Compare the2026 Land Rover DefenderVS 2025 Mercedes GLC Coupe

Both the Defender 110/130 and GLC Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Defender has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLC Coupe’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Defender’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

The Land Rover Defender’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mercedes GLC Coupe does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Defender and the GLC Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Land Rover Defender weighs 542 to 1597 pounds more than the Mercedes GLC Coupe. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Defender’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLC Coupe’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Mercedes.

The Defender P300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (296 vs. 255) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Defender 130 P300’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 41 more horsepower (296 vs. 255) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (347 vs. 295) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Defender P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 140 more horsepower (395 vs. 255) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 295) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Defender P500’s standard 5.0 supercharged V8 produces 238 more horsepower (493 vs. 255) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (450 vs. 295) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Defender OCTA’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 371 more horsepower (626 vs. 255) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 295) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Defender has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC Coupe (23.8 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Defender’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC Coupe:

For better traction, the Defender has larger standard tires than the GLC Coupe (255/65R19 vs. 235/55R19). The Defender’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC Coupe (275/45R22 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Defender offers optional 22-inch wheels. The GLC Coupe’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Defender has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the GLC Coupe; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Defender offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The GLC Coupe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Defender 110’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the GLC Coupe (119 inches vs. 113.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Defender is 4.1 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLC Coupe.

For better maneuverability, the Defender 90’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the GLC Coupe’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Defender 110 has a 3.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC Coupe (9 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the Defender to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Defender 110 OCTA’s minimum ground clearance is 4.5 inches higher than on the GLC Coupe (12.7 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Defender 130 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GLC Coupe can only carry 5. The Defender 90 offers optional seating for 6.

The Defender 110’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLC Coupe.

The Defender 130’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLC Coupe.

The Defender 90’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLC Coupe.

The Defender’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC Coupe’s (7715 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLC Coupe is only 3500 pounds. The Defender offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the Defender, using the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Defender has a standard rear wiper. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Defender offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Defender’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Defender has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Defender second among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLC Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Defender as their 2021 Sport Utility of the Year. The GLC was Sport Utility of the Year in 2017.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Defender as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The GLC Coupe has never been chosen.