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Discovery 4 on test: the business user’s luxury workhorse

The only real alternative to the capability and comfort of a Disco is a Range Rover.
And only the business car driver can decide if the Ranger’s look-at-me factor is worth the extra £20k.
Car review: LUKE MADDEN<br
605_Land_Rover_Discovery_Moving

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31 October 2012

Land Rover Discovery 4
The basic formula is the same as the Range Rover – an immensely capable vehicle both on and off road. But for £20k less than the cheapest Range Rover

 

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.

Land Rover Discovery 4
By any standards the interior is well equipped and luxurious. This shows the extended leather pack to the facia

 

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.

Land Rover Discovery 4
Low ratio gears, diff locks and the other essentials of off-roading are all hidden behind the electronics

> 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.

Land Rover Discovery 4
It’s big, and it’s tall. Don’t expect pin-sharp handling – one area where the Range Rover does better

 

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.

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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