Land Rover Defender 90 gets a 13.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, panoramic roof, power tailgate, Burmester audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender 90. The Land Rover Defender 90 counters with Apple CarPlay and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class uses a Petrol producing 270kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 90 responds with a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 183kW and 570Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 183kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is 2.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class measures 5,207mm long on a 3,135mm wheelbase, 884mm longer than the Land Rover Defender 90 at 4,323mm (2,587mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 680L in the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and 397L in the Land Rover Defender 90, giving the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class a 283L advantage. The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 90 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,993/year for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 90. That is a $684 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 90.

Estimated annual total: $2,993 (Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class) vs $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 90). The Land Rover Defender 90 saves you roughly $684 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 90). Both match on warranty length.