Land Rover Discovery Sport v Mercedes-Benz GLB 2020 Comparison
Looking for some SUV style but still need seven seats? Then one of these two luxury wagons might fit the billMercedes goes to the Disco
The vast majority of SUVs are no longer off-road dream machines. In reality, they are high-rise wagons and people-movers with a touch more machismo.
There is no doubt the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mercedes-Benz GLB are emblematic of this evolution and add a luxury patina as well.
They are both seven-seaters around 4.6m long, both powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines, come with different derivations of automatic transmissions, light-duty all-wheel drive systems and $70K prices.
The Disco Sport has been around in Australia since 2015 and went through a major update for 2020. It is due for another in 2021, but we aren’t prepared to wait that long to compare it against the new GLB, a vehicle some people think could be the biggest seller in the Benz range.
Plenty of gear and dollars
For this comparison we are pitching the Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dynamic SE P250 (phew!) up against the Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC.
The Land Rover on test is a 2020 model year valued at $70,867 plus on-road costs. There’s been a model year 2020.5 update, but the changes are not important and have no impact on the results of this test.
The aforementioned MY21 coming in March is already featured on the Australian Land Rover website and it gets some technical and equipment updates and a $4000 price rise.
The boxy GLB is all-new, based on a stretched version of the same front/all-wheel drive architecture that underpins the latest A-Class small car and has no direct predecessor in the Benz line-up.
The GLB 250 4MATIC is the middle member of a three-model range, priced at $73,535 plus ORCs.
Both the Benz and Land Rover come well equipped with plenty of standard comfort gear. GLB highlights include a twin-pane glass sunroof, power-adjustable front seats (with position memory and heating), dual-zone automatic climate control, remote engine start, ambient interior lighting, a decent 225W nine-speaker stereo, a powered tailgate with kick control, rain-sensing wipers, aluminium roof rails and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The handsome Discovery Sport isn’t quite as well endowed, but its highlights include a 180W audio system, dual-zone climate control, power/memory front seats, ambient interior lighting, a powered tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, 20-inch alloys and an activity key – it’s a wristband – you can take with you when you don’t want to carry the key fob. Like when you’re surfing, mountain biking… you know, all those good things we should be doing.
It also gets a space-saving reduced-section steel spare wheel and tyre, while the Benz makes do with an inflator kit. The seats of both vehicles are trimmed in some sort of fake leather.
By the way, R-Dynamic is a visual pack which includes front and rear bumpers and exhaust finisher, different wheels, interior trim finishers, different headlining, bright medal pedals, black gear-shift paddles and contrast stitching on the seats.
There are many options and accessories available. Our test GLB was priced at $86,455 once the options were totted up, while the Lands Rover came out at $81,497.
The GLB comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that’s complemented by a service schedule that has the car in the dealership every year or 25,000km. Over five years that costs $4000.
The Disco Sport comes with a three-year warranty, but there is a five-year special offer available at the moment. A five-year/102,000km service program costs $1950.
Keeping you safe and sound
The Mercedes-Benz GLB is almost entirely up to date in safety terms with its 2019 five-star ANCAP rating, complemented by a strong package of driver assist systems including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot assist, lane keep assist, active parking assist, adaptive high beam LED headlights, cross wind assist, traffic sign recognition (that works) and a reversing camera.
Nine airbags include curtains that stretch all the way to the third row.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport comes with a 2014 five-star ANCAP rating, which is from an era long before the independent crash test body started assessing driver assist systems.
Nevertheless, it includes AEB, blind spot assist, lane keep assist and traffic sign assist, as well as adaptive high beam LED headlights and a reversing camera. Its seven airbags also protect occupants across all three rows.
One big advantage the Discovery Sport has over the GLB is standard adaptive cruise control. Both vehicles offer parking assistance of one type or another.
The Mercedes has a new-generation MBUX cockpit presentation that instantly dates the Land Rover. Two 10.25-inch screens are housed within a single display that spreads from the instrument panel across to the centre of the dashboard.
The fundamental information and resolution of things such as the speedo dial and sat-nav screens is very clear, while the menus you can drill into are elaborate and complex. It will take you some time to figure it all out. Control methods include dial/button, touch, voice and touchpad.
The Discovery Sport has two separate digital screens that serve as IP and infotainment display. They have a degree of customisation and layers of menus but lack the sheer scale and wow factor of the GLB. Some people may prefer this simplicity, which is sympatico with the Land Rover’s more elegant and less blingy cabin presentation.
In terms of plugs and so on, the Mercedes comes with USB-C inlets and the Discovery Sport only with traditional USB. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are fitted to both but only the Benz gets wireless charging as standard.
Related: 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport revealed
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Related: Mercedes-Benz GLB Review – Australia
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Related: Mercedes-Benz GLB priced
Power to the posh people
The Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 is powered by the ‘M260’ 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 165kW and 350Nm, swallows 95 RON unleaded fuel at a claimed average of 7.7L/100km and officially accelerates from rest to 100km/h in 6.9sec.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 features a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine from the latest Ingenium family. Its key numbers are 184kW/365Nm for engine output, 8.1L/100km economy (also on 95 RON) and a 7.8sec acceleration time from 0-100km/h.
The Mercedes completes its powertrain with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and on-demand all-wheel drive system, while the Discovery Sport similarly drives two or four wheels depending on conditions via a traditional nine-speed torque-converter auto.
In the real world, our fuel consumption average came out at 9.1L/100km for the Benz and a rather less impressive 12.5L/100km for the Land Rover. At least in part, this comes down to kerb weight. The GLB weighs in at 1721kg and the Discovery Sport at least 1910kg. That’s a heap of extra lead in the saddlebags to haul about.
At 4634mm the GLB is actually longer than the 4597mm Land Rover, but the latter is substantially wider at 2173mm versus 2020mm to the edge of the exterior mirrors.
The big difference between these two chassis-wise is the Benz’s standard adaptive suspension and multiple on-road drive modes that also affect the powertrain. The Disco Sport has passive suspension, a Terrain Response 2 off-road mode selector and All Terrain Progress Control (an off-road cruise control).
The GLB 250 comes with an off-road pack that includes an off-road specific mode, lighting function and hill descent control and information. We didn’t take either vehicle off-road.
The Discovery Sport can tow 2200kg braked and has trailer sway assist. The GLB doesn’t have a braked trailer rating.
From the back to the front
As both the Mercedes-Benz GLB and Land Rover Discovery Sport are three-row vehicles, we’ll start at the back and see how people fit in.
The Mercedes wins for space, comfort and quietness. It’s easier to get settled and the seat is more accommodating for bigger people. However, 1.8m-tall adults need not apply in either.
The Discovery Sport’s seats feel more of an after-thought and back there the flatulence of the exhaust under acceleration is obvious. Otherwise, both vehicles are impressively quiet.
In terms of entry and exit it’s the Land Rover that gets the nod because its middle-row seats slide that bit easier. In both cases the bulkier section of the seat has to be tipped to enter or exit kerb-side.
Happily, both third-row seats raise and fold individually, which means if there’s only one person back there they can get in through the boot. Hey, kids prefer it that way!
What about luggage capacity? Well, with all three rows in place the GLB claims only 150 litres (to the roof!). With two rows in place, it’s up to 700 litres and with only the front seats upright it’s an impressive 1680 litres underpinned by a flat floor.
The corresponding Discovery Sport figures are 225 litres, 967 litres and 1824 litres.
The comfort of the middle row in both vehicles is aided because they slide and there’s enough adjustment to make yourself at home in either. The seats are also elevated to give a better view. Both also have two ISOFIX and three top tether child seat mountings.
If you’ve got passengers in all three rows, the Mercedes has got more of that all-important legroom. But for elbow space, the Land Rover wins out.
Both cars provide good storage, the GLB aided by its column-mounted shifter freeing up centre console space.
Up front, the driver is well catered for with adjustable and comfortable seating and reach- and rake-adjustable steering. The GLB has a row of buttons on the centre stack that are hard to read; the Discovery Sport is almost a blank canvas by comparison.
And the driving? Well, it’s hard to imagine these people-movers on stilts are going to stir any souls, but the good news is they both perform the transport function well.
For enthusiastic response and adjustability the gong goes to the GLB. It feels lighter, nippier and keener.
The Discovery Sport has keen steering and feels planted on the road, but the drivetrain lacks zest. Sport mode is required to get things moving and the flappy gear-shift paddles help as well.
The GLB rolls on run-flat tyres but the ride felt nicely tuned in Comfort mode and appreciably tightened in Sport, effectively book-ending the Land Rover’s nicely tuned passive ride compromise.
And the winner is…
The Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC is the winner of this comparison test over the Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dynamic SE P250.
The GLB is a better transport platform, has more ‘wow’ factor and is more enjoyable to drive.
Price-wise they are lineball, especially considering the considerable update and dollar hike coming for the Discovery Sport in 2021.
Yep, the GLB is no off-road dream machine, but for an urban family-oriented lifestyle it makes a lot of sense.
How much does the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dynamic SE P250 cost?
Price: $70,867 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 184W/365Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 187g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2014)
How much does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC cost?
Price: $73,535 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 165W/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 173g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)
Related: Land Rover Discovery Sport Review – International
Related: Mercedes-Benz GLB Review – International
Related: Land Rover Discovery Sport Video
Related: Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Video Review
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