LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
It’s difficult not to root for Land Rover, and Range Rover for that matter. They’ve been through thick and thin over the last quarter century but through it all, they’ve managed to do exceptionally well.
Review Overview
Performance - 80%
Driving experience - 90%
Comfort - 80%
Security - 90%
Roominess - 90%
Prestige - 80%
85%
One model that’s done wonders for the brand’s image is the Discovery, introduced in 1989. Inspired by its stablemate, the Defender, it was meant to be a more affordable way to get into the family without sacrificing what the company had been made famous for: legendary ruggedness and off-road abilities. The successive revisions and upgrades were true to the original concept but that’s changed now, at least where sheetmetal is concerned.
The new Discovery is in line with the remainder of the family of SUVs and to a purist, this seems like a mistake. To buyers of upscale urban mobility assault vehicles, this latest Discovery is perfect. It is now stylish, almost dainty when compared to the LR4 it replaces and loaded with 21st Century goodies that we all crave. The question here is a very simple one: does it deserve to sport the 70 year-old name badge and the Disco moniker? As enquiring minds need to know, JLR delivered an epic-driving event to prove the SUV’s mettle.
The two powertrains that will be available in Canada are 3.0-litre V6: a 254 horsepower turbo-diesel and a 340 horsepower supercharged petrol. Both feature an 8-speed automatic transmission and one of two sophisticated AWD Terrain Response (TR) systems. It’s a toss-up between the two mills as both produce gobs of power but yours truly would gladly settle for the TD6 and its 443 lb.-ft. of torque as of 1,750 rpm, although the jump in price is considerable.
Powertrain performance is very good in both cases and each has a distinct advantage: better fuel economy with the diesel, more oomph for passing with the petrol. The principal aid in performance is the new Discovery’s impressive weight loss. With the V6s, it varies between 750 and 800 lbs. (340 and 365 kg) lighter than the LR4. Handling is also notably improved because of this and the optional air suspension takes the Discovery to a new level of refinement.
Despite the lowered curb weight, the Discovery is still heavy and feels bigger than it looks. It is easy enough to get used to it but it took a while for me to adjust to the electric steering that lacked on center feel and could use more weight behind the wheel. Brake pedal suffers from a fair amount of travel before biting but the results are there. Although good on road, the real show comes when the Discovery is thrown into a situation that the majority of owners will never face.
The Terrain Response 2 AWD (TR2) system is nothing short of miraculous, even when left in auto. It sorts out power with the same precision Dustin Johnson uses to sink a 20-foot putt. And while on the topic of technology, this Land Rover’s been heavily upgraded. The 8” or 10” screens are SVR-fast compared to the old, with improved resolution and a broader menu. The level of connectivity and integration is immense with no less than 9 available USB ports, and the standard INCONTROL TOUCH system that manages your apps. A PRO version with even more features like SiriusXM and a Wi-Fi hotspot is also available.
The cabin is roomy and will swallow seven adults with the optional 3rd row. The seats are well bolstered in all three rows. The dashboard is Range Rover upscale with similar styling, fit and finish and materials.
There is no doubt in Land Rover’s and my mind that this is the best, most complete Discovery ever. With the air suspension and TR2, its wading depth, various angles and overall off-road capabilities are superior to the LR4. This Discovery is more luxurious, better appointed, a far more competent driver on road and with a stating price of $61,500, it’s not overly priced. The vehicles we tested, with options, we’re closer to around $90k – pricier but very impressive nonetheless.
The new 2017 Land Rover Discovery will be in showrooms as of May.
