Alex Robbins is contributing editor at Telegraph Cars where, as well as responding to readers’ queries, he also contributes reviews of new and used cars, together with articles on buying and selling. 

His knowledge of the used car market informs his many buying guides relating to the best buys in particular sectors, with an emphasis on value for money. Every week he will answer your questions on buying and selling, as well as solving your car problems, whether consumer or mechanical.

Do you have a motoring dilemma you’d like our expert to solve? For consumer and used car advice, or car faults, email CarsAdvice@telegraph.co.uk and include your subscriber number. This week’s question… 

Dear Alex

I’m looking to replace my Volvo XC90 and have test-driven both a Land Rover Defender and a Discovery. I found the Discovery seemed to pick up every imperfection in the road surface, but the Defender had a smoother ride and gripped the road well. The Discovery had 22-inch wheels; the Defender 20-inch items. I have ordered a Defender on the basis of my test drive; I couldn’t get a Discovery on 20in wheels to compare it with, but I anticipate that while the ride might improve slightly with the smaller wheels, it would be unlikely to match that of the Defender. Am I correct? 

– RD

Dear RD

This is an interesting one, because in my experience the Discovery has always provided a waftier, ostensibly more comfortable ride than the Defender.

Mind you, not everyone finds that “wafty” equals “comfortable” – indeed, that may well explain why you felt the Defender gripped the road better. Certainly, the Discovery’s soft set-up means it can feel a little top-heavy, especially if you really hustle it along.

Having said that, I suspect the reason for the harshness that you experienced is indeed the larger wheels fitted to the car you tried. Because air-based suspension systems have a much slower response rate than gas-filled dampers, even the plushest air suspension can be flummoxed by the sudden, coarse crashiness generated by the narrow-sidewalled tyres that are necessitated by big wheels. That crashiness is thrown into sharp relief when the suspension is otherwise so soft, too.

I suspect a Discovery on 20-inch wheels would have proven much more comfortable than the one you tried, so it’s a shame you couldn’t give it a go. For what it’s worth, in my experience, the Discovery is the more luxurious of the two cars, and better set up for road and family use. The Defender, meanwhile, is better off-road and a little more rugged, what with its wipe-clean surfaces and chunky interior fittings. In reality, though, both of these cars are pretty good to drive and to live with, whether you’re on or off the road. 

If you’ve decided you’re happy with it already, therefore, I see no reason not to stick with the Defender. Quite apart from anything else, it’s slightly cheaper like-for-like than the Discovery, and if you ever find yourself with an urgent need to scale a rocky outcrop, you’ll be in a better position to do so. 

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