2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. 2026 Range Rover

If you’re weighing the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. 2026 Range Rover, you’re already shopping the top of the full-size luxury SUV class. Both deliver comfort and presence, but they suit different priorities. Here at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham, we help Birmingham and Hoover families sort through that choice every day, and you can start by browsing our new vehicles.

The GLS is built around a three-row family layout. Range Rover buyers can choose from a wider range of seating configurations, and the design is more understated. This guide compares them fairly so you can decide which fits your week.

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. 2026 Range Rover at a Glance

The best way to compare the two is by how you’ll use the vehicle most. Maybe that’s carrying seven people, or maybe it’s a certain driving feel. Compare equivalent trims, because output, seating and towing vary a lot across both lineups, and cargo does too.

Quick Comparison Table: Power, Towing, Seating, and Cargo

Seating, Third Row, and Cargo Space

Seat count is really a configuration question. The GLS is designed around three-row use. On the Range Rover, the third row is available only on certain configurations, built on the long-wheelbase body. If a third row matters, check the exact version you’re considering.

Passenger Room and Third-Row Practicality for Families

The GLS third row seats an adult without complaint on a real trip, which is a genuinely short list in this class. It’s less spacious than the second row, as third rows always are, but the difference is comfort rather than viability. It’s also power-folding and split 50/50, so you can drop half for a long item and still carry someone back there.

The Range Rover’s long-wheelbase third row is a different story. Headroom is limited for tall adults, while children and shorter passengers find it nearly as comfortable as the second row. That’s a fine setup for some households. Its four- and five-seat layouts also appeal if you rarely need more than two rows.

Cargo Volume and Everyday Versatility

Cargo numbers answer different questions depending on how many seats are up. Car and Driver’s suitcase tests on the GLS fit:

• 4 carry-on suitcases behind the third row.
• 16 with the third row folded.
• 30 with the second and third rows folded.

In a short-wheelbase Range Rover, Car and Driver fit 2 carry-ons behind the third row, 15 with it folded, and 32 with all seats stowed. The Range Rover’s split liftgate can double as a seat, and an optional motorized cargo divider is available. Those are thoughtful touches for tailgates and lake days.

For a stroller plus luggage with all seats occupied, the GLS gives you more usable room. That’s what we’d prioritize for school runs and airport trips from Hoover.

Powertrains, Ride Comfort, and Towing

Both SUVs offer smooth daily acceleration and strong passing power. The differences show up in the engine menu, suspension, and how much you plan to tow.

GLS Engines vs. Range Rover Engines

The GLS 450 pairs a 3.0-liter inline-six turbo with mild-hybrid assist and makes 375 hp and 369 lb-ft. The GLS 580 steps up to a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 with 510 hp and 538 lb-ft. The AMG® GLS 63 adds hybrid assist to its V8 for 603 hp.

The Range Rover offers a wider mix. The P400 is a turbo inline-six with 48-volt hybrid at 395 hp, and the P530 is a twin-turbo V8 at 523 hp. The P550e is the most interesting of the group. This plug-in hybrid makes 542 hp, offers about 21 miles of electric-only driving from its 31.8 kWh battery, and is offered on the short wheelbase only. It can charge from depleted to 80 percent in under an hour at a 50-kW maximum rate. The P615 tops the range at 606 hp in the SV.

Short electric trips make the P550e worth a real look. Anyone after a conventional, proven-feeling daily driver will find the GLS engines hard to fault. Have questions about a specific setup? Contact us.

Air Suspension, Ride Quality, and Handling

Air suspension comes standard on every GLS, not as an option on upper trims, and it stays composed over rough pavement while holding the body flat through faster turns. On a Highway 280 commute or an older Birmingham side street, that’s the difference between a comfortable drive and a floaty one. The GLS 580 adds the available E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL package, which scans the road ahead with a forward-facing camera and preloads the suspension for what’s coming.

The Range Rover’s air suspension adds ground clearance when needed. It comes with standard four-wheel drive and terrain modes, and it’s very capable off-road. Comfort mode is plush, and Dynamic firms up the ride.

Towing Capacity Compared

The Range Rover has the higher maximum, up to 8,200 lb with the P530 V8. The GLS tops out at 7,700 lb and requires the Class IV trailer hitch. Those figures are the ceiling, and not every trim reaches them.

In practice, both can handle a typical boat or trailer for a weekend at the lake. If you’re towing near the upper limit often, the Range Rover’s extra capacity gives you more headroom. Always match the exact weight of your trailer to the specific vehicle.

Technology and Available Luxury Features

Both cabins are full of technology, but they present it differently. MBUX relies on prominent displays and deep personalization, while Pivi Pro gives you a cleaner, more restrained dashboard.

MBUX vs. Pivi Pro Infotainment

The GLS has two 12.3-inch displays, one for gauges and one for MBUX infotainment. Standard equipment includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, along with Bluetooth®. On the optional side, MBUX offers Augmented Video for Navigation and Interior Assistant, and you can add rear-seat entertainment.

The Range Rover uses a 13.1-inch curved Pivi Pro touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, navigation, wireless charging, and SiriusXM. Its 13.7-inch digital gauges are standard, and dual 11.4-inch rear displays are optional.

Screen size matters less than how fast you can reach what you need. On a test drive, try changing the cabin temperature and entering a destination by voice, then by touch, and see which system gets out of your way.

Interior Materials, Audio, Safety, and Driver-Assist Features

The GLS comes standard with leatherette and brushed-aluminum trim, with leather and wood available. Audio starts with a 13-speaker Burmester system and steps to a 26-speaker Burmester setup. The 450 also includes 14-way power heated and ventilated front seats as standard, which is worth noting since ventilated seats stay optional on plenty of vehicles at this price.

The Range Rover comes standard with leather, plus a leather-free option using wool or textiles. Its audio starts with a 15-speaker Meridian system, with 19- or 35-speaker upgrades. The 35-speaker adds headrest noise cancellation, and the Autobiography carries a standard 1,600-watt Meridian system. That’s an impressive audio lineup.

Both include adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist as standard, and both still require an attentive driver.

Which Luxury SUV Fits Birmingham-Area Families Best?

The decision comes down to daily life. For school and activity trips, highway travel and tight parking, and for carrying passengers plus luggage at once, we see the GLS as the practical everyday-luxury choice.

Choose the GLS if:

• You regularly need a third row an adult can actually use, on a vehicle where it’s standard rather than a long-wheelbase option
• You want 4MATIC® all-wheel drive and air suspension standard on every trim, not stepped up to
• You want a conventional three-row layout with usable cargo space behind that third row
• You want two more carry-ons behind the third row than the Range Rover manages
• You value factory-trained service fifteen minutes from home rather than a specialist you have to find

Consider the Range Rover if design, off-road capability, the P550e plug-in hybrid, higher towing, or a premium audio system tops your list, and the configuration you choose fits your passengers.

If you’ve got a lake or mountain trip planned within an hour of Birmingham, or just a busy week of errands ahead, a seating check and test drive will tell you more than any spec sheet.

Browse New GLS Inventory at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham

Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham sells and services new, certified and pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Alabama, and we handle leasing too. Our two campuses are in Hoover at 1800 Montgomery Hwy S (sales: 205-403-5179) and Irondale at 750 Mercedes Way (205-848-7000). Our factory-trained technicians handle service, and we’re proud of our Best of the Best recognition.

Browse our new GLS inventory to see what’s on the ground in Hoover and Irondale, then schedule a test drive and bring whoever normally rides in the back.

Photo Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz