Wife's SUV - 2014 Mercedes GL63 AMG or 2014 Range Rover SC V8?

[ImpetuousRacer]

We are looking to do an SUV now that we have the sedan.
We narrowed down between the two after trying a bit of other SUVs.

Both around the low 500hp, both have similar options, similar price.
What are you guys doing? Looking to have room for kids, want luxury comfort and reliability. Thanks for the insight!

[Pazzo009]

I personally do not like RR. They are nice looking but that's it. My brother has a 2011 RR sport and he's unhappy. I don't like anything about interior wise. It drives okay IMO. My wife has a 2013 ML and we are happy with it.

[ImpetuousRacer]

Originally Posted by aculeg87

I personally do not like RR. They are nice looking but that's it. My brother has a 2011 RR sport and he's unhappy. I don't like anything about interior wise. It drives okay IMO. My wife has a 2013 ML and we are happy with it.

You say you personally don't like it. Could you elaborate on some of the factors of why? The 2014 is a complete redesign. 800lbs lighter, new look, new technology, wider, etc. Just wondering if the new model addressed some of the issues you had with it. Thanks.

[Powerbeast]

We went from a SC RR to an X5M and now Escalade (for the third row) next car will be GL63!

[Kyosho]

http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-...04_2433666.htm

They review the new RR SC Sport on Top Gear. Made me want it after watching the episode. Maybe this will help with your decision.

[hsiaochinsan]

I would go with GL for its size. It rides smooth and is spacious. We just ordered GL550 last month.

[stealth.pilot]

RR. It's all aluminum. They really took a big leap forward with the new one.

[ImpetuousRacer]

Originally Posted by hsiaochinsan

I would go with GL for its size. It rides smooth and is spacious. We just ordered GL550 last month.

We really liked the room of the GL because it had a proper spacious 3rd Row, was a bit longer and had ample leg room. However, the width seemed a little tight in comparison to the RR. With the RR being quite a bit wider and it had ample space/interior room. Neither my wife or I are fat, but the extra space just felt roomier, it gave you a separate arm rest from the center console as well. You could put 2 car seats in the back and fit a full size adult in the middle, where you couldn't do that in the GL.

We weren't looking at the sport, but the full size range rover, and to our surprise, the smaller sport offers a third row and the full size does not! I'm not sure if a 3rd row is a dealer breaker, but is nice to have on the rare occasion that you do use it.

Found a great comparison here of the new models of each:
http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/...n/viewall.html

[pochesq]

It depends on what you are looking for. I drive an Escalade ESV to fit 8 people with a lot of luggage. It has 2 monitors for long drives and is comfortable. It's not fast nor nimble but that wasn't our criteria. Again it depends on your personal requirements.

[mstmng]

go for RR Autobiography

i wouldnt go for RR Sport, it looks like Evoque and gear knob looks awful IMO

[Spinny02]

RR ( fully body) is my pref but don't think you want the first year. Let them get the bugs out. We were on the list for a whileor but gave up the spot. SC version won't hit the streets for a while. so that leaves you with the GL. We ended up ordering the QX 80. Should be in this month. Not in the same power range & not the same lux but way more room with capt chairs. 2015/16 rr SC is what we will buy.

[Pazzo009]

Originally Posted by ImpetuousRacer

You say you personally don't like it. Could you elaborate on some of the factors of why? The 2014 is a complete redesign. 800lbs lighter, new look, new technology, wider, etc. Just wondering if the new model addressed some of the issues you had with it. Thanks.

I want to reiterate that this is my opinion and perception and I have no hard data or personal ownership experience. Also, they have changed their chassis so perhaps some improvements have been made.

The inside of my brother's sport is cold. I do not care for the interior. My wife's ML has much more room inside. My brother's wife drives the truck and she had a Buick Enclave before that and she liked that better. That fact alone says a lot to me. He has not had any major problems except that the temp settings on the climate control and ext temp have defaulted to Celsius. The dealer has still been unable to correct it. So it has to be changed manually everytime.

In my opinion I think RR are nice looking, but I would go with MB.

[runningthingz]

RR all the way! We ordered my wife's a few weeks ago and there is a 3 month wait right now. Crazy.

[nynd]

Look at a GL550 or GL63.. for performance or get a GL350 (diesel) for 1000 kms from the tank!

[DrewM5]

I looked at the GL for my wife and the second row seats were a deal breaker for me. The way the headrests work, they need to be down to (i) have any visibility whatsoever out the back and (ii) to fold down the seat for entry to the third row - otherwise the smack into the front seat backs right where the vidoe system is. The headrests are so large that the impeded on the seat back cushion when down and I found the rear seats completely uncomfortable with the headrest down.

[SDf10]

RR for sure. The new sport is awesome, and is in no way comparable to the previous models. They really went leaps and bounds ahead with this redesign.

[cpiguy]

I'm guessing that you all have a need for the 3rd row seat and extra space. Other than that, I'm on my 3rd BMW X5 and ordering the new 2014 M version next week. I've always been very happy with the X5.

[Rob///M5]

Originally Posted by nynd

Look at a GL550 or GL63.. for performance or get a GL350 (diesel) for 1000 kms from the tank!

Yeah, but that's just it. I was enamored with the GL until I drove it. Lexus-esque mushy luxury mobile IMHO. I said to the sales guy "feels like an old persons car"...to which he replied "we have a lot of old buyers". Wow, great sales tactic!

I much prefer the tighter sprung Q7 or X7 (I wish!). The fact is, there are almost no competitors in this space, which is ridiculous considering how many folks have 2+ kids and no desire for a minivan. BMW has every "SAV Coupe" variant possible and yet lacks the X7 - I would have been a buyer. Instead wound up with a Q7.

The Model X is intriguing, but not available until 2015.

[greentrbo95gst]

I wasn't aware of 3rd row seating in the RR.
If that is not what you are going for why not try the X5M? If space is a must then definitely GL.

[thebishman]

There's a reason why respected magazines like EVO and CAR chose the RR as the best 'car' in the world if you could just have one. The new RR Sport gives you a second choice should you want something more dynamic than the full size RR. I have been holding off replacing my wife's '08 GL 320 CDI for one of the new Land Rovers but am (still) pissed that no TDV8 version has been released in the US yet. Otherwise she'd be in one today.
Bish

[ImpetuousRacer]

I appreciate everyone's insight. I think we will be doing the Range Rover Full size (Non Sport) Supercharged V8. We didn't see any advantage to paying more for the Autobiography.

They have a sport coming in at our local dealer in the end of August that we want to check out before we put in the order.

We drove a 2012 RR Full Size V8 SC, will drive the 2014 RR Sport V6, and gather best to our ability if we like everything. Sucks not being able to drive the actual car you want to buy.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by ImpetuousRacer

I appreciate everyone's insight. I think we will be doing the Range Rover Full size (Non Sport) Supercharged V8. We didn't see any advantage to paying more for the Autobiography.

They have a sport coming in at our local dealer in the end of August that we want to check out before we put in the order.

We drove a 2012 RR Full Size V8 SC, will drive the 2014 RR Sport V6, and gather best to our ability if we like everything. Sucks not being able to drive the actual car you want to buy.

I think this is going to be a very impressive car. The MB just seems heavy and dated in comparison.

I havent driven the V6 RR Sport, but having driven the V6SC and V8SC Jaguar XJ, I can tell you there is a massive difference with the larger engine. The V6 seems a bit lame.

Did you see the top gear review of the RR Full Size V8 SC?