Disco Sport or XC60

[Dinklage5200]

Hi

New to the forum but the site looks great so hope to be on here more!

I am looking for a family car and have been thinking of either an XC60 or a Discovery Sport.

I was keen if anyone had any thoughts on a preference?

I like the style of the XC60 and the hybrid engine looks fantastic. The Disco though seems higher and has the 7 seats, not that I would ever be able to use them (ripped my trousers trying to get in the back!!) but maybe good on the odd chance I need to move 7 around, albeit very rarely I suspect.

Looking to spend a good bit on tech too.

Any thoughts or preferences or experiences would be really welcome!

Many thanks
James

[Jag_NE]

i had a good look at an xc60 yesterday and they are very nice. i have a jag xf and cannot recommend jlr products to anyone based on my personal experience, a plethora of mechancial and trim issues on what is still only a 2 year old car. i know im only 1 data point of course....

[Dinklage5200]

Hi there, thanks for the helpful response.

Such a shame to read that about JLR and I saw a YouTube video saying of a similar experience with a Disco Sport.

The XF looks lovely as well!

A point towards the Volvo then ... thank you!

[0a]

I was given a lift in a discovery sport recently (it was a rental) and it stuck in my mind of one of the worst new cars I have been in for years. A terrible interior, poor ride, agricultural engine, and plenty of noise going at normal speeds on the motorway.

Is it just a rebadge of the old freelander? It felt like it.

[Jag_NE]

0a said:

I was given a lift in a discovery sport recently (it was a rental) and it stuck in my mind of one of the worst new cars I have been in for years. A terrible interior, poor ride, agricultural engine, and plenty of noise going at normal speeds on the motorway.

Is it just a rebadge of the old freelander? It felt like it.

I can definitely concur on the agricultural engine front...also I agree that the xc60 interior is streets ahead.

[Dinklage5200]

I think I will be picking up the phone to Volvo.

The rebadged Freelander comment might have swayed me!

Thank you all for your help any more insights welcome too really appreciate it

[Jag_NE]

Dinklage5200 said:

I think I will be picking up the phone to Volvo.

The rebadged Freelander comment might have swayed me!

Thank you all for your help any more insights welcome too really appreciate it

It’s definitely not a rebadged freelander!

Edit: my wife is in the market for an suv and we both thought that the Q5 is very nice. Alternatively, the CRV appealed (petrol auto) for a combination of spec, price and reliability. Nice spec Q5’s aren’t cheap at all. A bit left field was the Renault Koleos.

Edited by Jag_NE on Sunday 3rd June 07:30

[minghis]

Discovery Sport engines are incredibly noisy, on that alone I wouldn't consider one.

[Countdown]

If JLR ever manage to build cars as well as they design them they'd be world class.

OP - I'm in the same boat as you. I'd like an XC60 but I think I'll probably be getting a CRV because they're cheaper and more reliable.

[Maracus]

I've just gone through this! Narrowed down to an XC60, Disco Sport and an X3.

Pound for pound/spec for spec you can get a newer XC60 for your money.

The X3 was the best drive, the Disco Sport looked the best, the XC60 had the best seats but is the most dated IMO. The DS just didn't feel that good inside, I can't put my finger on it. The X3 was familiar having owned numerous BMWs in the past.

In the end we went for an XC60 R Design Lux Nav auto as it was marginally the quicker, had better seats and a Pan roof. It has higher profile tyres, which was also high on the list. It's a great cruiser, and will be a keeper for 5 years or so as the main family hack.

[dufflecoat]

Countdown said:

If JLR ever manage to build cars as well as they design them they'd be world class.

This.

and from what I am hearing, its getting worse. A decent number are still "keys back" warranty jobs due to shabby build. On top of that that have "dieselgate" to deal with, they are in for a few rocky years. I wouldn't have any JLR product at the moment.

[Dinklage5200]

Jag_NE said:

Edit: my wife is in the market for an suv and we both thought that the Q5 is very nice. Alternatively, the CRV appealed (petrol auto) for a combination of spec, price and reliability. Nice spec Q5’s aren’t cheap at all. A bit left field was the Renault Koleos.

I have to say I probably haven't given the Q5 a big deal of attention, but initially I was spooked by the cost.

To be fair, the XC60 did the same, but the high guaranteed min value meant the monthly's were lower for the equivalent spec pound-for-pound.

CRV I never checked, it looks a nice car though. What Car seemed to hammer the Koleos, but then again most journalists seemed to suggest the Disco Sport is the best-in-class, but it seems to have been hammered here for reliability.

[Dinklage5200]

Maracus said:

I've just gone through this! Narrowed down to an XC60, Disco Sport and an X3.

Pound for pound/spec for spec you can get a newer XC60 for your money.

The X3 was the best drive, the Disco Sport looked the best, the XC60 had the best seats but is the most dated IMO. The DS just didn't feel that good inside, I can't put my finger on it. The X3 was familiar having owned numerous BMWs in the past.

In the end we went for an XC60 R Design Lux Nav auto as it was marginally the quicker, had better seats and a Pan roof. It has higher profile tyres, which was also high on the list. It's a great cruiser, and will be a keeper for 5 years or so as the main family hack.

Really interesting to read this and was my thoughts exactly with the pound-for-pound.

Aside from the '7' seats the DS had, the only other thing I initially liked was the higher ride height, but it got me wondering if the air suspension can raise the car up in the XC60 if I want to drive higher up?

My brother in law, who lives in Finland, has a V40 and I remember how calm a ride it felt as well. Think I'm going this way too ...

[Dinklage5200]

Thank you all for your help and apologies for three separate posts here (!!) - but all your suggestions really helpful.

I think this has helped sway the decision for me I have to say!

[Maracus]

Dinklage5200 said:

Really interesting to read this and was my thoughts exactly with the pound-for-pound.

Aside from the '7' seats the DS had, the only other thing I initially liked was the higher ride height, but it got me wondering if the air suspension can raise the car up in the XC60 if I want to drive higher up?

My brother in law, who lives in Finland, has a V40 and I remember how calm a ride it felt as well. Think I'm going this way too ...

The other option for us was a new Gen II XC60, but we needed a car reasonably quickly as we'd sold our T5 van quicker than I thought!

I'm well aware that the Gen 1 XC60 will probably lose the same value in say 3 years as a leased Momentum/base spec Gen II XC60, but I really wanted the extra kit, etc and didn't really want to wait 3 months or so for a factory build. If there had been a vehicle in stock for lease then this would have been a contender. The downside with a new car is it becoming too 'precious' especially with two kids.

[threadlock]

For balance, I've got a Volvo product (2007 XC90) and a JLR product (2010 XKR) and both have been brilliant.