2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class wasn't a head-turner. While Mercedes consistently produced visually stunning sedans and coupes, their efforts with the GLE-Class seemed somewhat rushed. The aggressive nose and sloping hood promised excitement, but past the A-pillar, it became hard to distinguish from older models. The flat taillights and contoured rear aimed to overcome its minivan-like appearance but didn't completely succeed. In AMG trim, the GLE tried on a sporty image but struggled to compete visually with BMW's X5 M or the sleek elegance of a Volvo XC90. Despite these exterior misgivings, Mercedes improved the GLE's interior significantly. The 2021 model featured a redesigned cabin that was nothing short of a masterpiece. The quality, layout, colors, and textures were exemplary. Our test model, the GLE Coupe, had a loud red and black interior that was as luxurious as offerings from Porsche or Audi. The center console's twin arching grab handles with LED outlines indicated the car's upscale intent. The materials—wood, metal, leather, suede, and plastic—were delightful to touch and use. However, the flimsy gear selector and turn signal stalks were minor drawbacks. With high-end options, a GLE could make you feel truly luxurious, although even a base Kia Telluride delivered a strong sense of inside pampering. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and then in its second generation since 2014, maintained a more distinguished presence. The 2018 refresh carried over into 2021, introducing the dual-screen center console that became a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The exterior remained timelessly aggressive, yet elegant. The Range Rover Sport offered trims from SE to the SVR Carbon Edition, each adding a blend of luxury and performance features. Inside, the SE trim came with leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Meridian sound system. Moving up to the HSE Silver Edition added quad-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof, among other luxuries. The Autobiography trim brought high-end options like power soft-close doors and 22-way adjustable front seats, epitomizing luxury. The SVR models focused on performance, visible in their sport seats and stiffer suspension. Overall, the Range Rover Sport's exterior design was cohesive and commanding, and the interior followed suit, although the dual-screen system had a learning curve.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class excelled in performance with its wide range of powertrains and complex suspension options. The base GLE 350 had a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive was standard, but 4Matic all-wheel drive was optional. The GLE 450 came with a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine, boasting 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The AMG GLE 53 raised the stakes with 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, featuring an electric supercharger for near-instant throttle response. The GLE 580 housed a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine generating 483 hp and 516 lb-ft. The top-tier AMG GLE 63 S delivered a monster 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, making it a powerhouse on wheels. All models, except the base GLE 350, were hybrids, employing a 48-volt electrical system to enhance performance and enable seamless engine shutdown and startup. The GLE towed up to 7,700 pounds and featured various suspension options, from standard coil springs to the sophisticated E-Active Body Control that could adjust each wheel independently. Despite its hefty size, the GLE showcased remarkable agility and drove like a smaller sedan. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered diverse powertrain options, starting with the base P360 mild-hybrid system in the SE and SE Silver trims. This setup combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. The HST model featured a P400 powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition provided plug-in hybrid and diesel variants, with the P400e plug-in hybrid generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 delivering 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. Higher trims like the HSE Dynamic and Autobiography included a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. The SVR models, with the same engine, ramped up performance to 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All trims featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system for various driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport impressed on both off-road trails and paved streets, while towing up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which managed 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, predominantly a two-row SUV, offered the option of a third row, increasing seating capacity to seven. Second-row passengers benefited from power controls for recline, fore-aft adjustments, and headrest positions. Accessing the third row was made easier with sliding and folding second-row seats. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five seats, with less comfortable middle seating. Cargo capacity behind the second row was 34 cubic feet, expanding to 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe version offered 23 and 61 cubic feet respectively, compromising usability with its sloping roofline and narrow rear door openings due to oversized 22-inch wheels. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport also offered a third-row option, transforming it from a five-seater to a seven-seater. With the third row in use, cargo space was 10.8 cubic feet. Folding the third row increased cargo capacity to 31.7 cubic feet, and with both second and third rows folded, the space maximized at 63.7 cubic feet. The third row was tight and best suited for children. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, ensuring comfort alongside luxurious appointments.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class was equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen, featuring Interior Assistant for gesture controls. It allowed users to program shortcuts and magnify icons with hand movements. The touchpad and thumbpad on the steering wheel offered additional control options, although the system improved with frequent use. The AMG models included Track Pace, a virtual pit crew app with GPS lap timing. The GLE also had advanced features like Seat Kinetics, a customizable head-up display, and a highly configurable instrument panel. Ambient lighting, Energizing Comfort functions, natural voice assistant, and semi-automated driving capabilities added to the suite of advanced technology. It supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, with numerous electronic features making the GLE highly overengineered yet incredibly well-executed. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen for climate controls and vehicle settings, and the upper screen for infotainment. The dual-screen system, although innovative, was not always intuitive and had a steep learning curve. The integrated dials on the lower screen controlled various functions, from temperature to vehicle dynamics settings. The upper touchscreen had a simplified layout with icons for switching between menus and accessing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A real volume button was a notable inclusion, albeit positioned at the base of the lower screen. While there were worse infotainment systems available, there were also much better ones that reduced the learning curve.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came standard with several driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional, despite being standard in some non-luxury competitors. Additional available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and a head-up display.