Luxury power and performance
Big, burly performance engines are a dying breed. Not many manufacturers offer a burbly V8 anymore, less so in a large-capacity, luxury family SUV. The Land Rover Defender Octa, which recently went on sale in South Africa, shows that some manufacturers still have a sense of humour. The Octa is a large lifestyle offroad-biased SUV that packs some serious punch.
Related: Land Rover Defender 110 Octa (2025) - Launch Video Review
On the flip side of the coin is the Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+, a luxury family SUV that, despite its premium positioning, can also put down some serious power. Outside of the apparent differences, these vehicles have much more in common than you may think. We check out the big differences and how these two vehicles compare.
Land Rover Defender Octa pricing vs BMW X5 M Competition vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid
Drivetrain
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+ | |
| Engine | 4.4-litre turbo V8 | 4.0-litre turbo V8 |
| Transmission | 8-speed Auto | 9-speed Auto |
| Power Figures | 467kW / 750Nm | 466kW / 850Nm |
The Octa may have a slightly bigger engine, but the Mercedes trounces it in the raw power arena. The GLE also has extra gear. Although both vehicles are AWD, the OCTA has the offroad bias, so it should be considered if gravel is on the cards.
Fuel Consumption
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+ | |
| Claimed fuel consumption | 13.5 L / 100km | 12.5 L / 100km |
| Actual consumption (combined cycle) | 14.0 L/ 100km | 15.0 L / 100km |
| Tank Size | 90-litre | 85-litre |
| Distance on a full tank | 667km | 680km |
| Top Speed | 250km/h | 280km/h |
There is no getting around the fact that these are performance vehicles, and with large displacement V8 engines, don't expect any fuel economy. The Merc is only marginally heavier on fuel than the Octa but is faster.
Safety
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+ | |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| Hill hold assist | Yes | Yes |
| Tyre Pressure Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 360 surround | 360 surround |
| PDC (Park Distance Control) | Front and Rear | Front and Rear |
| Airbags | 6 | 9 |
| Cruise control | Adaptive | Standard |
| Lane Keep Assist | Yes | Yes |
| HUD (Heads Up Display) | Yes | Yes |
| Keyless Entry | Yes | Yes |
| LED Lighting | LED front and rear | LED front and rear |
Both vehicles scored highly in NCAP testing and are on par with each other, although the Mercedes has a few more airbags than the Defender.
The Drive
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+ | |
| Boot Space (litres) | 786 - 1875 | 630 - 1380 |
| Towing capacity braked and unbraked | 750 / 3500 kg | 750 / 3500 kg |
| Tow bar | Electrically retracted | Electrically retracted |
| Seating | Full leather seating seats 7 adults | Full leather seating seats 7 adults |
| Sunroof | Sliding panoramic sunroof | Fixed panoramic |
The Defender has more load space as the two vehicles are more lifestyle-oriented. Both of these monster SUVs have generous seating and space for all passengers.
Pricing
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa | R 3 499 100 | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S 4Matic+ | R 3 930 663 |
| Land Rover Defender 110 Octa First Edition | R 3 749 100 | Mercedes-AMG GLE63S Coupe 4Matic+ | R 3 967 922 |
Land Rover offers a 5-year / 100,000 km warranty and a 5-year / 100,000 km service plan, while Mercedes offers a 2-year / Unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.
Verdict
The choice between these two vehicles comes down to the use case. If you are an outdoorsy type with aspirations of attacking an overland trail with gusto then the Octa is for you, it may not be a great idea to take the Mercedes Benz off of the tar.
