2026 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Summary: G-Wagens aside, the now-discontinued M-Class is what cemented Mercedes’ place in the SUV jungle. The descendent of that pioneering model is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, which continues as the automaker’s entry into a midsize luxury SUV segment populated by the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Lexus RX. Mercedes also sells a GLE Coupe that competes with the BMW X6. Changes for 2025 are limited to two new configurations—a GLE 350 SUV base model and GLE 450 4Matic Coupe—and several new paint colors.

Verdict: The GLE-Class is a solid luxury SUV for families, but its competition is equally good.

As the rest of the lineup has trended toward luxury, the Land Rover Defender has stayed true to the brand’s roots of tough off-roaders ideal for the military and farmers alike. That’s mainly because Land Rover put off updates for decades, but a redesigned Defender that’s more passenger car than farm implement arrived for 2020, bringing the nameplate back to the U.S. Changes for 2026 include subtle styling changes, a larger touchscreen, and new color and accessory options.

Verdict: The Defender offers an unmatched combination of off-road capability and everyday civility.