Mercedes-Benz SL-Class vs Land Rover Defender 130

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class starts from $239,900 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 130 opens at $136,000. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $103,900.

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 $263,890 and $149,600 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 130 by roughly $1,280 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class features a 11.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Land Rover Defender 130 gets a 11.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof and Burmester audio that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender 130. The Land Rover Defender 130 counters with Meridian audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class gets nappa leather upholstery while the Land Rover Defender 130 offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class uses a Petrol producing 280kW and 480Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 responds with a 3.0 i6 D350 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 257kW and 700Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has the clear power advantage at 280kW vs 257kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is 1.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class measures 4,705mm long on a 2,700mm wheelbase, 394mm shorter than the Land Rover Defender 130 at 5,099mm (3,022mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 213L in the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130, giving the Land Rover Defender 130 a 176L advantage. The Land Rover Defender 130 seats 7 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,565/year for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 130. That is a $256 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 130.

Estimated annual total: $2,565 (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130). The Land Rover Defender 130 saves you roughly $256 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 130). Both match on warranty length.