Both the Land Rover Discovery and Jeep Wrangler are robust machines, offering you the superior off-the-road experience that you deserve. Below is a detailed review and comparison of both machines to give you the information you need.
Reliability
The Wrangler scores 20 points above the Discovery on the Consumer Report in terms of reliability and durability, which is provided by its solid front axle with a floating power axle.
The Discovery, on the other hand, has exposed front drive shafts and independent front suspensions that make it somewhat vulnerable to damage.
Fuel Economy and Mileage
The Wrangler has an efficient regenerative brake system that converts inertia back to energy instead of losing it, thus making the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo way more fuel efficient.
The Discovery does not have the regenerative breaks mechanism in place; thus, the Wrangler outranks it on the EPA test cycle, with 18city/23hwy while it scores a range of 16city/21hwy. In addition to more mileage, the Jeep Wrangler can use regular unleaded gasoline, with premium only required for the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for enhanced performance.
The Discovery, however, only runs on Premium fuel, that can cost you up to 55 cents more per gallon.
Tires and wheels
The Wrangler gives you more superior grip for rough terrain than the Discovery, with its sizeable standard tires (245/75R17) compared to the Discovery’s 235/65R19. The Wrangler also comes with a ready standard full-size spare to keep you going in the event of a flat.
A standard spare will cost you more on the Discovery; otherwise, you have to rely on a temporary spare, which significantly reduces your speed and mileage.
Chassis
The wrangler weighs around 450 to 800 pounds less than the Discovery, which makes it easier to accelerate, and more efficient. The Wrangler’s 4-door body is 7.8 inches narrower than the Discovery’s, which makes it better to maneuver, drive in traffic and park in tight lots.
Safety
The Jeep Wrangler’s front seat belts are adjustable to provide for a better fit for passengers, regardless of their height. This better fit assures you of comfort to encourage you to buckle up and reduces the chance of abrasion.
The Discovery’s seat belts are not height adjustable. Both vehicles have a regular driver and passenger frontal and front-side airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, collision warning systems, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and rear parking sensors to enhance your safety.
Warranty and customer service:
Jeep covers the Wrangler for five years and 60,000 miles while Land Rover covers the Discovery for only four years or 50,000 miles. During the warranty period, you can have repairs done on axles, engine, drive shafts and joints.
In addition to having an extended warranty period compared to the Discovery, you are 14 times more likely to encounter a Jeep dealership service than a Land Rover dealer.
Conclusion:
Most Car buyers prefer the Wrangler, with thirty of them selling for every one Discovery sold as of 2017. In addition to its already robust features, the Wrangler has a compass, voice recognition tech, removable rear windows, and front fog lights.
Previous 2016 Model Comparisons
Do you prefer the city or the woods? Would you take a comfortable ride taking your children to soccer practice over a bumpy, and yet, classic ride on the dirt? Well, those are the selling points of today’s’ head to head between the 2016 Land Rover Discovery and the 2016 Jeep Wrangler.
If you are an old-school, off-road, adventure lover, there is nothing about the new Jeep Wrangler that you won’t love. It has all of the classic features that made Jeep what it is today as well as a few new modern amenities.
Jeep made sure to keep the Wrangler in the same rugged and robust shape that earned it the title of 4 x 4 of the decade, but they still managed to slip in a hint of refinement to the king of the off-road. From a stylish leather-wrapped steering wheel to Alpine® Premium Sound System, the Jeep Wrangler has what it takes to keep its title.
On the other hand, customers looking for a more classy and comfortable option have the 2016 Land Rover Discovery just waiting. While its design is now as that of a pure off-roader like the Wrangler, the Discovery can hold its own in most terrains, be it snow, mud, or even sand.
The Discovery’s interior is also a great selling point for families. With a maximum leg room of 37.3 inches, the Discovery blows its counterpart out of the water.
Land Rover’s model also has an extremely efficient powertrain to brag about. With a 2.0 Liter Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 engine that can make 240 horsepower and 250 net torque, the Discovery has a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Like the pure off-roader it is, the name of the game for the Wrangler is power and with that, the Jeep model falls well behind in terms of fuel economy. The 2016 Jeep Wrangler has a 3.6 Liter Regular Unleaded V-6 engine under its hood, which can make 285 horsepower and 260 net torque. Its fuel consumption, however, is estimated at 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
Although it is more economical than the Wrangler, the Discovery is only available in three different models: the SE, the HSE, and the HSE LUX. On the other hand, the Wrangler has nine different trims available with 4-door or 2-door options: Black Bear, Freedom, Sport, Willys Wheeler, 75th Anniversary, Backcountry, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon Hard Rock. The Wrangler is also available in the Sport RHD trim but only with the 4-Door option.
To go along with its domination in the variety of trims available, the Jeep Wrangler is also ahead of the Discovery in the pricing department.
The base 2016 Jeep Wrangler Freedom is available starting at $23,895 while its most expensive trim the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-Door Rubicon Hard Rock is available starting at $36,995.
On the other side, the base 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport SE is available starting at $37,455 and the 2016 Land Rover Sport HSE LUX is available starting at $45,955.