Land Rover Discovery vs Mercedes-Benz GLC
Figures updated
The Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes-Benz GLC are two of the UK's most popular large SUVs. We compare the L462 (2017–) Discovery and the X254 (2022–) GLC on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 207,670 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Land Rover Discovery for the bigger boot, or the Mercedes-Benz GLC for the lower price, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs.
- The Mercedes-Benz GLC is the cheapest to buy new: from £54,970, £14,570 less than the Land Rover Discovery.
- The Land Rover Discovery has the biggest boot: 922 litres, 302 more than the Mercedes-Benz GLC.
- The Mercedes-Benz GLC has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Land Rover Discovery fails its MOT about 5% more often.
- The Mercedes-Benz GLC is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £180 a year less than the Land Rover Discovery at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Land Rover DiscoveryL462 (2017–), 5-door SUV | Mercedes-Benz GLCX254 (2022–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £69,540 to £83,940October 2026 price list | £54,970 to £77,475September 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 7 (best) | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 922 litres / 1,997 (best) | 620 litres / 1,680 |
| Length | 4,956mm | 4,721mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 2,073mm | 1,918mm |
| Height | 1,888mm | 1,631mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 350 PS (best) | 197–269 PS |
| 0–62mph | 6.3 sec | 6.2–8.0 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2017) | ★★★★★ (2022) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 24.6–44.8 mpg | 22.2–56.5 mpg |
| CO2 | 165–269 g/km | 41–287 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £2,234 (26.2 mpg) | £2,054 (28.5 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £2,013 (33.6 mpg) | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) (best) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £2,013 (diesel) | £1,221 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 132Well above average | 139Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.4% | 13.1% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 14.4% | 9.2% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 14.1% | 12.4% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 25.0% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (3.9% of tests) | Ball joint (2.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 131,841 | 75,829 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Large SUV | Large SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 10,300 | 9,400 |
| On sale | 2017 on | 2022 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC more reliable?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC. Like for like on age and mileage, the Land Rover Discovery fails its MOT about 5% more often (reliability scores 139 and 132, where 100 is average). 13.1% of Mercedes-Benz GLCs and 25.4% of Land Rover Discoverys failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC?
The Land Rover Discovery is 235mm longer (4,956mm against 4,721mm). The Land Rover Discovery has the bigger boot: 922 litres against 620.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC: new prices start at £54,970, £14,570 less than the Land Rover Discovery (from £69,540). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Comparing petrol versions, the Mercedes-Benz GLC costs about £180 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£2,054 against £2,234), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Euro NCAP gave the Land Rover Discovery 5 stars (2017) and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 5 stars (2022). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Land Rover Discovery or the Mercedes-Benz GLC?
Pick the Land Rover Discovery for the bigger boot, or the Mercedes-Benz GLC for the lower price, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.