Discovery

Every 2026 Discovery runs the same 257kW D350 diesel, the same off-road hardware and the same seven seats, so the cheapest S already does everything that defines the car. The dearer Dynamic SE, Gemini and Tempest add wheels, trim and comfort kit rather than capability. The one step worth weighing is the Gemini, which brings four-zone climate, rear climate control and heated seats that matter if you regularly fill all seven seats. The buying guide above walks each rung and what it adds.

This is the Discovery's strongest card. Where many seven-seat SUVs offer a token third row fit only for small kids, Australian reviewers single the Discovery out as a true seven-seater, with a back row that takes adults on a decent trip and is properly covered by the curtain airbags. Boot space runs to 1,137 litres with the third row folded and 2,391 litres with both rear rows down, dropping to a modest 258 litres behind all three rows in use. Stadium seating gives the rearmost passengers a good view out, too.

The honest answer is that the Discovery is unrated. It earned five ANCAP stars when it was tested in 2017, but ANCAP ratings now expire after six years, and every Discovery built from January 2024 is officially unrated. That does not mean the safety kit went backwards. The current car still has eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor and a 360-degree camera as standard. If a current five-star badge is a hard requirement for your shortlist, this is the box it will not tick.

The Discovery is a real off-roader, not a tall wagon pretending. It carries 285mm of ground clearance, a 33.6-degree approach angle, a 30-degree departure angle and 900mm of wading depth, with Land Rover's Terrain Response electronics and air suspension that raises the body for clearance. It follows a serious ladder-frame 4WD down a rough track rather than stopping at the trailhead. On towing it matches the class standard at 3,500kg braked, with a 6,745kg gross combination mass and a 350kg tow ball download. Note that some grades list low-range gearing as part of an optional capability pack, so confirm it if serious touring is your plan.

They overlap on price and share much underneath, so it comes down to fit. The Discovery answers with a genuine seven-seat cabin and a 1,137-litre boot; the Defender counters with more body styles, more engines and the showroom presence that made it a sales hit. The Discovery is the quieter, more practical pick: an easier shape to live with, a roomier, better seven-seat cabin and a softer, more family-friendly character. If you want the statement and the breadth, buy the Defender. If you want the seven-seat family hauler that does the capability without the swagger, the Discovery is the smarter, and often cheaper, buy.

The Discovery runs from $132,376 driveaway for the entry S to $162,645 for the Tempest, as of June 2026. The Gemini and Dynamic SE sit in between, all on the same D350 diesel. Options and the special editions are where the real money goes, so build the car on the configurator before fixing on a number. Reliability is the harder question: Land Rover has long trailed the Japanese benchmarks in owner surveys, and the brand's record is the main reason some buyers lease rather than own. A five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with capped-price servicing softens the risk. The history section below details the problem eras if you are shopping used.