2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a stylish addition to the Range Rover lineup, positioned between the compact Evoque and the larger Range Rover. Its design was neither too sleek nor too boxy, offering a balanced aesthetic. The Velar's low roof and steeply-raked windshield gave it a unique profile, distinct from the traditional upright Range Rover. The front end was rounded, while the rear tapered slightly, maintaining its SUV identity with an intimidating broad front end and elevated stance. The Velar's short overhangs improved its off-road capabilities, and the optional air suspension provided up to 9.8 inches of ground clearance. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition featured sportier styling with larger air intakes, quad exhaust tips, and standard 21-inch wheels, enhancing its aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the Velar's interior was a departure from its 1969 namesake, featuring high-quality leather upholstery and metal trim, more suited to urban environments. The cockpit-like feel was achieved with a tall, sloping instrument panel and door panels, making occupants feel as though they were sitting in the vehicle rather than on top of it. The Velar's interior design was modern and luxurious, aligning with its premium SUV status.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB, introduced in 2020, was a fresh addition to Mercedes' extensive SUV lineup, fitting between the smaller GLA and larger GLC. Despite its distinct measurements, the GLB shared the Mercedes-Benz DNA, making it visually similar to its siblings. It had an attractive, athletic stance, aided by a 7.9-inch ground clearance, which was more forgiving for soft roads and speed humps. Inside, the GLB was a modern marvel, with round shapes repeated across the dash, polished metal HVAC vents, and a single panel housing the virtual instrument cluster and infotainment screen. The cabin boasted Mercedes-Benz's excellent fit and finish, with a beefy steering wheel featuring perforated leather grips.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite its power, the Velar was not the quickest in its class, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering faster acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined feel, but its chassis lacked the sharpness of other performance SUVs, making it less agile on tight roads.

The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup remained unchanged for 2020, with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 247 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 available with either 340 hp or 380 hp. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The Velar also boasted off-road capabilities with Land Rover's Terrain Response system, All-Terrain Progress Control, and hill-descent control, although it lacked a low range and had road-focused wheel-and-tire combinations.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB offered a single engine choice, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with 4MATIC all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000. The GLB's fuel economy was estimated at 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined for FWD and 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 mpg combined for AWD. The GLB's performance was decent, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. The 4MATIC version offered better handling and agility, making it a wise choice for those venturing off paved roads. The GLB's Off-Road Engineering Package included hill-start assist, downhill speed regulation, and an animation program for off-road maneuvers.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was an in-betweener in terms of size, larger than small luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but smaller than midsize counterparts like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Despite its size, the Velar's interior space was not as generous as expected. The GLC offered more front and rear legroom, while the X3 provided more headroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's avant-garde styling, with its chopped roof, limited headroom and side glass, creating a claustrophobic feel inside. Visibility was also a challenge, despite the 360-degree camera system.

The Velar's cockpit-like front seating area was an interesting change, but it felt cramped with limited legroom. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models had a towing capacity of 5,511 pounds, while the base four-cylinder model could tow 5,291 pounds. A trailer-sway assist feature was standard.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB offered a critical choice with its third-row option, affecting the second row and cargo compartments. The second row's seatback was divided 40:20:40, with adjustable recline angles and a sliding function. In three-row GLB models, the second row had an "Easy-Entry" function for easy access to the third row, which was retractable when not needed. Cargo space varied depending on the configuration, with 27.0 cubic feet behind the second row in the five-passenger model and 62.0 cubic feet with the second row folded. The seven-passenger model offered 5.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 24.0 cubic feet behind the second row, and 56.7 cubic feet behind the first row.

The GLB's cabin was well-sorted, with comfortable front seats featuring eight-way power adjustment and three-position memory. Heated and ventilated seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, were available. The second row was comfortable for two adults, with modern amenities like door pockets, map pockets, and cupholders.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a built-in WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. The system received praise for its high-quality graphics and menu layout but was criticized for slow responses. The Velar also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB, despite being an entry-level model, was packed with technology. It featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with voice control and natural language understanding. The GLB had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia display, with smartphone integration via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium Package upgraded the displays to 10.25 inches each and included a Burmester Surround Sound System. The Multimedia Package added navigation with augmented reality and traffic-sign assist. Additional options included adaptive damping, ambient interior lighting, wireless device charging, parking assistance, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. Land Rover's offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB benefited from Mercedes-Benz's reputation for safety technology. Standard features included active brake assist, adaptive braking technology, crosswind assist, attention assist, and emergency call service. Available features included active LED headlamps, adaptive high-beam assist, and blind-spot assist. The Driver Assistance Package added advanced features like active distance assist, active steering assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, and Pre-Safe Plus with Pre-Safe Sound. The GLB had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.