Compare the2023 Land Rover DiscoveryVS 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback

The Discovery’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Discovery and the Q5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Land Rover Discovery weighs 820 to 1115 pounds more than the Audi Q5 Sportback. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 46 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Audi.

The Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (296 vs. 261) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 94 more horsepower (355 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Discovery has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Sportback (23.8 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Discovery higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi Q5 Sportback (5). This means the Discovery produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q5 Sportback every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Land Rover Discovery, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q5 Sportback.

For better stopping power the Discovery’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q5 Sportback:

For better traction, the Discovery has larger standard tires than the Q5 Sportback (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Discovery’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 Sportback (285/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q5 Sportback. The Discovery’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige.

The Discovery offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Q5 Sportback; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The front and rear suspension of the Discovery uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q5 Sportback, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Discovery has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Q5 Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Discovery has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Discovery’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Discovery’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Q5 Sportback (115.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Discovery is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5 Sportback.

The front grille of the Discovery uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Discovery has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Q5 Sportback can only carry 5.

The Discovery has 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5 Sportback.

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Discovery when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the liftgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

The Discovery’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q5 Sportback.

The Discovery’s cargo area is larger than the Q5 Sportback’s in every dimension:

The Discovery’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q5 Sportback’s (5925 vs. 4400 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q5 Sportback is only 4400 pounds. The Discovery offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the Discovery uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Discovery has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the Q5 Sportback, the Discovery offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Discovery has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Discovery HSE/Metropolitan has standard front air conditioned seats and the Discovery offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Discovery HSE/Metropolitan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q5 Sportback.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Land Rover Discovery has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Discovery will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Discovery will retain 50.7% to 50.86% of its original price after five years, while the Q5 Sportback only retains 48.81% to 48.82%.