2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually tied it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave the Defender a unique personality. The modern Defender was also much larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics. The interior design emphasized the Defender’s rugged character, with a mix of leather upholstery and suede, bare metal, and exposed screws, making it look ready to handle mud and dirt better than traditional all-leather interiors.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe had a more athletic and modern look, with Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and generous polished brightwork. The interior was sumptuous, featuring high-end materials like Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner, and brushed aluminum trim. The dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design added a high-tech appearance, while ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night. However, the lack of traditional controls and white-on-black markings made it challenging for newcomers to operate the vehicle’s technology.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains. The base model had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The new-for-2022 V8 engine produced 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, allowing the Defender 90 to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and had standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model also featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was impressively comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine making 429 hp and 384 pound-feet of torque, featuring EQ Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The SUV had a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system with fully variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered multiple driving modes, and the engine breathed through an AMG sport exhaust system. The AMG Active Ride Control suspension and AMG Performance brakes maximized performance. The GLE Coupe felt taut, nimble, and composed in urban and suburban settings, and was reasonably comfortable and quiet on the highway. In Sport+ mode, the SUV demonstrated impressive performance on winding roads, with excellent grip and brake performance.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. However, accessing them was challenging, and they didn’t leave much room for cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 model was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a sizable center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe technically held up to five people, but it was more comfortable for four. The sport-bolstered, multi-contour front seats offered numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage, making them comfortable on the highway and supportive on winding roads. The back seat provided a surprising amount of room for adult legs and feet, and the 27.5 cubic-foot cargo hold was generously sized. Folding the second-row seats expanded the cargo volume to 63.2 cubic feet. Available comfort upgrades included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a Warmth and Comfort Package, and an Air Balance in-cabin fragrance system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The graphics and menu layouts were well-designed, but the screen required a strong poke to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with dual 12.3-inch screens under a single piece of glass. Standard features included a navigation system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mercedes Me connected services. Wireless smartphone charging and a Burmester surround-sound audio system were also standard. MBUX was easy to use, with natural voice recognition technology and multiple methods of interaction. Optional features included an MBUX Interior Assistant with gesture recognition, an augmented video feature for navigation, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and an upgraded Burmester 3D high-end surround-sound system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Pre Safe Sound system emitted a “pink noise” tone before a collision to protect hearing. The Emergency Call Service was free and available for the vehicle’s lifetime. The optional Driver Assistance Package added 15 additional systems, including Traffic Jam Assist and Active Lane Change Assist. The GLE Coupe had not been crash-tested, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.