2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was a vehicle that, while not particularly striking in appearance, offered a sense of familiarity. Its design, reminiscent of its predecessors, seemed to lack the refinement and elegance found in some of its competitors. The exterior, with its aggressive nose and sloping hood, hinted at potential but ultimately fell short past the A-pillar, blending into the older GLE's silhouette. Despite efforts to enhance its rear with flat taillights and a contoured design, the GLE struggled to shake off its minivan-like tendencies. However, the interior was a different story, showcasing a masterful blend of quality materials and thoughtful design. The red and black interior was both bold and luxurious, with features like twin arching grab handles and LED lighting adding to its allure. The GLE's interior exuded a sense of opulence, though it required significant options to truly feel luxurious.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, making a statement with its refined design. The Velar's exterior was a testament to Land Rover's ability to scale the iconic Range Rover's proportions into a sporty, lowered package. Its long wheelbase, short overhangs, and trapezoidal roof were unmistakably Range Rover, while subtle adjustments like the sloping roof and wide shoulder crease added a touch of fluidity. The Velar's design was further enhanced by details like taillight lenses with depth illusions and air ducts reminiscent of a Bugatti. The interior, though not as lavish as previous models, maintained high-quality materials and exemplary fit and finish. The Velar's cabin was sleek and modern, with a polished black center stack and reconfigurable screens offering a sophisticated driving experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a versatile SUV, offering a range of advanced suspension and engine configurations. The base GLE 350 featured a reliable coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 introduced AIRMATIC air springs with adaptive dampers. The AMG Ride Control+ and E-Active Body Control systems further enhanced the GLE's handling, allowing it to lean into turns and adjust suspension settings independently for each wheel. The GLE's powertrain lineup included a hybrid system that provided additional horsepower and torque, though it didn't significantly improve fuel efficiency. The GLE 350's 255 hp engine was the only rear-wheel-drive option, while the GLE 450's turbocharged inline-six delivered 362 hp. The AMG GLE 53, with its electric supercharger, offered 429 hp, and the GLE 580's twin-turbo V8 produced 483 hp. The top-tier AMG GLE 63 S boasted 603 hp, making it a formidable performer. Despite its size, the GLE handled like a smaller sedan and could tow up to 7,700 pounds.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, resulting in improved handling and steering compared to previous Land Rover models. The Velar's lower center of gravity and lighter weight contributed to its agility, while the optional air suspension provided a plush, controlled ride. The base engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, produced 247 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, offering average performance. The Velar's Terrain Response system included six driving modes, but its off-road capabilities were limited compared to larger Range Rover models. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, available in two states of tune, delivered 340 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque in the base S and R-Dynamic models, while the R-Dynamic HSE offered 395 hp and 405 lb-ft. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and performance, though the Velar's mission as a street-focused SUV limited its off-road prowess.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models accommodating five passengers and an optional third row increasing capacity to seven. The second-row seats featured power controls for added comfort, while the Coupe variant was limited to five passengers. Cargo capacity was generous, with 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo space to 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The GLE's usability was enhanced by the MBUX infotainment system, which simplified controls and improved the overall user experience.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, sacrificed interior space for its sleek design. The cabin was tighter than midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility due to thick B-pillars and small rear windows. Cargo space was modest, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design choices, such as the lack of a discrete parking brake control, were frustrating, though the Pivi Pro infotainment system offered a more intuitive interface. Despite its shortcomings, the Velar's interior maintained a high level of quality and sophistication.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen with Interior Assistant, allowing for gesture-based controls. The system was intuitive, with search bars and larger type simplifying navigation. The AMG models included a Track Pace app for performance tracking, while the Seat Kinetics feature adjusted seating positions for added comfort. The GLE's infotainment system was overengineered, offering a plethora of features, including a head-up display, ambient lighting, and a natural voice assistant. The semi-automated driving functionality further enhanced the GLE's technological prowess.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system offered a simplified layout with fewer icons and more logical arrangements. The system included a voice assistant, air quality monitoring, and a heated windshield for added convenience. The navigation system provided traffic detours and route suggestions, while the 4x4 app detailed off-road capabilities. The Velar's instrument panel offered customizable displays, though the driving assist display lacked detail compared to competitors. Standard features included LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with top scores in crash tests and standard forward emergency braking. The GLE also offered blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a range of optional safety features. The Pre-Safe Sound and Pre-Safe Impulse Side systems provided additional protection in the event of a crash.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European New Car Assessment Program, though U.S. crash-test ratings were unavailable. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.