Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Based on our data, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is more reliable with an average score of 60/100 compared to 57/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has more recalls (184) compared to the Land Rover Range Rover Sport (177). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a lower complaint rate at 7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 56.4 for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Last updated: 2026-07-17

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Reliability Compared

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Mixed

More Reliable

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Good

Choosing between the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class currently leads with an average score of 60/100 compared to 57/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is in its sixth generation (W214), which began in 2023. This places it early in its generation cycle, where newer platforms might exhibit first-year reliability issues as manufacturers work out initial production kinks. The previous generation (W213), running from 2016 to 2023 with a facelift in 2020, was well-regarded for its matured design and improved reliability over its lifespan. In contrast, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport lacks a detailed generation history, making it difficult to assess its current generation status or compare its redesign cycles. When considering reliability, this absence of information makes it challenging to determine any patterns or improvements over time.

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is more reliable than the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, scoring 60/100 vs 57/100.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport both show moderate reliability concerns, with average scores of 58/100 and 54/100, respectively. The E-Class has fewer owner complaints per 10,000 units sold at 7 compared to the Range Rover Sport's significantly higher rate of 56.4, indicating a better owner experience for the Mercedes. While the E-Class has slightly more recalls at 184 over eight years versus the Range Rover Sport's 177 over nine years, the higher complaint rate of the Land Rover suggests more frequent issues in daily use. Overall, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class edges out as the more reliable choice, despite both vehicles experiencing common issues in electrical systems and power trains.

Key Differences

1Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 49.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Land Rover Range Rover Sport has 7 fewer total recalls
3Mercedes-Benz E-Class scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Land Rover Range Rover Sport

—

2Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Which Is More Reliable?

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Reliability Score	57/100	60/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	177	184
Complaints per 10k Sold	56.4	7
Year Wins	2	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Land Rover Range Rover Sport exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Range Rover Sport showing a higher total number of complaints at 757 compared to the E-Class's 469. Both models face significant issues with their electrical systems, but the Range Rover Sport has a notably higher count of 185 complaints, including four linked to crashes. Additionally, the Range Rover Sport has a pronounced problem with its power train, accumulating 89 complaints and 10 crash-linked incidents, whereas the E-Class has only 18 power train complaints with no crashes reported. While the E-Class's issues are more evenly distributed across various components, the Range Rover Sport's higher rate of crash-linked complaints in multiple categories such as power train and steering suggests a greater concern for safety-related defects.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class common problem areas comparison
Component	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	13.8Above Avg	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	6.6Average	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	6.6Average	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	4.8Average	0.3Very Low
STEERING	3.7Average	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	3.5Average	—None
AIR BAGS	1.6Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	1.6Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	1.3Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1.2Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	1.1Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	1.1Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.7Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.4Very Low	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	0.4Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class Reliability Compare by Year?

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	Edge
2026	75/1003R / 0C	76/1000R / 0C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2024	64/10022R / 47C	63/1001R / 7C	Land Rover Range Rover Sport
2023	52/10027R / 125C	63/1005R / 20C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2022	53/10023R / 94C	60/1008R / 19C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2021	53/10023R / 72C	56/10030R / 36C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2020	42/10037R / 138C	56/10026R / 35C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2019	56/10014R / 90C	54/10042R / 100C	Land Rover Range Rover Sport
2018	47/10019R / 167C	55/10072R / 252C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Best years to cross-shop: The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport scored 75/100 and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

If you prioritize reliability and fewer owner complaints, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class might be the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 58/100 and only 7 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, it edges out the Range Rover Sport in dependability. While both models have a similar number of recalls, the E-Class's lower complaint rate suggests a more satisfactory ownership experience for many drivers. On the other hand, if you're drawn to the Land Rover Range Rover Sport for its features or design, be prepared for a higher likelihood of owner complaints, with 56.4 per 10,000 sold. Its reliability score of 54/100 indicates a slightly higher risk of issues, particularly with the electrical system and powertrain. Consider this option if you're willing to accept potential maintenance challenges in exchange for its unique attributes.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Common Questions

Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?: Based on our data, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is more reliable with an average score of 60/100 compared to 57/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has more recalls (184) compared to the Land Rover Range Rover Sport (177). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a lower complaint rate at 7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 56.4 for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

More Land Rover Range Rover Sport comparisons

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More Mercedes-Benz E-Class comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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