Infiniti
QX80
Owner report available
Land Rover
Discovery Sport
Owner report available
Infiniti QX80 vs Land Rover Discovery Sport
The short answer
The Infiniti QX80 offers power, while the Land Rover Discovery Sport excels at fuel economy instead. Choose the Infiniti QX80 if you prioritize power in daily driving, or the Land Rover Discovery Sport if fuel economy matters more for your needs. Both are covered by real owner reports on CarWizz.
Specs side by side
What owners say
QX80
Overall
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on model year and purchase context. For the long-running generation produced from approximately 2014 through 2024, the consensus among owners is that it is a fundamentally solid, comfortable, and powerful full-size SUV that suffers from significant drawbacks in fuel economy, technology, and certain costly reliability issues. The 5.6L V8 engine (VK56VD) is very frequently praised for its power, smoothness, and general reliability.
Best version to buy
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus "best" trim or model year. Feedback indicates the pre-2020 models with the dual-screen infotainment are particularly disliked, while the 2022-2024 models with the updated single free-standing touchscreen are seen as an improvement.
Known issues
- Catalytic converter failure: Very expensive failure occurring frequently just outside of warranty, with repair costs cited from $1,700 to $2,600. Mentioned as a widespread issue across model years. Frequency: very frequent.
- Extremely poor fuel economy: Real-world consumption reported as low as 11-12 MPG in mixed driving. Considered a defining characteristic of the V8 model. Frequency: very frequent.
- Dated/Unreliable Infotainment System: Systems described as ancient, laggy, prone to freezing, and featuring a confusing dual-screen setup (pre-2020). Newer 2025 models also reported with infotainment glitches like screens turning off.
Discovery Sport
Overall
The overall sentiment is sharply divided, creating a high-risk, high-reward ownership profile. A significant portion of long-term owner reports express deep satisfaction with the vehicle's core attributes: its surprising off-road capability for a compact SUV, comfortable and spacious interior, generous boot space, and relaxed highway manners. Many owners who have experienced trouble-free operation praise it as a practical and enjoyable family vehicle.
Best version to buy
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus "best" version. However, strong, recurrent recommendations exist for specific configurations: the P300e plug-in hybrid is recommended for urban/short-trip drivers to avoid diesel DPF issues, while the diesel (TD4/SD4) is recommended for those who undertake longer journeys and require maximum towing capacity (2,500 kg / 5,512 lbs).
Known issues
- • **Ingenium Diesel Engine Failures (Pre-2019)**: Timing chain stretch/breakage due to weak guides, turbo failure, and catastrophic engine failure linked to oil dilution from interrupted DPF regenerations. Frequency: very frequent.
The verdict
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the better choice for most buyers.
It has better fuel economy on its best-equipped version than the Infiniti QX80, based on the data above. If power matters more to you than running costs, the Infiniti QX80 is worth a closer look instead.
Explore further
Common problems by model year
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more reliable, the Infiniti QX80 or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Owner reports show similar reliability sentiment for the Infiniti QX80 and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Check the known issues listed above for specific differences between the two.
Which is better for families, the Infiniti QX80 or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Data on family-specific factors like cargo space is limited for one or both models, but based on available reports, both are positioned as practical daily drivers. Check the specs table above for seating and body type.
Which has better fuel economy, the Infiniti QX80 or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The EPA rates the 2027 Infiniti QX80 at 17–18 mpg combined and the 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport at 20 mpg, depending on the version.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Infiniti QX80 or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Exact maintenance costs aren't in our data, but reliability signals above are the closest proxy: fewer reported issues generally means lower repair costs over time.