Land Rover Discovery Review 2024

September 2016

Land Rover Discovery revealed

The interior of the Discovery continues the design revolution started by the Discovery Sport, where customers can specify a range of premium materials including luxurious Windsor leather upholstery and natural oak veneers.

The limited-run ‘First Edition’ model showcases the very best of the Discovery. Only 600 examples will be available in the UK with exclusive features including unique etched map detailing on the aluminium trim for the doors and facia, unique badges, bold colour choices and a comprehensive list of standard equipment.

The optional Dynamic Design Pack gives NtheDiscovery a more purposeful, stealth-like appearance both inside and out, with features including a contrast roof, athletic front and rear bumper designs, luxurious leather upholstery and a sports-inspired steering wheel and pedals setting it apart.

The Discovery provides world-first Intelligent Seat Fold technology, allowing customers to reconfigure the second- and third-row seats with minimal effort using controls at the rear of the vehicle, the central touchscreen and even remotely via a smartphone app as part of the InControl Touch Pro Services.

The innovative feature allows owners to rearrange the seats from inside a shop while they queue to pay for large or bulky items, ensuring the vehicle is perfectly configured to accommodate their purchases.

All three rows are available with heated seats – heated and cooled in rows one and two – while massage seats are available for the driver and front passenger to optimise comfort on long journeys.

Enjoying the spacious interior of New Discovery is made easier by another thoughtful Land Rover innovation. Auto Access Height technology reduces the ride-height by up to 40mm as passengers prepare to enter or exit the vehicle.

Alongside the spacious and flexible seating layout, the other key to New Discovery’s superior versatility is Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system. The intuitive set-up features a large 10-inch touchscreen positioned high on the centre console, enabling Land Rover’s designers to reduce the number of switches on the centre console by a third, delivering a clean and uncluttered appearance.

Crisp graphics and easy-to-navigate menus incorporate the latest navigation and entertainment technologies including door-to-door navigation, which can share directions to a paired smartphone to help customers complete journeys on foot. Seamless iOS and Android connectivity combine with a 14-speaker Meridian digital surround system, with an additional subwoofer, and 3G WiFi to provide the ultimate listening experience, whether streaming songs online or playing music directly from a connected device.

Up to four 12V charging points ensure New Discovery is perfectly equipped to cope with the demands of the most connected families, while as many as nine USB sockets (on HSE Luxury models or when Rear Seat Entertainment is fitted) allow passengers in each row to power their smartphones or tablets simultaneously.

Ground clearance is rated at 283mm (up 43mm) while a maximum wading depth of 900mm (an increase of 200mm) puts Discovery in a class of its own, providing unrivalled confidence when tackling both waterlogged tracks and flooded roads.

A comprehensive suite of off-road driving technologies ensures New Discovery’s supreme all-terrain capability is easy to access for even inexperienced drivers. Land Rover’s multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system optimises a range of settings, from throttle sensitivity to gear change characteristics, to suit the driving conditions at the turn of a rotary controller – and can even select the optimum setting automatically if drivers are unsure of the best choice.

When tackling particularly challenging terrain, All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programmed to autonomously maintain a suitable crawl speed chosen by the driver. The clever technology allows the driver to concentrate solely on steering the vehicle as they negotiate obstacles, without the distraction of operating the throttle or brake pedals, and can also be used from a standstill to help when pulling away on slippery surfaces.

On-road performance is enhanced by Land Rover’s proven lightweight and durable aluminium monocoque architecture, which contributes to a 480kg weight saving compared to steel ladder construction. Land Rover’s advanced integral link rear suspension delivers superior handling characteristics without compromising the superb ride comfort that has defined successive generations of the Discovery family.

Land Rover’s trademark Command Driving Position also allows customers to enjoy New Discovery’s enhanced breadth of capability in complete confidence, irrespective of the road and weather conditions, by providing excellent visibility.

This confidence extends to towing capability, which has been a hallmark of every generation of Discovery since it was used to tow a train at its original launch in 1989. With a maximum towing capacity at a class-leading 3,500kg, Land Rover has developed clever technology to make the Discovery’s towing ability more accessible than ever.

The Discovery is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s efficient range of four and six cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all paired with a smooth and responsive ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.

They include the award-winning twin-turbo Sd4 Ingenium four-cylinder diesel produces 240PS with an impressive 500Nm of torque and fuel economy of 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 171g/km.

Six-cylinder diesel power comes from the 258PS Td6, which delivers 600Nm of torque for strong performance, pulling power and efficiency.

For petrol customers, Land Rover’s advanced 340PS supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6, the Si6, provides 450Nm of torque to deliver relaxed performance and capability. However, NEDC CO2 Emissions Combined are 254 g/km; NEDC combined fuel economy is 26mpg; Extra Urban 30.4mpg and Urban a mere 19.9mpg.

April 2019

Land Rover Discovery Landmark Edition announced

Based on the Discovery SE, the Landmark Edition adds the Dynamic Exterior Pack, which includes a more purposeful front bumper design and Narvik Black mesh grille and fender vents. Narvik Black nameplate scripting on the bonnet and tailgate is also joined by unique Landmark badging.

The exterior is also marked out by fixed front and rear panoramic roofs, front fog lights and signature Hi-Line tail lights, while privacy glass and 20-inch Gloss Black wheels complete the modern and contemporary look.

The interior is available with a choice of Ebony or Acorn grained leather. A Satin Brushed centre console and unique aluminium mesh finisher also set it apart, along with the 380W Meridian Sound System.

The Land Rover Discovery Landmark Edition is available to order now, with prices starting at £57,350.

November 2020

Land Rover Discovery updated with mild-hybrid engines

Based on Land Rover's new Electric Vehicle Architecture, the revised Discovery features the latest six-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines as well as the brand's new Pivi Pro media system.

Exterior updates includes revised LED headlights as well as animated front and rear indicators. R-Dynamic models get a revised front bumper and new side vents. Further highlights unique to the R-Dynamic include Gloss Black and Shadow Atlas exterior accents and two-tone leather and contrast seat stitching on the inside.

Across the range, the updated Discovery features a redesigned centre console housing a 48 per cent larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment system. With a back-up battery, it'll start-up within seconds of you getting in the car, while the logical menus allow the most commonly used functions to be accessed directly from the customisable home screen, to reduce driver distraction.

Connectivity is provided by dual-sim technology, with two LTE modems enabling the system to carry out multiple functions at the same time – such as streaming media and downloading Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) updates.

In combination with the 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display, the updated Discovery provides high-definition 3D mapping within the instrumentation, leaving the central touchscreen free to control other applications. The high-resolution digital instruments can be configured to show a pair of conventional dials, full-screen 3D navigation guidance or a combination of the two, allowing drivers to customise the view to suit their preference.

In addition, customers have the option of a full-colour Head-Up Display, putting high-resolution driving information directly into the driver’s eyeline, removing the need to look away from the road ahead. Smartphone integration is also simple, thanks to Apple CarPlay, while the advanced Bluetooth technology can connect two smartphones simultaneously. Android Auto is also available as standard. Wireless charging with signal boosting technology is also available as an optional extra.

Passenger comfort can be supported by Cabin Air Ionisation, now available with PM2.5 air filtration technology. It actively scans incoming air, measuring its quality and automatically uses advanced filters to reduce the level of allergens, toxins and harmful particulates in the cabin, enhancing driver wellbeing.

Comfort and convenience are further enhanced by the introduction of Land Rover’s Click and Go tablet holders, incorporated into the front seatbacks. The easy-to-use system also includes USB-A charging sockets that are perfectly located to minimise trailing wires. Using the onboard 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, which is capable of linking up to eight devices, rear passengers can be entertained on even the longest journeys.

Up front, the new-look four-spoke steering wheel features hidden-until-lit switches and metal gearshift paddles while a tactile new gear selector provides instinctive control of the powertrain.

The updated Discovery is available in Discovery S, SE and HSE trim levels, in sporty R-Dynamic guise or as a practical Commercial model with a 2024-litre cargo area, additional underfloor stowage lockers and the same maximum 3,500kg towing capacity as the rest of the range.

Buyers can choose from a trio of new straight-six Ingenium engines, both petrol and diesel, featuring 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology for enhanced efficiency, performance and smoothness. The new engines are available alongside Land Rover’s four-cylinder P300 Ingenium petrol powertrain and with a new Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.

The straight-six engine family was designed and developed in-house and the advanced diesel is available in 249PS and 300PS outputs, while the powerful petrol delivers 360PS. Discovery engine line-up in full:

P300: 300HP (221kW), 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, 400Nm of torque at 1,500-4,500rpm
P360: 360HP (265kW), 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV petrol, 500Nm of torque at 1,750-5,000rpm
D250: 249HP (183kW), 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV diesel, 570Nm of torque at 1,250-2,250rpm
D300: 300HP (221kW), 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV diesel, 650Nm of torque at 1,500-2,500rpm

October 2021

Land Rover Discovery Metropolitan Edition priced from £73,250

Based on the R-Dynamic HSE specification with Bright Atlas detailing for the grille and Discovery lettering. This is complemented by Hakuba Silver lower bumper inserts, 22-inch Diamond Turned alloy wheels with Gloss Grey detailing, Black Land Rover brake calipers, Privacy Glass and a Sliding Panoramic Roof.

Standard features inside include a Head-up Display and heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a front cooler compartment and four-zone climate control. The cabin is enhanced with Titanium Mesh trim detailing.

Elsewhere in the line-up, the R-Dynamic model now features a Gloss Black Contrast Roof as standard.