2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Comparison Overview
Struggling to decide if premium badge prestige is worth a few extra gallons of gas? That’s the core choice between the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport (Car 1) and the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander (Car 2). Car 1 commands an MSRP of $48,900, a significant $7,540 premium over Car 2's $41,360 entry point. While the Land Rover offers 246 hp and standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD), the Toyota counters with 265 hp and superior efficiency, achieving 24 MPG combined versus the Land Rover’s 20 MPG combined. Furthermore, the Grand Highlander offers significantly more room; its 201.4-inch length dwarfs the Discovery Sport's 180.9 inches. If you prioritize daily running costs and sheer size, the Toyota holds a strong lead despite the Land Rover’s slightly more powerful torque figure of 269 lb-ft versus the Toyota's 310 lb-ft.
Size Comparison
Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Full Specifications
Our Verdicts
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2026 Grand Highlander wins for commuters due to its superior 24 MPG combined fuel economy compared to Car 1's 20 MPG.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Despite having less cargo space (20.6 cu ft vs 32.2 cu ft), the Grand Highlander's significantly lower price and better fuel economy better serve typical family budgets.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The Grand Highlander offers better straight-line performance with higher horsepower (265 hp) and torque (310 lb-ft).
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The $7,540 lower MSRP and the 4 MPG fuel economy advantage make the Grand Highlander the clear winner on overall value.
Choose the Land Rover Discovery Sport if...
- You absolutely need standard All-Wheel Drive capability right out of the box.
- You prefer a slightly smaller exterior footprint (180.9 inches long) for easier city parking.
- You value the Land Rover badge and its specific interior ambiance over budgetary savings.
Choose the Toyota Grand Highlander if...
- You want to save $7,540 on the initial purchase price.
- You prioritize fuel savings, benefitting from 24 MPG combined versus Car 1's 20 MPG.
- You need superior power output, as Car 2 boasts 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Land Rover Discovery Sport | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 180.9" | 201.4" |
| Width | - | 78.3" |
| Height | 67.9" | 70.1" |
| Wheelbase | 107.9" | 116.1" |
Features Comparison
Safety
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Keeping Assist System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Attention Alert | ✓ | — |
| Post-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronic Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Traction Control System | ✓ | ✓ |
| LATCH System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Child Safety Locks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel |
| Front Ventilated Disc Brakes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Solid Disc Brakes | ✓ | — |
| Brake Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Headlights | ✓ | — |
| Headlight Delay-Off | ✓ | — |
| LED Headlights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-Leveling Headlights | ✓ | — |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Fog Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Headrests | 2 | 2 |
| Front Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Headrests | 3 | 3 |
| Rear Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engine Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Departure Warning | — | ✓ |
| Pre-Collision Safety System | — | ✓ |
| Third Row Head Airbags | — | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes | — | ✓ |
| Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors | — | ✓ |
Engine
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine Displacement | 2.0 L | 2.4 L |
| Number of Cylinders | inline 4 | inline 4 |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas |
| Horsepower | 246 hp @ 5500 rpm | 265 hp @ 6000 rpm |
| Torque | 269 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm |
| Number of Valves | 16 | 16 |
| Camshaft Type | Double overhead cam (DOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
| Variable Valve Timing | Variable | Variable |
| Fuel Injection Type | ✓ | ✓ |
Drive Train
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 9-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain Type | all wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Hill Descent Control | ✓ | — |
Fuel
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 19/23 MPG | 21/28 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 20 MPG | 24 MPG |
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 336.3/407.1 mi. | 373.8/498.4 mi. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 17.7 gal. | 17.8 gal. |
Comfort & Convenience
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Power Steering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front View Camera | ✓ | — |
| Side View Camera | ✓ | — |
| Rear View Camera | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Parking Sensors | ✓ | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | ✓ | — |
| Wireless Charging Pad | ✓ | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Universal Remote Transmitter | ✓ | — |
| Front Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Seatback Storage | ✓ | — |
| Leather Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Heated Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Dual Zone Climate Control | ✓ | — |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts | ✓ | — |
| Interior Air Filtration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | ✓ | — |
| 3rd Row Cupholders | — | ✓ |
| Overhead Console with Storage | — | ✓ |
| Three Zone Climate Control | — | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control | — | ✓ |
| Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors | — | ✓ |
In Car Entertainment
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| AM/FM Stereo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Meridian Speakers | ✓ | — |
| Stereo Power | 380W | — |
| Speaker System | 10 | 6 |
| Subwoofer Count | 1 | — |
| Android Auto (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| Apple CarPlay (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| USB Port | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auxiliary Audio Input | ✓ | — |
| USB Port with External Media Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio Trial Period | 3 months | 3 months |
| Speed Sensitive Volume Control | ✓ | — |
| Antenna Type | Diversity | — |
| Infotainment Display | — | 12.3 in |
| Android Auto (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
| Apple CarPlay (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
Power Feature
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| One-Touch Power Windows | 4 | 4 |
| Moonroof Type | 1st Row Fixed Glass Extended | — |
| Keyless Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heated Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
Frontseats
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Front Head Room | 40.2 in. | 41.5 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 39.1 in. | 41.7 in. |
| Front Shoulder Room | 57.3 in. | 60.2 in. |
| Seat Material: Leather/Sueded Microfiber | ✓ | — |
| Front Seat Type: Bucket | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | 8-way |
| Driver Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Lumbar Support | Power | — |
| Passenger Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | — |
| Passenger Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Passenger Seat Lumbar Support | Power | — |
| Driver Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Passenger Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Front Hip Room | — | 56.5 in. |
| Seat Material: Cloth | — | ✓ |
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 4-way |
Rearseats
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Head Room | 38.7 in. | 40.2 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 38.1 in. | 39.5 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 55.9 in. | 58.8 in. |
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reclining Rear Seats | ✓ | ✓ |
| Folding Center Armrest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Hip Room | — | 57.0 in. |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | — | ✓ |
Tires and Wheels
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Material | Alloy | Alloy |
| Wheel Diameter | 18 in | — |
| Tire Size | N/A | 255/65R18 |
| Spare Tire Type | Temporary | Temporary |
| Spare Tire Location | Underbody Mounted | Inside Mounted |
| Wheel Size | — | 18 x 7.5 in |
| Tire Type | — | All Season |
Suspension
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | — | ✓ |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | — | ✓ |
Warranty
| Feature | Land Rover | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Warranty | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 6 yr./ unlimited mi. | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 2 yr./ unlimited mi. |
| Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance | — | 2 yr./ 25000 mi. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about comparing the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander.
Is the 2025 Discovery Sport much smaller than the 2026 Grand Highlander?
Yes, the difference in size is substantial; the Grand Highlander measures 201.4 inches long, which is over 20 inches longer than the Discovery Sport's 180.9 inches, suggesting a much larger interior volume overall.
Which vehicle is more powerful, even though the Land Rover is less efficient?
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is technically more powerful, producing 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, compared to the Discovery Sport’s 246 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque.
How much money can I expect to save by choosing Car 2 over Car 1?
Based on the stated MSRPs, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander offers savings of $7,540 upfront compared to the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Does the Land Rover Discovery Sport offer better cargo space?
Surprisingly, yes; the Discovery Sport offers 32.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, significantly more than the Grand Highlander's 20.6 cubic feet, despite the Toyota being physically longer overall.
What is the difference in required fuel between these two crossovers?
Both vehicles are specified to run on regular unleaded fuel, meaning neither requires the premium grade, which helps keep the long-term running costs down for both models.
If I drive a lot, which car saves more on gas?
The Grand Highlander is much better for high-mileage drivers, netting 24 MPG combined versus the Discovery Sport’s 20 MPG combined, resulting in four fewer stops at the pump for every tank fill.
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