Compare

BMW X5 vs Land Rover Discovery

2026 BMW X5 vs 2026 Land Rover Discovery — two standard SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

BMW X5

2026 BMW X5

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS3 – 4Land Rover Discovery wins 4 of 7 categories
Land Rover Discovery

2026 Land Rover Discovery

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The BMW X5 is more fuel-efficient: 25 vs 21 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $600 a year less in fuel for the BMW X5 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Land Rover Discovery is the bigger car, about 3 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Land Rover Discovery has had fewer recall campaigns (17 vs 85).

The two cars

The 2026 BMW X5 is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo and 4.4L 8-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 194 inches long and 79 inches wide on a 117-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,558 lb (M60i 4dr SUV).

The 2026 Land Rover Discovery is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 195 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 115-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,846 lb (4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 X5 and the 2015 Discovery have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2019 X5 and the 2020 Discovery.

Basics

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel
Premium Gasoline, Hybrid
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.4L 8-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

25 MPG
Best combined MPG
21 MPG
23 city
City / highway MPG (best)
19 city
$3,300
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,900

Performance & space

523 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
355 hp
–
Seats (most)
7
192.1 in
Length
195.3 in
78 in
Width
78.3 in
68.9 in
Height
74.4 in
5,181 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,846 lb

Safety & reliability

9
Driver-assist features standard
13
2
Recalls (2026)
1
85
Recalls, all years since 2005
17
28
Owner complaints (latest year)
1

Interest

25,895
Wikipedia views, 30 days
15,019

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2015
2019
Year to avoid
2020

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the BMW X5 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (25 vs 21 MPG)
  • You want more power (up to 523 vs 355 hp)
  • You want something easier to park (3 in shorter)

Choose the Land Rover Discovery if…

  • You want more room (3 in longer)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (17 vs 85 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 BMW X5

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 25 MPG combined — 15% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (21.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

2026 Land Rover Discovery

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Seats up to 73 rows of seating.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Full 2026 BMW X5 specs →Full 2026 Land Rover Discovery specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →