1996 Land Rover Discovery vs. 2012 BMW X5
To start off, 2012 BMW X5 is newer by 16 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Land Rover Discovery. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Land Rover Discovery would be higher. At 3,944 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 Land Rover Discovery is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 BMW X5 (265 HP @ 4200 RPM) has 84 more horse power than 1996 Land Rover Discovery. (181 HP @ 4750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 BMW X5 should accelerate faster than 1996 Land Rover Discovery. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2012 BMW X5 weights approximately 265 kg more than 1996 Land Rover Discovery. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2012 BMW X5 (576 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 256 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Land Rover Discovery. (320 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 2012 BMW X5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Land Rover Discovery. 2012 BMW X5 has automatic transmission and 1996 Land Rover Discovery has manual transmission. 1996 Land Rover Discovery will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 BMW X5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 Land Rover Discovery | 2012 BMW X5 | |
| Make | Land Rover | BMW |
| Model | Discovery | X5 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 2012 |
| Body Type | SUV | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3944 cc | 3000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 265 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4750 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 320 Nm | 576 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1750 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | 4WD | AWD |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2090 kg | 2355 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4490 mm | 4854 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1933 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1920 mm | 1775 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2550 mm | 2933 mm |
