2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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 the original, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics.

Inside, the Defender balanced rugged character with modern comfort. The upright driving position of the original was replaced with a more comfortable setup, providing generous headroom and legroom. The interior design included bare metal and exposed screws for a rugged look, complemented by leather and suede upholstery that seemed more practical for off-road adventures. Even high-end models like the Defender 90 V8 mixed luxury with functionality, making it a vehicle you wouldn't hesitate to take off-road.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE received a subtle exterior makeover that was easy to miss unless viewed up close. The front grille featured clever Mercedes star logos, and the headlights and taillights had minor updates. Standard LED headlights and optional multi-beam LED headlights were available. The GLE 450e test vehicle stood out with its Twilight Blue metallic finish and 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, which filled out the wheel wells nicely. Mercedes offered a variety of wheel designs and exterior colors, allowing for customization.

The interior of the GLE 450e exuded class and luxury, with Macchiato beige and black leather upholstery and natural grain brown walnut trim. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room for adults in both the first and second rows. The GLE offered a range of interior color choices and trims, ensuring a high-quality and robust-looking cabin. The optional third-row seat was limited to certain models and was best suited for young children.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.

The Defender's V8 model 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 comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender also had impressive off-road credentials, including a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. It could tow up to 8,201 pounds.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including the GLE 350, GLE 450, GLE 450e, and GLE 580, as well as AMG-badged models like the AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 S. The top-of-the-line AMG GLE 63 S featured a twin-turbo V8 producing 603 horsepower. The GLE 450e combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total output of 381 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

The GLE 450e offered an estimated electric-only driving range of 40 miles and could operate as an EV at speeds up to 87 mph. The transition between gas and electric power was seamless, and the nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth gear changes. The GLE's suspension was supple and capable, absorbing bumps and ruts with ease. Despite its size, the GLE felt maneuverable and easy to handle, with sophisticated steering that made it a pleasure to drive.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 offered more versatility, with 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 folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Defender's interior emphasized functionality, with a shifter and climate-control knobs placed on a shelf extending from the dashboard, leaving room for a large caged storage space below. The center-console storage bin was one of the largest outside a full-size pickup truck and could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes that mounted to the side pillars.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE provided ample space for adults in both the first and second rows, with a light and airy cabin feel. The GLE 450e offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 40/20/40 split-folding second row, comparable to rivals like the BMW X5 but less than the Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90. The optional third-row seat was limited to certain models and best suited for young children.

The GLE 450e came with standard features like power-adjustable heated front seats with memory function, dual-zone climate control, a power tilt/sliding sunroof, MX-Tex faux leather upholstery, and a power liftgate. Additional options included the Exclusive and Pinnacle trim levels, which added features like a Burmester surround-sound audio system, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, a head-up display, and more. Standalone options included a panoramic sunroof, illuminated running boards, soft-close doors, and heated rear seats.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a 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 system had good graphics and menu layouts, but the touchscreen required a firm touch to respond.

Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful for off-roading. The side camera views helped with obstacle navigation, while the front view was great for spotting potential hazards.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, with a pair of 12.3-inch screens serving as the digital instrument panel and main infotainment screen. The system could be controlled via touch commands, a control pad on the center console, or touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an improved "Hey Mercedes" voice command system.

The GLE's head-up display and augmented reality navigation were praised for their clarity and convenience. However, the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel could be overly sensitive, leading to accidental volume changes. Overall, the GLE's infotainment system was feature-rich but required some time to master.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a comprehensive lineup of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, hands-free park assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor. The optional Driver Assistance package added active blind-spot assist, active lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. These features were unobtrusive and provided an extra layer of safety.