2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to emphasize a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover lineup. Its tall stature was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic appearance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders contributed to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared somewhat tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted stance of some luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured carbon-fiber wheels and a hood with an exposed patch of carbon fiber. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery and sport seats with illuminated inserts, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen and few physical controls.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of 10 versions, with prices from $63,600 to $134,500. Assembled in Alabama, the GLE 350 was the least expensive model, featuring rear-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The GLE 450, our test vehicle, came with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and mild-hybrid technology. The GLE 450 featured the Exclusive Package and the Manufaktur Edition Package, which included exclusive paint, 21-inch wheels, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite its egg-on-wheels styling, the GLE Coupe's swoopy roofline improved its design. Inside, the GLE 450's cabin was elegantly detailed with matte-finish wood, metallic accents, and sophisticated digital displays. The steering wheel featured touch-sensing controls, although the touch slider for stereo volume was less precise than the volume thumbwheel on the center console.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8, but with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring contributed to its agile handling and luxurious ride. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by the Terrain Response system, hill descent control, and ascent control, with the Autobiography offering a two-speed transfer case.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, and Individual driving modes. The GLE 450 had a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and included off-road features like Downhill Speed Regulation and a "transparent hood" camera view. However, the standard suspension allowed excessive body motion, making it less enjoyable to drive in various conditions. The steering felt numb in Comfort mode and firmed up in Dynamic mode, but remained unresponsive. The sport braking system performed well in spirited driving but felt grabby in typical situations. The automatic engine stop/start system caused delays in acceleration, and the transmission's downshifts were slow. Despite these issues, the GLE 450 offered a quiet cabin and decent fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover in terms of size. It was a two-row, five-seater with front-seat headroom comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs. While the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered more legroom, the Range Rover Sport's sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class provided more second-row legroom, but the Range Rover Sport's reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort. The cargo space measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered firm yet comfortable front seats with heating and "energizing seat kinetics." The Exclusive Package added ventilated front seats and Nappa leather. The back seat was roomy, though the seating position was low relative to the window sills. A third-row seat was an expensive option, adding two extra chairs with USB-C charging ports. The GLE's cargo space measured 33.3 cubic feet behind the back seat and 74.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The cargo area included a netted compartment, hooks, lighting, and a cargo cover, with a large spare tire and hidden storage space under the load floor.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design left few physical controls, making touchscreen interactions necessary for climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for music synchronization, though the feature felt gimmicky.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE used the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The displays offered lush graphics and a range of configurations. A biometric authentication system loaded user profiles, and the digital voice assistant performed well, except for hospital-related requests. The Exclusive Package added a Burmester surround-sound audio system, Dolby Atmos technology, and augmented-reality video for navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Mercedes Digital Extras were standard, with Online Music Streaming included in the Exclusive Package.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. The IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the Range Rover Sport at the time of publication.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE's standard safety tech included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, a safe-exit assist system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Pre-Safe Sound protected occupants' hearing during a collision. The Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and centering assist, evasive steering assist, and more. Active Emergency Stop Assist and a touch-sensing steering wheel rim were notable features. The route-based speed-adjustment feature was problematic, and the automated lane-change assist function was inconsistent. The NHTSA had not rated the GLE, but the IIHS named it a "Top Safety Pick+" for 2025.