There's a reason the Land Rover Discovery has enjoyed decades of sales.
It's a sensible, softer, more family-focused choice, unlike the more luxurious Range Rover or imposing Defender. Plus, it still has the luxury trimmings and unstoppable off-road tech you expect from a Land Rover.
However, whether it's the steep price or the roly-poly handling, the Discovery might not be the car for you. So we've chosen our 10 favourite Land Rover Discovery alternatives. Many are available as nearly new and used cars for sale at Motorpoint.
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Volvo XC90
- Audi Q7
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Land Rover Defender
- BMW X5
- Volkswagen ID.Buzz
- Mercedes GLE
- KGM Rexton
- MG S9
Toyota Land Cruiser
The Discovery's heritage is impressive, but it looks like a relative upstart compared to the Toyota Land Cruiser's lengthy lineage. It's nothing short of an off-road icon, with Land Cruisers reliably lasting for many hundreds of thousands of miles with nothing more than regular maintenance. The latest Land Cruiser channels some of the boxy, retro charm of older versions, while enhancing the car's off-road and on-road prowess. It's just a shame the UK only gets a slightly asthmatic diesel engine.
Shop used Toyota Land Cruiser cars for sale or read our Toyota reviews
Volvo XC90
This version of the XC90 has been on sale since 2015. However, Volvo recently gave it a thorough facelift, so it's clearly hanging around for a while yet. And why shouldn't it? This XC90 generation has proved just as much of a hit as the last model, with cool Scandinavian styling, acres of cabin space, and a calm, relaxed character. There's a choice of mild-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines, or there's the fully electric EX90. On the road, the XC90 focuses on delivering a smooth, effortless driving experience, comparing favourably to some unnecessarily sporty rivals.
See used Volvo XC90 cars for sale or read our Volvo reviews
Audi Q7
Like the XC90, the Audi Q7 is another car that's enjoyed more than a decade of sales in its current format. Similar to the Discovery, there's decent ground clearance and Audi's famed quattro all-wheel-drive system, but the Q7 is more optimised for on-road performance than the Land Rover. Its cabin is simply enormous, too, with space for adults in all three rows, plus a little luggage behind them. You also get the clean, modern interior aesthetic found in other Audi models, including a crisp infotainment system that's easy to get your head around.
Browse used Audi Q7 cars for sale or read our Audi reviews
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Discovery has a lot of capability, but then again it costs a lot of money. While the Hyundai Santa Fe probably won't match the British bruiser for off-road chops, it's still practical, well-equipped and premium-feeling. The large boxy body means you can easily fit tall adults in the rearmost seats, or carry huge amounts of cargo with them folded. Material quality is mostly on par with the Land Rover, and the big Hyundai also has the kind of robust build quality that feels like it'll last many years.
Search used Hyundai Santa Fe cars for sale or read our Hyundai Santa Fe review
Land Rover Defender
We said above that the Discovery is Land Rover's more sensible, sedate side. If that doesn't sound exciting enough for you, check out the Land Rover Defender. It's a similarly practical family off-roader, but it has a much tougher, more upright look to it, along with marginally more ability in the rough stuff. It's available in three different lengths, but most drivers will favour the mid-size Defender 110. This has seven spacious seats unlike the Defender 90, and goes without the large rear overhang of the oversized Defender 130.
Shop used Land Rover Defender cars for sale or read our Land Rover Defender review
BMW X5
Many of these posh, pricey family SUVs have either the looks or the hardware you'd associate with off-roaders. However, few drivers ever explore that side of the car's talents, and many wouldn't dare risk their expensive bodywork off the beaten track. If that sounds like you, try out the BMW X5. This is a road-focused SUV, with well-judged suspension and impressive handling, plus some seriously spicy engine options under the bonnet. All the practicality and premium features you'd expect from a big BMW are present and correct too.
Browse used BMW X5 cars for sale or read our BMW reviews
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Maybe all you need from the Discovery is the spacious cabin – so why not pick something that truly maximises interior space for your money? The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is the electric reincarnation of the iconic VW Type 2 bus, and it has one of the largest cabins you'll find at this price point. Every spot in the interior has acres of space for adults or bulky child seats. Plus, funky features like the sliding rear doors and movable centre console make it a flexible family hauler. EV range could be better but performance is effortless.
View used Volkswagen electric cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
Mercedes GLE
The Mercedes GLE is descended from one of the very first luxury SUVs – the Mercedes ML, which launched way back in 1997. In the three decades since then, the GLE has morphed into something unrecognisable. The cabin is simply sumptuous, with all of Mercedes' most luxurious fittings and materials. It's also effortless to drive with mighty turbo petrol and diesel engines to make light work of its heavy body. Few cars combine the presence and the quality of the GLE, with a healthy dose of do-anything practicality too.
Check out used Mercedes cars for sale or read our Mercedes reviews
KGM Rexton
KGM is the phoenix risen from the ashes of SsangYong, though the tough Rexton off-roader has remained mostly unchanged in the transition. This is a great choice if you need the tough off-road chops and brawny towing ability of the Discovery in a more affordable package. The Rexton has proper 'body-on-frame' construction like pickup trucks and the toughest 4x4s, which allows it to shrug off the kind of abuse working vehicles are subjected to. What's more, it's actually very well equipped despite its relatively affordable price.
Browse used KGM and SsangYong cars or read our KGM reviews
MG S9
We've already explored a few affordable alternatives to the Discovery, but the MG S9 takes things to a whole new level. This car is half – literally half – the price of a Discovery, though it offers comparable amounts of cabin space, with a similarly luxurious design and equally generous equipment list. We doubt the MG will get anywhere near the Discovery for off-road driving, but the S9's clever plug-in-hybrid engine means solid performance and manageable real-world running costs, especially if you can recharge at home.
See used MG cars or read our preview of the MG S9
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