2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The Discovery Sport is essentially compact on the outside, yet it offers the option of a modest third-row seat.

And that’s a big advantage—one that pits it against a very wide range of vehicles, which in the U.S.

market includes mid-size rugged family crossovers like the Subaru Outback and Ford Explorer.

But Land Rover’s main competition, the brand says, is the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Volvo XC60.

Compared to any of these other models, the third-row seat is a plus.

The Discovery Sport also feels like more of a rugged multi-tasker than the BMW X3, as well as more space-efficient and comfortable than the Q5.

The Mercedes GLK twins classic SUV lines with a somewhat snug interior and moderate off-road ability.

And it’s worth considering that in another year, the Discovery Sport will offer something that the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class already have: a fuel-efficient diesel engine option.

The GMC Terrain has bullnose styling and 4-cylinder frugality to throw in the mix—not to mention the luxe Denali models.

We’d also throw in a top-of-the-line Jeep Cherokee V-6 as a more mass-market counterpoint.

So equipped, the Cherokee would have a pricetag in the same range as a base Discovery Sport, also with strong off-road ability and a feature set that might stand as a better value.

But the Land Rover seems to make more interior space out of about the same exterior dimensions, while it has more luxury cachet, as well as better drivability overall.