The Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2012 vs Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 has a 75-hp advantage over the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2012's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 carries 66 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 2175 Pro V Sport 2021 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 21,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.