2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE exhibited subtle yet impactful aesthetic changes. Its sharper headlights and taillights, along with black fender flares over the wheel arches, gave it a refreshed look. The grille featured new chrome inserts, and the optional AMG Line package added a sporty touch with a distinct grille. Standard 19-inch wheels could be upgraded to 21-inch options for a more commanding presence. Inside, the cabin maintained the classic Mercedes-Benz luxury feel, with leather and soft-touch surfaces. However, the combination of open-pore walnut trim and Bahia Brown seating in our tester gave it a dated appearance, reminiscent of a 1970s wood-paneled room. Opting for lighter leather could remedy this design choice.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover family. Its taller stance and shorter wheelbase contributed to a more athletic appearance, though it appeared somewhat narrow from certain angles. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package featuring Carpathian metallic-gray paint and black 23-inch wheels. Our SV Edition 2 test car, with its carbon-fiber hood and 23-inch wheels, presented a sleeper look in Marl Grey. The interior boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a minimalist dashboard design. Despite its sporty mission, the high console and dash created a slightly cramped feel, though material quality remained high.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including the entry-level GLE 350 with 255 horsepower, the mid-line GLE 450 with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and the top-tier GLE 580 with a 4.0-liter V8. Our test vehicle, the 450e, featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque in hybrid mode. Despite its power, the 450e was slightly slower to 60 mph than the GLE 450 due to its 23.3-kWh battery. The battery allowed for an impressive 48 miles of all-electric range, with our test showing 55 miles. The 450e's driving dynamics were comfortable but not sporty, with light steering and body roll. Charging was efficient, with an 11-kW onboard charger and the ability to accept a 60-kW DC fast charge.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrains, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower, while the Dynamic SE offered 395 hp and a plug-in hybrid option with 454 hp. The Autobiography trim increased hybrid output to 543 hp, and a BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8 provided 523 hp. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8 to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It achieved 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. The SV Edition 2 excelled in handling with sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring, offering a luxurious ride and impressive agility. Off-road capabilities were supported by the Terrain Response system and adjustable air suspension.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE prioritized interior luxury with standard heated front seats, optional ventilation and massage functions, and heated/cooled cup holders. Customizable ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and soft-close doors enhanced comfort, while the Burmester stereo system provided excellent audio quality. However, the non-extending sun visors were a minor inconvenience. The GLE offered a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and featured Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology. Cargo space was ample, with 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat headroom was comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was slightly less than the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch screen. The system was user-friendly, with a touchpad on the center console and voice control via "Hey, Mercedes." The augmented reality navigation system provided helpful overlays, and an off-road page offered detailed information. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though connectivity issues were noted. Multiple USB-C ports ensured devices stayed charged.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional limitations, requiring screen widgets for climate control and drive mode selection. Steering-wheel controls offered limited alternatives, but the Pivi Pro system was responsive with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered advanced driver aids, with standard blind-spot monitoring and an optional Driver Assistance Package Plus. This package included active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-change assist. The GLE received a five-star side crash rating and four stars for rollover from the NHTSA, while the IIHS awarded it top scores in crashworthiness and crash avoidance.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.