Land Rover Defender vs. Land Rover Discovery: which is better?
Land Rover is known for reliable and durable vehicles, and in this guide, we take a look at two of the top models: the Defender vs. the Discovery
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Found a good deal but struggling to decide between a used Land Rover Discovery vs. used Land Rover Defender?
They have a lot going for them, including heritage and genuine off-road ability, comfort and top-notch luxury, but if you’re in the market for a big SUV, which should you pick?
We compare the Land Rover Discovery vs. Land Rover Defender side-by-side to help you edge closer to making a decision.
Compare Land Rover Defender vs. Discovery: style
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Despite clearly being different vehicles, previous-generation examples of each were fairly similar in that they both had very boxy, industrial-looking designs, but newer models swap the utilitarian look for style and luxury.
The Land Rover Defender continues to have a boxy shape, but its panels are much softer.
The shiny metallic paintwork also does a good job of elevating the Defender compared with earlier models, which looked duller.
Overall, it has a very upright stance and flat roofline, making it seem bigger than it is, though it’s still a much bigger SUV than your typical family SUV, especially in five-door form.
On that note, five-door models come with up to eight seats, and three-door models come with five.
Some versions can also be specced with a ‘jump seat’ in between the two front seats, adding to the total headcount.
Continuing the boxy theme, the circular LED daytime running lights are housed in a boxy light cluster along with smaller square-shaped LED daytime running lights, while the taillight signature is also square-themed.
The Discovery has a more refined and modern look that’s a little bit more understated, but it still looks the part.
It’s a tall car and has space for up to seven, but the roofline and angles used along the bodyline help to give it a more classy look.
Is the Land Rover Discovery or Land Rover Defender better to drive?
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Being similarly sized large SUVs, the Discovery and the Defender share some of the same engines, which are badged according to power. For example, the D300 engine produces around 300hp.
There are some 2.0-litre engines, which are sold with efficiency in mind, but the larger 3.0-litre units make lighter work of moving these heavy SUVs and may prove more efficient as you won’t have to work them as hard as the 2.0-litre ones.
There are also plug-in hybrid options with around 400hp – they’re quick and they can do around 30 miles on electric power alone, but unless you regularly charge it, a diesel could be more cost-effective.
Newer models are backed by emission-reducing mild hybrid technology.
Because they’re so big and heavy, the Defender and the Discovery tend to lean in corners, like on twisty country roads, so if that’s the type of driving you do, you may want to consider something smaller.
However, they come into their own in other scenarios. Long-distance motorway trips are where they’re incredibly comfortable, and they even do an incredible job of ironing out imperfections in road surfaces around town, especially when fitted with air suspension.
The ultimate experience comes when the going gets tough, however, because very few SUVs can keep up with a Land Rover when it comes to going off-road.
Depending on the exact specification you go for, expect up to 900mm of wading ability. That’s around twice as much as the average family SUV, so you’ll have no trouble navigating floods and even the odd river ford.
The Defender has a ground clearance of up to 283mm, while the Defender manages up to 290mm. The difference is negligible, but the Defender’s stance makes it slightly more suitable for off-roading.
They both come as standard with a four-wheel-drive system and lots of driving modes, but even if off-roading isn’t your thing, you’ll benefit from the extra grip in slippery and wet conditions.
Discovery vs. Defender: interior
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You’ll notice a lot of similarities between both models, such as the hard-wearing but premium-feeling switchgear. Their seats are also coated in soft and sumptuous leather.
However, the Discovery is clearly set up to feel ultra-luxurious and isn’t far off meeting the extremely high standards set by the very expensive Range Rover.
Expect a minimalist dash layout dominated by a large touchscreen infotainment system. Because it’s been on sale since 2017, technology has improved – look for a newer 2021-onward model with the much-improved Pivi Pro system, which is sharp, easy to use, and gets free over-the-air updates.
The Defender was introduced several years later, so comes with the improved system as standard.
It has an entirely different feel inside, almost as if you’re sitting ‘on’ the vehicle rather than ‘in’ it. The Discovery’s cockpit wraps around the driver, but the Defender feels more rugged in this sense.
The gear selector, climate controls and other buttons jut out from the dash on what feels like an island, separate from the rest of the dash.
Whichever design you prefer, you’re guaranteed to have a truly luxurious and comfortable experience.
Land Rover Defender vs. Discovery: size of the boot
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Boot sizes vary depending on how many seats you opt for and, in the case of the Defender, which bodystyle you go for.
Put simply, the Land Rover Discovery is better for carrying luggage and the Land Rover Defender is good for carrying people, but the reality is that they both have large boots and lots of interior space, so you won’t be disappointed with either.
Seven-seat Discovery models have a 172-litre boot, which is about the same as you’d find in a Fiat 500.
With the rearmost seats folded, the space extends to 922 litres, and again to 1,997 litres with the middle row folded flat.
The Defender comes in three sizes: three-door ‘90’ models, five-door ‘110 models’, and even longer eight-seater ‘130’ models.
The five-seat Defender 90 has a 297-litre boot (about the same as a Ford Fiesta), which extends to 1,263 litres with the rear bench folded.
Defender 110 models with seven seats have 160/743/1,826 litres of space, and eight-seat Defender 130 models have 290/1,015/1,876 litres of boot volume.
Just to confuse things, you can get some Discovery and Defender 110/130 models with just five seats – these have slightly bigger boots.
All you need to know is that with all seats in place, these cars have average to above-average boots, and that if you need to carry lots, you can fold the seats down and have almost van-like amounts of space.
Land Rover Discovery vs. Defender: reliability and safety
Land Rover models have received mixed reviews over the years when it comes to reliability, but the Defender and Discovery have helped the brand to make significant steps forward.
They’re known for their ruggedness and off-road capability, but they’ll also last a long time on regular roads.
Both received full five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings and performed well across the board. The tests revealed impressive results, especially for their driver assist and safety systems.
Land Rover Defender vs. Discovery dimensions
Just like the boot volumes, Land Rover quotes a few exterior dimensions depending on the precise specification.
Starting with the Discovery, at 4,956mm long, 2,220mm wide (including mirrors) and 1,888mm tall, it’s a big car.
The Defender is slightly narrower (2,105mm), though it doesn’t look it. It’s also taller (1,967-1,974mm) than most people.
The key difference between Defender models is in their length: 4,583mm (90), 5,018mm (110), and 5,358mm (130). The Defender 130 is longer than even a long-wheelbase Range Rover.
Used Land Rover Discovery vs. used Land Rover Defender: which should you buy?
It’s easy to think that the Defender should be more suitable for those who genuinely need to venture off the beaten track, but like every other Land Rover model, it has also earned itself a reputation as a very luxurious SUV.
In reality, few drivers will ever leave the tarmac, and both are great picks. The Discovery is good for carrying seven, but if you need even more space, consider a Defender.