Compare the2023 Land Rover Discovery Sport VS 2023 Volvo XC60

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Discovery Sport. But it costs extra on the XC60.

Both the Discovery Sport and the XC60 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 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (269 vs. 258) than the XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Discovery Sport and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Discovery Sports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

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 XC60 (5 to 7). This means the Discovery Sport produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 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 XC60.

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 XC60; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Discovery Sport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC60 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Discovery Sport uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Discovery Sport S handles at .82 G’s, while the XC60 Recharge Core pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Discovery Sport is 4.4 inches shorter than the XC60, making the Discovery Sport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Discovery Sport offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the XC60 can only carry 5.

The Discovery Sport has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear legroom than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Discovery Sport’s available middle row seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Discovery Sport’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC60.

	Discovery Sport	XC60
Third Seat Removed	26.6 cubic feet	24.4 cubic feet

The Discovery Sport’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

	Discovery Sport	XC60
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	8.9”/38.5”/69.7”	n.a./37.8”/68.7”
Max Width	52”	43.5”
Min Width	43.5”	39.8”
Height	31.4”	30.6”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Discovery Sport with 5+2 Seating’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Discovery Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC60’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 XC60.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Land Rover Discovery Sport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC60.