Land Rover Discovery vs Volvo XC90
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 60% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Discovery | XC90 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 1 824 700 | R 1 555 500 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 31 893/m | R 27 188/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 79% | 79% |
| Retained after 3 years | 60% | 59% |
| Value after 3 years | R 1 097 570 | R 919 608 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 727 130 | R 635 892 |
| Value after 5 years | R 810 508 | R 672 233 |
| Our tier | Premium (established) | Premium (established) |
Land Rover Discovery →
Five generations of Discovery have been sold in South Africa, and the Disco 3 and 4 in particular became the default upmarket family off-roader and towing vehicle. The current model soldiers on in a pared-back six-derivative range from around R1.8 million. Older diesels are plentiful used but air suspension and electronics wear down values.
Known for: seven-seat family off-roader
Volvo XC90 →
Volvo's seven-seat flagship has been sold here since 2003 and is now in its long-running second generation, priced from about R1.56m. First-generation cars are plentiful and cheap on the used market, with the D5 diesel the sensible pick. A T8 plug-in hybrid tops the current range.
Known for: seven-seat family luxury and safety tech
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Land Rover Discovery or the Volvo XC90?
They are close to inseparable: 60% vs 59% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Land Rover Discovery loses about R 727 130 over three years and the Volvo XC90 loses about R 635 892. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Land Rover Discovery runs about R 31 893 per month and the Volvo XC90 about R 27 188, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.