Compare the2023 Land Rover DiscoveryVS 2023 Ford Bronco

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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Both the Discovery and Bronco 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 Bronco’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.

The Discovery’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Bronco and is not available with Base.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Discovery has standard Rear Traffic Monitor and Rear Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Ford charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Bronco and its not available on the Base and the Bronco’s Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Discovery uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Bronco uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Discovery and the Bronco 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 and rearview cameras.

Warranty

The Discovery comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Discovery’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Bronco’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Discovery P360 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Ford Bronco turbo V6 (automatics tested):

	Discovery	Bronco
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Discovery gets better mileage than the Bronco 4-Door:

			MPG
Discovery
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
Bronco 4-Door
AWD	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/21 hwy
		Black Diamond 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/18 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/18 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/17 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	15 city/16 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/21 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	19 city/21 hwy
		Black Diamond 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/18 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/17 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/17 hwy
		Badlands/Sasquatch 2.7 turbo V6	17 city/17 hwy

The Discovery has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco 2-Door’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Discovery has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Raptor’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 21.2 gallons).

The Discovery has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Discovery higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco (5 to 6). This means the Discovery produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Land Rover Discovery comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Bronco.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Discovery P300	Discovery P360	Bronco	Bronco Raptor
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.4 inches	12.2 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.8 inches	12.1 inches	13.2 inches

The Discovery stops much shorter than the Bronco:

	Discovery	Bronco
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	221 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 Bronco Big Bend’s standard 75 series tires. The Discovery’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Bronco’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco. The Discovery’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Bronco Outer Banks.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Land Rover Discovery has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Ford Bronco has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Discovery has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Discovery flat and controlled during cornering. The Bronco’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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

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 Bronco doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Discovery R-Dynamic S handles at .79 G’s, while the Bronco Raptor pulls only .68 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Discovery R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the Bronco 4-Door (28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 30.9 seconds @ .51 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Discovery has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco 4-Door (11.1 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Discovery to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

Unibody construction lowers the Discovery’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Bronco doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Passenger Space

The Discovery has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Bronco can only carry up to 5.

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

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 Bronco doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

Cargo Capacity

The Discovery’s cargo area provides more volume than the Bronco 2-Door.

	Discovery	Bronco
Third Seat Folded	45 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	22.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	74.3 cubic feet	52.3 cubic feet

The Discovery’s cargo area is larger than the Bronco’s in almost every dimension:

	Discovery	Bronco 2-Door	Bronco 4-Door
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	11.5”/43.4”/76.9”	n.a./n/a	n.a./32”/68.8”
Max Width	55.6”	n/a	43”
Min Width	47.24”	n/a	42.9”
Height	33.6”	n/a	40”

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Discovery’s second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Bronco doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Discovery’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Bronco’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Discovery has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Bronco doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Towing

The Discovery’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco’s (5925 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco is only 4500 pounds. The Discovery offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Discovery uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Bronco uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Discovery, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Bronco doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Discovery’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Discovery 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 Bronco doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Discovery’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Discovery’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Bronco’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The Discovery’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Bronco’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Bronco doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Bronco only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Bronco doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Discovery’s power mirror controls are mounted on the door for easy access. The Bronco’s power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

When the Discovery with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bronco’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Discovery’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Bronco offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Discovery has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bronco, and aren’t available on the Bronco Base. The Discovery also offers optional heated second and third row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco.

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 Bronco doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Discovery has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Bronco doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 Bronco.

The Discovery has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Bronco and isn’t available on the Bronco Base.

The Discovery’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Bronco Base doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Both the Discovery and the Bronco offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Discovery has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bronco doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Bronco Outer Banks/Badlands/Wildtrak/Raptor offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

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 Bronco doesn’t offer an automated parking system.