Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 R-Dynamic SE and Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 2021 Comparative Review

Both of these luxury SUVs stand out not only from their brethren, but also from offerings from other brands (such as the Audi Q3) for their outstanding practicality.

They are smaller than "medium" but offer a choice of large storage space or seven spaces.

In terms of storage, the Disco wins with a larger total boot capacity of 754 liters (VDA) with the third row folded down. It easily swallowed up all of our Cars Guide luggage set or Cars Guide wheelchair with space.

Mercedes on paper has a significantly smaller volume (560 liters with the third row removed), but also consumes more energy. Cars Guide luggage set or stroller without any problems.

The 194-liter difference between the cars once loaded in our test seemed to be less than the claimed XNUMX liters, which is perhaps a Mercedes merit or a disadvantage compared to Land Rover.

With the third row up, none of the cars could fit even the smallest (36L) suitcase in our set. Instead, it would be wise to fit a small item or something less rigid like a duffel bag, especially in the Discovery Sport which offers a bit more space (157L).

In both cars, the second and third rows fold down completely into a flat floor to maximize usable cargo area in each, with the Benz gaining a slight advantage, perhaps due to the low floor and high roof. The table below shows the total luggage capacity.

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC	Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 SE
Third row up	130L	157L
Third row is tricky	565L	754L
Third and second row removed	1780L	1651L

Both cars also feature folding second rows where the middle seat can be lowered independently in place of a ski port.

In terms of front-end comfort, the Discovery has a luxurious dashboard finish, with almost every surface, including the area around the knees, made of soft material. The door cards are also well-equipped, as is the top of the center console drawer for a truly luxurious seating area. Adjustability is great too.

In terms of front-seat storage, the Discovery Sport features extra-large door shelves, roomy center cupholders, a large console box and a deep glove box.

In terms of convenience, the Disco Sport only gets USB 2.0 ports (not USB-C) located on the center console. The wireless charging bay is climate controlled, and there are also two 12V outlets for front passengers.

In the front seat of the GLB 250, you sit noticeably lower than in the Disco, and the dashboard design feels more upright.

Adjustment is excellent, and Artico faux leather trim extends to the door cards and the top of the center console. The seats in the Benz felt more luxurious than those in the Discovery Sport, though harder surfaces graced the dashboard design.

You'll probably need converters in the GLB, which only offers three USB-C outlets, one 12V outlet, and a climate-controlled wireless charging bay for front passengers.

The GLB also has handy storage and cup holders, although each is slightly smaller than the Discovery Sport.

The second row was spacious enough with every seat set up to fit me in there, with air space for my knees and ample head and arm room.

It's worth noting that the Benz's "stadium" seating arrangement allows second-row passengers to sit much higher than those in front. The soft-touch surfaces and the same soft seat finishes extend to the second-row door cards.

The Discovery also gets the same trim as the second row, with good seating setup in a less stadium-like layout than its Benz rival. The door cards are excellent with a deep soft finish, and the fold-down armrest even has its own storage box and large cup holders.

Both machines have directional vents in the second row, but in terms of outlets, the Benz is the winner with two USB-C ports. Discovery has only one 12V outlet.

Storage space is admirable in both cars: Discovery Sport's second row also features deep door shelves, hard pockets on the backs of the front seats and a small stowage tray at the rear of the center console.

The GLB has a drop-down tray with USB ports, small door shelves and nets on the backs of the front seats.

The third row deserves special attention in every car. I was surprised to find that I fit into both without too much trouble, but there is a winner.

The GLB is superbly packaged to the point that an adult can be reasonably comfortable in the third row. The deep floor plays an important role in providing a place where your feet can be tucked away, creating more room for your knees.

My head touched the roof at the back of the GLB, but it wasn't hard. The seat cushioning continued once again, allowing me to sink a bit into the third row seats for superior support and comfort compared to the Disco Sport. Drawbacks to the Benz's third row include slightly tighter knee room and a lack of padding for elbow support.

On the front of third-row amenities, the GLB has two more USB-C ports on each side, as well as a decent cup holder and storage tray. There are no adjustable air vents or fan control for third-row passengers.

In the meantime, Disco Sport suits my body much better. My legs have nowhere to go, raising my knees into an uncomfortable position, although they do not rest on the second row, as in the Benz.

The Discovery Sport offers noticeably less headroom and the seat trim is much firmer than in the Benz, offering less support. One area where the Disco really excels is its padded elbow supports and independent fan control, as well as large window openings. The Discovery Sport only has one 12V socket for rear passengers, although USB 2.0 ports may be optional.

Overall, the Benz is more impressively packaged and equipped with modern technology as standard, especially if you're going to put adults in the third row. The Disco Sport is sumptuously equipped with nice little storage, but the third row is really just for the kids, though additional amenities can be added at will.

It's worth remembering that both cars are stellar in terms of the flexibility and practicality they offer over their stablemates, so there's only a winner here for certain use cases.

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC	Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 SE
9	9