Compare the2023 Land Rover DiscoveryVS 2023 Tesla Model Y

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Discovery’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model Y doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Discovery has a standard 3D Surround Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model Y only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Discovery’s standard Rear Traffic Monitor uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Discovery has standard InControl, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Discovery and the Model Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 and rearview cameras.

The Land Rover Discovery weighs 467 to 797 pounds more than the Tesla Model Y. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 30 percent more Land Rover dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Discovery’s warranty.

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 Tesla vehicles. With 33 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Tesla.

The Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 30 more horsepower (355 vs. 325) than the Model Y Long Range’s standard electric motors.

For better stopping power the Discovery P360’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Model Y:

For better traction, the Discovery’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (285/40R22 vs. 255/35R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model Y. The Discovery’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Model Y Performance.

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 Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Discovery has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Discovery flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’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 Model Y, 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 Model Y’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 Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Discovery’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Model Y (115.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Discovery is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Model Y.

For greater off-road capability the Discovery has a 4.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (11.1 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Discovery to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Discovery has 4 inches more front hip room, 4 inches more front shoulder room, 5.1 inches more rear hip room, 5.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.3 inches more third row headroom, 7 inches more third row legroom, 5.5 inches more third row hip room and 6.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model Y.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

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

Both the Discovery and the Model Y have standard second row automatic folding seats. The Discovery’s optional third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Model Y doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Discovery’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model Y doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Discovery’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (5925 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model Y is only 3500 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 Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A Service Interval Indicator is standard on the Discovery to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model Y.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Model Y, 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.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Discovery has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Discovery’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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. Tesla doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Model Y.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Model Y.