Compare the2023 Land Rover DiscoveryVS 2022 Lexus RXL

Both the Discovery and RXL have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Discovery has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RXL’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Discovery. But it costs extra on the RXL.

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

The Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (296 vs. 290) and 32 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 263) than the RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 47 more horsepower (355 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Discovery P360 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Discovery P360 gets better fuel mileage than the RX 350L AWD (19 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Discovery’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RXL Hybrid.

The Discovery has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Discovery has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 19.2 gallons).

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

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

The Discovery stops shorter than the RXL:

For better traction, the Discovery has larger standard tires than the RXL (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R18). The Discovery’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (285/40R22 vs. 235/65R18).

The Discovery’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Discovery’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RXL. The Discovery’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RXL.

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 RXL; 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 RXL, 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 RXL’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 RXL doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Discovery’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the RXL (115.1 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Discovery is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The Discovery R-Dynamic S handles at .76 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Discovery R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RX 350L (28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Discovery has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (11.1 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Discovery to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 RXL doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Discovery has 2 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 6.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.1 inches more third row headroom, 10 inches more third row legroom and 1.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

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

The Discovery’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (5925 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The Discovery offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the Discovery, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

The engine in the Discovery is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RXL. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the RXL, 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Discovery to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RXL doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Discovery HSE/Metropolitan offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The RXL doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Discovery has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Lexus doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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 RXL.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the RXL.

The Discovery’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.