2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS, particularly in its base GLS 450 form, presented a more subtle and less flashy appearance compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, or Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes confidently avoided a gaudy grille, unlike the BMW X7 or Lexus LX. However, other GLS models offered more visual drama. The AMG GLS 63 performance model featured flared wheel arches, a muscular grille, prominent rectangular exhaust tips, and AMG-specific 21-inch wheels. The Maybach version was adorned with chrome everywhere, including the grille, window trim, and front-bumper mesh, and came with a traditional hood ornament and power running boards, available with massive 23-inch wheels.

Inside, the Maybach model offered added luxuries like reclining rear seats, while the AMG version had a performance-oriented interior with stainless steel trim and heavily bolstered Nappa leather seats. The Air Balance Package perfume spritzer was also an option. Our test car had a fairly basic interior by GLS standards but still looked luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The intricate speaker grilles and rectangular air vents added a rugged touch. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen housed under one piece of glass were well integrated, making the GLS 450’s interior feel appropriate for a luxury SUV.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design, focusing on clean and simple lines, which might not appeal to those seeking maximum attention. The factory offered little more than a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels for a flashy look. However, a performance-tuned SVR with a loud twin-turbocharged V8 and more vivid paint colors was expected to join the lineup. Our test vehicle arrived in subdued Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury.

Inside, the Range Rover Sport featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle included heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a Cold Climate Pack, a Technology Pack, and a full-size spare tire, bringing the MSRP to $98,420. Highlights of the new design included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and taillights with surface LED technology. The Range Rover Sport boasted excellent aerodynamics with a coefficient of drag measuring 0.29. The interior featured luxurious Windsor leather upholstery and sustainable Ultrafabrics, creating a high-tech and decadent atmosphere.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The gasoline engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an electric motor adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The electric motor also served as the starter and powered most accessories, reducing the engine’s workload. Mercedes was expected to resume production of the GLS 580 4Matic, AMG GLS 63, and Maybach GLS 600 4Matic, all featuring a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, producing up to 603 hp in the AMG version. All GLS models had standard 4Matic all-wheel drive, with a performance-tuned drivetrain for the AMG GLS 63.

Our test car’s six-cylinder engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well integrated. The inline-six engine offered better balance and smoothness compared to V6 engines, making it a perfect fit for a luxury vehicle. However, the suspension lacked refinement, exhibiting poor body control and excessive motion over bumps and in corners. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which was competitive but slightly behind some rivals like the Lexus LX and Lincoln Navigator.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. The SE and SE Dynamic models featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in the SE P360 and 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque in the SE Dynamic. The Autobiography P440e had a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain, offering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was available for selected early-build 2023 models but was expected to return in a future SVR model.

Our test vehicle’s 395-hp inline-six provided strong acceleration, with Land Rover claiming a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. The SUV drove all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The Range Rover Sport was more fuel-efficient than expected, averaging 22.3 mpg on our evaluation route and 25.1 mpg on a drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The new vehicle architecture provided a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness, and the adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for a comfortable and competent ride.

The Range Rover Sport featured a new Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, brake-induced torque vectoring, and roll stability control. The First Edition had four-wheel steering and a Dynamic Response Pro active electronic roll control system. The SUV excelled in city driving and on highways, but it struggled to match the handling of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport felt invincible, with 11.1 inches of ground clearance, excellent approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a 35.4-inch wading depth. Standard tech included Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, and hill start and descent control systems.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, featuring a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat and two third-row seats. An optional six-seat version replaced the second-row bench with individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for access to the third row, and the standard bench seat could slide fore and aft as one piece, increasing legroom by 3.4 inches. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower for easier loading, and the power-folding seats and tailgate added convenience.

However, the touchscreen was too far away to reach easily, and the center console had grab handles with no obvious purpose. The two-piece sun visors were clever but not large enough to block the sun effectively. Despite these minor ergonomic issues, the GLS was well-equipped to move people and cargo.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport preserved the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable inboard armrests, 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. A massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel were available, along with a Cabin Air Purification Pro system.

The rear seat was less hospitable, with limited legroom and knee clearance, hard front seatback panels, and narrow door openings. The deeply bucketed rear seat provided excellent support but forced a slouched posture. Rear occupants had manual side sunshades, air conditioning vents, power ports, and heated outboard cushions. Storage space within the cabin was decent, with a deep but narrow bin under the center armrest and a second deep bin under the sliding cupholder tray.

The power liftgate revealed a 31.9 cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split back seat folded. The air suspension could lower for easier loading, and the full-size spare lived under the cargo floor. Land Rover provided a handy contraption with integrated straps to prevent smaller items from rolling around, along with netted pockets and hooks in the cargo area.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. A 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, while a head-up display was optional. Users had multiple control options, including voice recognition, a touchpad controller, small touchpads on the steering wheel, and the touchscreen itself. The voice recognition system, responding to “Hey Mercedes,” was the easiest to use, understanding normal speech better than most systems.

However, the touchpad controller was too sensitive and cumbersome, and the embedded navigation system suggested a route that would have added an hour to a trip for no apparent reason. Despite these issues, the graphics on both the touchscreen and instrument cluster were good-looking.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport had a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. Wi-Fi access required an extra-cost data plan. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform was designed to learn user habits and personalize the experience, but it was often confusing and frustrating to use.

The native digital assistant struggled with simple tasks like finding a nearby Starbucks, and the system’s overall performance was disappointing. However, the Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was tucked under the infotainment screen, but it could be hard to access.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe, which prepared the vehicle for a rollover. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, second-row side airbags, and advanced driver-assistance features like Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings, and Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app.

Our evaluation focused on the adaptive cruise control with steering assist, which was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on freeway curves, where it often required the driver to wrestle with it. The system performed poorly when lane lines were inconsistent, making it challenging to trust the technology.