Compare the2026 Land Rover DiscoveryVS 2025 Audi new Q5 Sportback

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Land Rover Discovery’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Audi new Q5 Sportback.

Both the Discovery and the new Q5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 driver alert monitors.

The Land Rover Discovery weighs 535 to 835 pounds more than the Audi new Q5 Sportback. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Land Rover higher than Audi.

The Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (296 vs. 268) than the new Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Discovery Gemini/Tempest’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (355 vs. 268) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the new Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Discovery has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 Sportback (23.8 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Land Rover Discovery, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the new Q5 Sportback.

For better stopping power the Discovery’s brake rotors are larger than those on the new Q5 Sportback:

For better traction, the Discovery has larger standard tires than the new Q5 Sportback (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Discovery’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the new Q5 Sportback (285/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The Discovery’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the new Q5 Sportback’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Discovery has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the new Q5 Sportback. The Discovery’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the new Q5 Sportback.

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 new Q5 Sportback; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The front and rear suspension of the Discovery uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the new Q5 Sportback, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Discovery’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the new Q5 Sportback (115.1 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

The front grille of the Discovery uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Discovery has standard seating for 7 passengers; the new Q5 Sportback can only carry 5.

The Discovery has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 3.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the new Q5 Sportback.

The Discovery’s cargo area provides more volume than the new Q5 Sportback.

The Discovery’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the new Q5 Sportback’s (5952 vs. 4400 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi new Q5 Sportback is only 4400 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 new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the new Q5 Sportback, the Discovery SE has a 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.

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 new Q5 Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Discovery’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Discovery has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the new Q5 Sportback.

The Discovery Metropolitan has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the new Q5 Sportback.