BMW X7 vs Land Rover Discovery: 7-seat luxury SUVs head-to-head

The 2023 BMW X7 and Land Rover Discovery are two of the very best choices for those who want a luxury SUV with seven seats but find that a brand new Range Rover is a bit too much.
The X7 might be the more obvious choice in this pairing, particularly as it's been facelifted for 2023, but we'd argue that the older Discovery is still well worth considering. Not only is it one of the more affordable (yes, it's a relative term here) seven-seat luxury SUVs, but viewed in isolation it also has loads of space, good levels of technology and a certain no-nonsense appeal. The BMW fights back, meanwhile, with a more sumptuous interior, a sportier drive and a slightly more accommodating interior.
In this CarGurus UK review, Rebecca Jackson puts the BMW and Land Rover head-to-head to see if the areas in which the BMW is superior are enough to justify its higher price. In doing so, Rebecca assesses the two cars for practicality (including the boot and third-row of seats), interior quality, infotainment, equipment and of course what they are like to drive.
Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments, and check out the links below for our full reviews and to search cars for sale.
Search for a BMW X7 for sale on CarGurus:
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Search of a Land Rover Discovery for sale on CarGurus:
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Full BMW X7 review:
www.cargurus.co.uk/research/B...
Full Land Rover Discovery review:
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▬▬▬▬▬▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 - Introducing the BMW X7 and Land Rover Discovery
01:20 - Practicality
02:14 - Rear seats
03:25 - BMW X7 interior and infotainment
04:06 - Land Rover Discovery interior and infotainment
04:52 - Driving the BMW X7
06:14 - Driving the Land Rover Discovery
07:28 - Verdict
07:47 - Wrap up
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#cargurusUK #bmwx7 #landroverdiscovery

[@DSModel]

I have a Discovery 5, two years old. Mileage about 20,000 miles. So far I haven't had a major problem with it, the back row already has higher seats and therefore comfortable for me (I'm just under 7 ft). D300 engine. It is a very comfortable and nice car. I used to drive cars from the VW group. As a second car, I decided to go for the RR Sport. BUT! I wasn't sure, so I tried an X7 at the dealer. BMW is definitely a good car. And as a Czech, I'm closer to the manufacturer in Germany. However, this car is NOT as comfortable as the RRS. In my opinion, the interior is very "rugged", almost "aggressive"! The RRS wins on car length in this respect. :-) So I stayed with the RRS. I expect production within 1 month (I already ordered last summer).

[@dynamiqmedia5252]

My wife swears by Range Rover (her past 5 cars) but I’ve never had a car brand I’ve screamed at in frustration so much - luxury and snob value is pointless if you can’t get it off the drive! BMW all the way for me!

[@pagepro211]

Your wife is a smart woman, I bet she is beautiful and a keeper too

[@dynamiqmedia5252]

@@pagepro211 😂

[@Astrograss]

You get the impression that when Rebecca turns up to a shoot the first thing the director says is "Have you remembered the banana?"

[@gtsussex3467]

After 45k in a Disco 5 and then so far 35k in an X7 M50d, I have a different view. Disco 5 spent over 6 months of the 3 years of ownership in the dealer. Yes, off road I am sure was great but X5 on winter tyres has gone everywhere the Disco went. Disco averaged just over 30mpg, X7 a lot higher. I know the Disco now have Pivo system so can’t say but iDrive close to best in business. That mention of only a small difference behind the rear seats is rubbish. It is huge - strangely enough nearly the 20cm difference in length. IF you use the rear seats, that means you can get shopping bags in lengthways (which is impossible in the Disco). Also you mention second row comfort. What you don’t mention is the incredibly low squab in the Disco 5. It is just ridiculous for a teenager to sit in. We had a Disco 4 before with the lowering seat mechanism. That was brilliant. The Disco 5 doesn’t have this and to ensure it can have a flat load bay, it places the seats at a daftly low position. Try spending a few hours in the back without support and you will regret it. The X7 doesn’t fold flat but I would trade rear comfort every time. Driving wise, BMW destroys the Disco. No comparison. Looks - Disco wins. Not going to argue but we didn’t buy for looks. So far, X7 has only been in for a service and that’s all. Nothing has gone wrong at all. Towing - you’d think the Disco would be better but no. The adaptive suspension on the X7 calms any pogoing. Price wise, we paid £10k more (with discounts) for the X7. Bear in mind that was 3 years later and a very good spec. I understand the looks aren’t for everyone on the X7 which is fine. We have a big family so one vehicle that will do it. Regardless of budget, I can’t think anything better than the X7. And our other car? A leccy Mini!

[@vicfalls34]

Need to compare like with like - HSE/ Metropolitan have many of the options missing from the one you reviewed 😬

[@anthonystevens8683]

A great comparison Rebecca. Although I'm not in the market for either of these cars I can appreciate them both. Both cars are more than capable of serving the target markets that might not be the same. For me the BMW ticks everything but at greater cost, the Disco is another great car but JLR really do need to up the quality if they want to compete with the likes of BMW. I am certainly not a fan of the front of the BMW with those huge nostrils but I'm also just as much not a fan of the Disco somewhat Picasso (the artist not the Citroen) back end. Anyway thanks for sharing.

[@Kelveron]

It might be not quite as capable as the Discovery off road, but the X7 is actually pretty decent off-road, if called upon. Furthermore, the X7 does more than just being more luxurious and better to drive. It's also much better built, has a nicer interior, is more refined and quite a bit faster. And let's not mention the Discovery's reliability record!

[@pagepro211]

BMW has a bad reliabilty record too, so why would you not mention that too

[@pagepro211]

you do know you sound stupid and you make no sense, the beautiful lady car reviewer 1) compared the BMW to a Landrover Dicovery and 2) the BMW lost.. 3) She didn't compare it to a Range Rover which the 4) Range Rover is more luxurious and better to drive, has a nicer interior, is more refined and quite a bit faster, and let not mention the BMW bad reliability record. 5) I don't know if the X7 has air -ride or if you can adjust the suspension height with the touch of a button but I do know the Range Rover and the Discovery can!

[@3204clivesinclair]

BMW are only 3 places above JLR in the latest JD Power survey - and JLR are bottom (as usual).

[@Kelveron]

@@pagepro211 In Whatcar reliability survey out of the 32 brands BMW was ranked 16th (so it's middling) and Land Rover 31st, pretty dire. *Source:* whatcar 2022 what car reliability survey brands In JP Power survey, BMW was 15th and Land Rover 32nd (dead last): *Source:* jdpower business press releases 2023 us vehicle dependability studyvds

[@peterpiper5064]

​@@Kelveron BMW sells mostly smallish cheap to medium cost CARS, which are inherently more reliable than huge heavy luxury SUVs, so *brand* reliability is meaningless. What matters is how their big SUVs compare to Land Rovers & Range Rovers, and they aren't as reliable as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Series

[@OshoLee]

The Discovery is not fully loaded, you can get all the crap you are complaining its missing

[@alia3x]

What about Mercedes GLS , can that also be compared?

[@halforma1]

Not sure why comparing fully option Ed X7 with mid level Disco. Why not compare the HSE Disco instead?

[@simmybear31]

Even HSE doesn't get more than 2 zone climate as standard X7 gets 4 zone as standard and 5 zone with ultimate pack

[@jon1801]

Meanwhile in the real world? Most of us run sensible cars on a budget that are, God forbid, second or third hand costing way less

[@gavinwhite9743]

I think Rebecca could read an old telephone directory to camera and I’d still tune in. That said, the brand is gonna be as big a factor as anything, given both cars will do the job asked of them.

[@glennchinyangarara8225]

To be fair these 2 are closely matched even though the Discovery is from the same class as the X5, though it may be cheaper, I’d still spend more and get an X7 for real

[@hypernewlapse]

BMW doesnt has physical climate controls while Land Rover does

[@slapperdinky]

"Your neighbours will never know you saved £15k by not buying the BMW" pretty sad if you are that worried about what your neighbours think of what you've spent or not spent on your car

[@jonlill8282]

How can you compare one car with 60k of option and one without the options. BMW endorsed I believe

[@stevewhite658]

Sorry Rebecca, I couldn't disagree more. I've had Five full fat RR, two Disco 5's and a Disco 4 and just one X7. To me the X7 competes against the Full Fat not the Disco unless seven seats is your only consideration. In fact I'd say that the X7 has better build quality than the Full fat and if you are in the market for a big luxury car and can afford all three then the Disco would come last on my list(it's still a great car). I love the full fat but I've just decided to save myself twenty grand and go for my second X7 because it's better at lots of things (but not all).

[@OshoLee]

Bmw is a big car, Disco is a proper SUV

[@dystantmind7254]

Nice comparison tho.

[@siquanwu3131]

Two different cars, one mainly for the tarmac, one is an off-roader. Another thing UK car journalists never says: one can actually go some distance, one breaks down right out of dealership, sorry no pun intended, JLR is just so unreliable.

[@paulmcgee1867]

BMW better? For reliability get a Lexus

[@siquanwu3131]

@@paulmcgee1867 not the best, no way near Lexus, but still way better than JLR, JLR is the worst, fact!

[@stardustbilermam1736]

Isn’t the bm a full size suv? Not same class

[@glennchinyangarara8225]

Yes, Land Rover discovery is in the same class as BMW x5, Range Rover sport and Audi Q7

[@ThabileTheTrainer]

It's the X7 for me and what's there not to like? The Discovery is unfortunately Land Rover's highly underrated product and it's uneven rear remains a topic of discussion on car journalists

[@simono4991]

A car 20cm longer than a Disco? That's a big vehicle.

[@robc8892]

Love these cars. We need Rebecca on top gear!

[@31gallardo]

definitely a discovery for me

[@gregoryuk]

Love me a bit of Becca on the tube.

[@666DW]

The Discovery is better off road, meaning it will spend a long time of the ownership period on the local Land Rover dealers workshop ramps!

[@andrewelliott4217]

I'm not normally one to comment but I have simply never seen a more unbiased review in all my time. Really poor.

[@adamditch5835]

These things are 2 a penny where we live.. They're absolutely perfect for our narrow country lanes & high hedges. Will stick with our Pesky 10 year old Corsa..

[@Josh-fl9or]

x7 is a rival to the range rover tbh

[@LuvvSURYA]

What happened to your cheekbone? It's so red. Are you hurt? Just asking. Been following and watching you since the very beginning. So worried whether you hurt yourself or had some allergy in which case you should see the doctor, get the medicine, and take plenty of rest. Take care :)

[@MichelOM1995]

no way, the X7 is way better overall..

[@pagepro211]

Discovery 24/7, even in the Jungle and through high Rivers

[@willwonka1325]

Haha - it’s the most unfit for purpose out there 😂

[@paulmcgee1867]

Especially wins on bling

[@Freddy-td8fl]

Battle of the TURDS 😂

[@ivangoat]

X7 All day

[@pagepro211]

Discovery 24/7, even in the Jungle and through high Rivers

[@willwonka1325]

You definitely live in a town or city 😂😂

[@pagepro211]

@@willwonka1325 yes I do

[@willwonka1325]

@@pagepro211 sorry that was for Ivan

[@pagepro211]

@@willwonka1325 ha!

[@callsigncrusader9877]

Land rover is just class apart

[@Pilo17contreras]

Banana returns 🎉

[@GarryMcGovern]

My god, HOW can a manufacturer as big as BMW, make a car so hideously ugly????

[@-DC-]

BMW by an absolute mile.

[@pagepro211]

Discovery 24/7, even in the Jungle and through high Rivers

[@paulmcgee1867]

No thank you

[@willblack2306]

Yup, a luxury super SUV compared to a tractor!

[@zzhughesd]

They’re in a different class size. They’re in a diff class, luxury

[@slw0599]

Disco's are ugly, the BMW miles better looking

[@Evoque2020]

Discovery looks better ❤❤

[@mrkp1000]

What about LR reliability

[@rasherbasher8203]

Lr Reliability🤣🤣🤣

[@Bikeaddict4235]

I wasn’t aware they had any 😂

[@jamiep61]

The BMW Is definitely the better Model 😊

[@pagepro211]

It lost, rightfully so, imagine if she had compare it to the more luxurious Range Rover it would have lost even worse

[@rasherbasher8203]

You know you're a Discovery/ jlr owner when your marriage is easier to keep going than your truck.☝️

[@mannanmondal2001]

Land rover lover

[@IwillBwaiting]

The discovery please. Now time to watch the video.

[@rosswhittleton6277]

BMW for me but they need to change the hideous grill!

[@user-pl1zk9qy5t]

#JLR #INDIAN_BRAND

[@petedavis4097]

It’s just a shame the BMW is so FUGLY

[@openmindedbloke]

Disco has aged well but shame about the reliability record. Just couldn't bring myself to own a BMW. Pricing comparison and kit comparison in this review was confusing. Seems like overall the Disco was much better value after removing the £16 package with rear climate etc.

[@KingGamer-zz8fn]

Disco is the best

[@reesnordrhein7486]

Huge cars - even more blush

[@f1b1777]

I honestly don’t get this review since the cars are NOT in the same class …Even a non petrol head knows what a BMW badge means / is and a LandRover Discovery is . Think Munich Not gone be Impressed what you compare the 7 series with ….heck The Top Range Rover uses a BMW engine V8. Wow Extremely Disappointed “Bargain Range Rover Alternative “ what a Insult to BMW .

[@leikes1]

total mismatch. like compairing apples with oranges.

[@robertlloyd7493]

A bear able review 👍

[@pagepro211]

I say it was an amazing review, relaxed, covered all the points

[@ts6070]

That is not a real discovery it’s fake F pace modelled to look like a smaller discovery sport so please Rebecca can you ensure that you don’t allow your producers to spin the truth for marketing purposes and next time get the real discovery full fat model thank you 🎉

[@EdgarRenje]

If one is really honest, no one needs such giant cars. People have this wrong mindset of "I COULD need it, so I want it all the time" instead of choosing what you need every day and just take more if needed.

[@DanMasterBlaster]

I do when I go on holiday for 2 weeks to south of France with 6 passengers

[@simmybear31]

I have 3 greyhounds as pets and use an X7 because they travel in a safety cage. The only car that would also fit my bill - Volvo XC90 - just as big.

[@EdgarRenje]

@@simmybear31 They would easily fit in smaller cars.

[@simmybear31]

@@EdgarRenje have you owned greyhounds - if not wind your neck in

[@jak493]

I cant see the point f the Discovery now the Defender has moved significantly up market

[@pagepro211]

different styling and spare tire at the back and two door option and easy to hose down interior, one is definitely for the outdoors off-roading

[@jak493]

@@pagepro211 I appreciate one is more of the off roader however at £80k plus, I doubt many will compared to the original which was a go all car and don’t worry about the dents? The price points are so similar, they are both designed to go off road as well as each other and have not too dissimilar interior comforts. I get your logic but it’s not a big difference for me.

[@pagepro211]

@@jak493 there is a difference in the Jeep Wrangler (akin to Defender) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (akin to Discovery) in appearance and what you can buy/add to the Wrangler ( Defender) for off-roading and while they both are capable off-road and have different styling, the styling and features gives one a more casual off-road rugged look while the other is a more city soccer Mom suv even though you can still buy any style for a different reason, its simple as to why there is a Discovery and a Defender on the market.

[@emadbara7597]

Are you kidding? Very biased

[@faisalmirza4761]

Where is the banana test

[@robertsndral7376]

Range Rover 👍🥹

[@stormtrooper8420]

Get a bmw

[@robertlloyd7493]

Welcome back to the banana 🍌

[@3204clivesinclair]

I would say the x7 would be more comparable to the new 7 seat Range Rover and not the Discovery (which is likely being discontinued).

[@stephenlaw9827]

One ugly one unreliable, suggest people look elsewhere.

[@pagepro211]

since they can both be unreliable, which one is ugly?

[@aakeister]

One is a great car, the other is a BMW bought by badge bunnies.

[@AK-ck1rk]

This has to be the most pointless and absurd comparison I've seen online. How can anyone who knows anything about cars compare a BMW X7 with a discovery. Normally, you'd compare discovery with an X3. This is an absolute mismatch.

[@sanchaynarain3532]

What!!! The X3 competes with the Discovery Sport not this full-sized Discovery on test here 😂😂. Atleast check the car on test before commenting…

[@apulis6144]

You can't be serious!

[@glennchinyangarara8225]

Discovery sport competes with X3, the actual discovery competes with X5 and Q7

[@kb8570]

Major fail to not make these fully electric.

[@mspeed2441]

The Range uses a two year-old BMW motor. It's gutless. The suspension bounces. It leans in curves. Has kid's-size third row unless you're 5'0" tall (like the reviewer) . There's no tech in the second and third rows. And it has a 2015 interior. 20K price difference? Makes me laugh. The English are hilarious how a Jag or Range will never loose a test.

[@StephenFogarty2023]

We r comparing BMW X7 to a LR Discovery. U get what u pay for. Disco is less expensive There was no RR vehicle in this comparison v the X7. An optioned up HSE Disco would have a more premium interior, and more features in Row 2 & Row 3 v the SE model Disco she had. Disco not using BMW engines. Disco has excellent LR Ingenium diesel or petrol motors. As mentioned, X7 is longer then the Disco, thus more room in Row 3 of BMW The reviewer is 5.5 feet tall… Fancy features in the X7 were part of a $ 16 k option pack ! This particular Disco was $ 72 k with its options, BUT, she never advised the RRP of the X7, as tested ! Disco has much more breadth of capability v the X7… EG - towing & anything off the bitumen.

[@pagepro211]

moron, the beautiful lady never compared the BMW to a Range

[@pagepro211]

@@StephenFogarty2023 dude, you should give his comment a thumbs down, I did, and I gave you a thumbs up

[@StephenFogarty2023]

@@pagepro211 I did give that idiot a thumbs down….😃

[@pagepro211]

@@StephenFogarty2023 ha! lovely