Compare the2023 Mercedes GLSVS 2022 Land Rover Range Rover

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Range Rover doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes GLS has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Range Rover doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Range Rover doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The GLS has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Range Rover’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLS has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Range Rover.

Both the GLS and the Range Rover have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

There are almost 2 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Land Rover.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover With 89 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Land Rover.

The GLS has more powerful engines than the Range Rover:

As tested in Car and Driver the GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Range Rover SVAutobiography 5.0 supercharged V8:

On the EPA test cycle the GLS gets better mileage than the Range Rover:

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Range Rover.

The GLS stops much shorter than the Range Rover:

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the Range Rover (275/50R20 vs. 235/65R19). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Range Rover (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 275/45R21).

The GLS 450’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Range Rover’s standard 65 series tires. The GLS’ optional 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Range Rover’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS 450 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Range Rover. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Range Rover.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Land Rover doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Range Rover.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 8.4 inches longer than on the Range Rover (123.4 inches vs. 115 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GLS is 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Range Rover.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Range Rover pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Range Rover HSE (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GLS’ turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Range Rover’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet). The GLS’ turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Range Rover LWB’s (39.4 feet vs. 42.8 feet).

The GLS has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Range Rover can only carry 5.

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Range Rover.

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Range Rover LWB.

The GLS’ cargo area is larger than the Range Rover’s in almost every dimension:

The GLS’ liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Range Rover’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

If the windows are left open on the GLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Range Rover can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLS’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Range Rover’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Range Rover doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Range Rover doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLS has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and for the rear passengers. The Range Rover doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Range Rover’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the GLS owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GLS will cost $995 to $8895 less than the Range Rover over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Range Rover because typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Range Rover, including $81 less for fuel injection, $80 less for a fuel pump, $7 less for front struts and $845 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes GLS will be $9464 to $109165 less than for the Land Rover Range Rover.