Land Rover Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE 255hp Auto
Land Rover car review: LUKE MADDEN
What is it?
THE Land Rover Discovery is the slightly more practical, slightly less luxurious brother to the Range Rover.
It’s still worth a look though because it delivers impeccable off-road ability, impressive towing credentials and room for seven people – and that is something even the Range Rover can’t claim.
The 251bhp SDV6 is currently the only engine choice, but that’s not a problem because it delivers the right mix of performance and smoothness. The HSE is the top of the range model.
Prices for the Land Rover Discovery 4 range from £38,825 on the road to £52,450 for the HSE model reviewed here.
What’s hot?
>For starters it’s worth reasserting just how practical the Discovery is. Yes, there’s room for seven people (and in reasonable comfort, even in the back row) but with just five seats in place there’s a huge 1,124-litre load area too. It’s still a reasonable 280 litres with the third row of seats in place.
> Then there’s the comfort and refinement. The supple suspension and thick tyres soak up rough roads and large potholes, while you can travel at the national limit in near-silence.
> The Discovery is ideal for off-roading with plenty of electronic systems to keep you safe. A computer chooses the best set-up for the suspension, the four-wheel-drive system and the throttle response to ensure you don’t get stuck.
> You can tow huge 3,500kg loads with the Discovery and it can be ordered with a Trailer Stability Assist system which helps eliminate sway.
> As of October 2012 there is only one engine choice, the 251bhp SDV6, and it’s fantastically smooth and powerful.
> The Discovery’s cabin features plenty of leather and chunky switchgear, giving both a sense of luxury and of build quality.
What’s not?
> This big car comes with some very big running costs. There’s no stop/start to soften the blow, so fuel economy stands at 32.1mpg and CO2 emissions are 230g/km.
>That puts it in the most expensive company car tax band possible, so you’ll have to pay 35% of the P11D value.