Compare the2024 Audi Q3VS 2024 Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Q3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q3 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Discovery Sport doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Audi Q3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Q3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Q3 and the Discovery Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Discovery Sport has not been tested, yet.

The Q3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Discovery Sport’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 53 percent more Audi dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q3’s warranty.

The Audi Q3’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Discovery Sport’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q3’s reliability 23 points higher than the Discovery Sport.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Q3 first among small premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Discovery Sport isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Audi higher than Land Rover.

On the EPA test cycle the Q3 gets better mileage than the Discovery Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Discovery Sport requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Q3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Discovery Sport are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Q3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Discovery Sport (255/45R19 vs. 245/45R21).

The Q3’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 Discovery Sport’s standard 60 series tires. The Q3’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Discovery Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

The Audi Q3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 350 pounds less than the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The Q3 is 4.4 inches shorter than the Discovery Sport, making the Q3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q3 has .1 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front legroom than the Discovery Sport.

The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume than the Discovery Sport with its rear seat up (23.7 vs. 6.9 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Q3. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Q3’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Land Rover. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 50% lower rating, Land Rover is ranked 30th.

If the windows are left open on the Q3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Discovery Sport can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Q3 Premium Plus has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q3 has standard extendable sun visors. The Discovery Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q3 outsold the Land Rover Discovery Sport by almost four to one during 2022.