2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, with its recent facelift, retained a distinctive design that set it apart from other Mercedes-Benz SUVs. It featured a rounded profile reminiscent of its predecessors, with squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights that gave it a wide stance. The side glass tapered sharply inward, creating a unique silhouette. However, the proportions appeared somewhat odd, especially on the GLE Coupe models, where the bulky lower body contrasted with the fastback-style roofline. Despite not being the most handsome model in the lineup, the GLE's styling adhered closely to the brand's identity, ensuring it was unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz.

For 2025, the GLE offered new customization options, including four new paint colors and expanded interior choices from the Manufaktur personalization division. The interior, with its Yacht Blue option, exuded luxury, featuring Nappa leather upholstery, chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles, and 64-color ambient lighting. These elements combined to create an upscale and special cabin environment, enhancing the overall appeal of the GLE.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, known for its rugged appeal, presented a unique design across its variants. The Defender 90 appeared stubby, while the 130 carried substantial visual mass over its rear wheels. The 110 four-door model struck a balance, offering a sweet spot in design. Despite their differences, all Defenders exuded a rugged charm, and Land Rover provided extensive customization options for buyers. The Defender 130 X trim, tested here, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology as standard.

The test vehicle, dressed in Gondwana Stone paint, lacked the new matte paint protection film for 2025. The color didn't complement the orange brake calipers or the delicate-looking twin-spoke, machined-finish 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Defender X received an upgrade to premium Windsor hides with Kvadrat fabric, available in Ebony or Caraway. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design. While not a traditional luxury SUV, the Defender's cabin impressed with its functionality and rugged elegance.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a diverse range of powertrain options, starting with the GLE 350, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It came with a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with 4Matic all-wheel drive available. The GLE 450 4Matic featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, generating 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four with electric assist, delivering 381 hp and 479 lb-ft, with an EPA-rated 50 miles of electric range. The GLE 580 4Matic boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, producing 510 hp and 538 lb-ft.

The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ and AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ performance models rounded out the lineup. The GLE 53 used an enhanced inline-six powertrain, making 429 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The GLE 63 S featured a hand-assembled twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, producing 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, reducing the 0-60 mph time by 1.2 seconds. The GLE 63 S 4Matic+ Coupe, with its V8 soundtrack, transformed the SUV into a thrilling experience. Despite its impressive powertrains, the GLE felt larger than it was, even with AMG chassis upgrades, making maneuvering in tight spaces challenging.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered four powertrain options, with the test vehicle featuring a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine paired with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X, with this drivetrain, accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds.

The Defender X included an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Off-Road Pack added an electronic active differential and wade-sensing technology. Despite its off-road prowess, the test vehicle's 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its on-road agility. The Defender 130 excelled in absorbing bumps and ruts, providing a comfortable ride in urban environments. However, its weight and steering made it less suited for spirited driving on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy fell short of expectations, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the expected 19 mpg.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, though Mercedes didn't provide third-row space specifications. The GLE's front seats provided ample headroom, but rivals like the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Genesis GV80 offered slightly more legroom. The high seating position provided an SUV-like feel, but outward visibility was limited. The AMG test car's heavily bolstered front seats made entry and exit challenging. Second-row passengers enjoyed slightly more space than in most competitor SUVs, with headroom comparable to the BMW X5 and more legroom than the BMW, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Lexus RX.

The GLE offered 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, competitive but less than the GV80 or MDX. With all seats folded, it provided 74.9 cubic feet of cargo space, the most among its competitors. The bulky center console offered reasonable small-item storage, and the GLE's maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds matched the Audi Q7, though other rivals could tow at least 7,000 pounds.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required effort to enter and exit unless the air suspension was programmed to lower automatically. However, it rewarded occupants with three rows of spacious seating. The test vehicle featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, providing excellent comfort. The Defender's tall seating position offered outstanding forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The Clearsight digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system compensated for poor rear visibility.

A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row created an open and airy feel. Storage space was plentiful for front occupants, but less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row seat accessibility and comfort, offering heated, roomy, and supportive seating. The side-hinged cargo door, while heavy and awkward, featured a large storage bin. Behind the third-row seats, the Defender 130 provided 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded. Maximum cargo volume reached 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens, creating a continuous horizontal display for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation. Multiple access methods, including a center-console touchpad, steering-wheel touchpads, and voice recognition, provided flexibility. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe test car offered additional settings, including six drive modes and customizable damper firmness, stability control, and exhaust noise. Some GLE models featured an off-road display and a "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system, enhancing off-road capabilities.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connected services. Pivi Pro's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, with fewer dead ends. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and parking ease. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, though some were not standard. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, crosswind assist, parking assist, a driver attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Pre-Safe system mitigated collision effects by tightening seatbelts and closing windows. The optional Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and expanded driver-monitoring capabilities. The GLE received a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, though its front-crash prevention tech received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" ratings.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at press time, as low-volume models like this one are typically not tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.