Compare the2023 Land Rover Discovery SportVS 2023 Volvo XC40

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Discovery Sport. But it costs extra on the XC40.

Both the Discovery Sport and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 Volvo vehicles. With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Volvo.

The Discovery Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 52 more horsepower (246 vs. 194) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (269 vs. 221) than the XC40 B4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Discovery Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (269 vs. 258) than the XC40 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Discovery Sport has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (17.7 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Discovery Sport higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (5). This means the Discovery Sport produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Land Rover Discovery Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC40.

For better stopping power the Discovery Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery Sport offers optional 21-inch wheels. The XC40’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Discovery Sport has a standard full size spare (not available on 7-Passenger) so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the XC40; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Discovery Sport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC40’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Discovery Sport offers an optional 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 XC40’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Discovery Sport’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the XC40 (107.9 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Discovery Sport is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC40.

The Discovery Sport S handles at .82 G’s, while the XC40 B5 Plus AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Discovery Sport S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC40 B5 Plus AWD (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Discovery Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Discovery Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Discovery Sport offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the XC40 can only carry 5.

The Discovery Sport has .5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room and 2 inches more rear legroom than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Discovery Sport’s available middle row seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Discovery Sport’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC40.

The Discovery Sport’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

The Discovery Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC40’s (4409 vs. 3500 pounds).

Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the Discovery Sport, 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 XC40.

The Discovery Sport has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC40 (1515 vs. 925 lbs.).

The Discovery Sport has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC40 (1670 vs. 925 lbs.).

The Discovery Sport SE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The XC40 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Sport offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XC40 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Discovery Sport has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The XC40 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.