Land Rover enthusiasts
will find a lot
to like about the
new Discovery SUV.
It has a robust powertrain
firm and steady ride,
and a whisper-quiet cabin.
But with its charm,
it's also plagued
with some traditional
Land Rover quirks.
Baffling controls, oddball
processes, and prodigious heft,
to name a few.
Don't be confused by
the name and look.
The new Discovery
has little in common
with the disappointing
Land Rover Discovery
Sport, which is good.
Instead, the Discovery is
based on the same platform
as the bigger Range Rover
and Range Rover Sport models.
Like those, the Disco uses
a 340 horsepower three liter
supercharged V6.
This gem of an engine
provides loads of power.
Paired with a smooth,
quick-shifting eight-speed
automatic, thrust is near
immediate from the moment
you step on the accelerator.
But the Disco doesn't deliver
the same driving experience
as its big brothers.
Land Rover made a big deal
about saving a lot of weight
with the new Disco compared
with its predecessor the LR4.
On our scales, the V6
Disco shaved off 305 pounds
from the weight
of the last LR4 V8
we tested, but not
nearly the 1,000 pounds
that Land Rover has touted.
That heft is noticeable as
the Discovery lumbers about,
with enough body movement that
passengers feel tossed about.
Making matters worse is that
the steering is light and short
on feedback.
But it is quick
response to inputs.
This ultimately
forces the driver
to make constant corrections
to keep the Disco in its lane.
At least the ride quality is
reflective of the Discovery's
badge and price.
The ride is on the firm side,
but the optional air suspension
keeps this big SUV steady over
most pavement imperfections.
Riders feel only the
nastiest ruts and bumps.
The cabin is extremely quiet.
Only when you mash
the accelerator
is the serenity broken by
the engine and exhaust noise.
Land Rovers have a
strong visual presence,
even when standing still.
And despite its softer
lines, the new Discovery
is no different.
With the air
suspension, the big SUV
can rise and traverse
off-road obstacles for the few
who will take their $70,000 SUV
on true off-road adventures.
It will also lower
itself, as if kneeling
before Royalty, to make
it easier to climb up
and into the cabin.
Once inside the SUV, the
traditional Land Rover cues
are evident.
Big, firm, throne-like seats,
a commanding seating position,
and plenty of room.
But the wide roof pillars and
thick rear head restraints
block much of the
view looking back.
It seems to be a
tradition for a Land Rover
to feature confounding controls.
The touchscreen infotainment
system is slow to start up
and often takes its time
responding to inputs.
Simple tasks, such as
changing the audio tone,
are multi-step processes.
It's a challenge to even
find the buttons that
control the rear hatch, or the
lane-keeping safety features.
Still, it's not all bad.
The seat heating
and cooling controls
are slickly integrated
into the temperature dials.
The second row seat is roomy
enough for three adults to fit,
but tow and knee
room are limited.
And the seat
cushion's low, forcing
even average-height adults sit
with their knees up in the air.
We have the Remote
Intelligent Seat Fold Package
in our Discovery,
which will power
fold the second and third
row seats, even from an app
or by using the touch
screen up front.
But accessing the kid-sized
third row is a challenge.
You have to power fold the
second row seat back, then tug
and shove the whole
assembly forward,
which reveals a narrow
path to the cave-like rear.
You can find SUVs
that accomplish
this with more elegance
and ease for $30,000 less.
Pleasingly, both rear
rows in our Disco
feature three-stage seat
heat, air vents, and plenty
of USB charging ports.
Opening the sunshade
over the third row
considerably
brightens the space.
Overall, the new Discovery
is highly capable,
and certainly looks
and feels luxurious.
It remains to be
seen how well it
will compete in our road tests
and in terms of reliability.
For more on SUVs, check
out consumerreports.org.
