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Land Rover Defender vs Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

What's the difference?

VS
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Defender

$99,900 - $239,990

2023 price

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

$52,850 - $84,800

2021 price

Summary

2023 Land Rover Defender
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 6, 3.0L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
9.9L/100km (combined)

7.5L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Steep price-tag
  • Like it or loathe it colour
  • Auto shifter is a bit fiddly

  • Full suite of safety costs extra
  • Some quality lapses inside
  • Ride still unsettled even on optional adaptive dampers
2023 Land Rover Defender Summary

The latest-generation Land Rover Defender has won ample praise (even from die-hard fans of the old Defender), it’s garnered a stack of awards around the world, and it’s also managed to sell pretty bloody well, don’t worry about that.

To commemorate a huge Land Rover milestone – 75 years since the original Landie, the Series I, was released – JLR has made available 75 of its 75th anniversary Defenders in Australia – 25 Defender 90s and 50 Defender 110s. 

Our test vehicle is a 110, but is this limited-edition Landie actually worth it’s more than $150 grand price-tag?

Read on.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Summary

ONE of the great motoring successes of the past decade has been the Mercedes-Benz GLA, catapulting the brand to unparalleled prominence in the premium small SUV field and kicking off the posh little coupe-hatch crossover craze.

Cynics might say that it is essentially a jumped-up A-Class hatchback, much like the Subaru XV is basically an Impreza in stilettos. But while the small German crossover is built on the same MFA2 platform as its smaller transverse-engined Benz brethren, no body panels are shared, granting it a distinct look and personality. Unlike the little Suby…

The H247-series GLA launched in Australia in 2020 is second-generation, featuring a longer wheelbase and appreciably more space, but a shorter overall length than the popular original from 2013. It's also substantially taller.

Here we take a long, hard look at the bestselling GLA 250 4Matic.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Land Rover Defender 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

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