The Land Rover Discovery is up there with the best in the premium SUV market

What is it?

This is the new Land Rover Discovery, and it marks a massive moment in the brand’s continued move upmarket. Its utilitarian past has increasingly been shunned in favour of trying to grab a slice of the premium SUV market.

The all-new model is handsome – awkward off-centre, retro-inspired rear number plate aside – and feels delightfully expensive inside. And it needs to – the more popular models will cost upwards of £50,000, while it’s going up against capable rivals in the form of the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.

What’s new?

The Discovery has been given a total overhaul for this latest generation. For example, the lightweight construction saves an impressive 480kg over the outgoing model, while semi-autonomous safety technology is targeted at giving family buyers peace of mind.

One particularly useful feature is the ability to control the seat configurations from a smartphone app. There’s space for seven people, and the app makes it easy to accommodate luggage and passengers as appropriate.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Discovery benefits from Jaguar Land Rover’s range of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with the 2.0-litre ‘Ingenium’ diesel unit being the headline story.

With 238bhp and 500Nm of torque it never feels sluggish, while official figures suggest emissions of 189g/km of CO2 and 43.5mpg on the combined cycle. However, after many miles combining motorway and city driving, we averaged about 37mpg, which is quite disappointing.

What’s it like to drive?

The Land Rover Discovery is a big, tall car, and it certainly feels it when cornering. It’s better than before, but rivals such as the Audi Q7 do a much better job of hiding their bulk.

However, for motorway mile munching it’s up there with the best in the business. The commanding seating position will appeal to those who want a great view of the road, while the ride is calm and composed, ensuring you get to your destination in a relaxed mood.

The only glaring disappointment is the gearbox, which is slow to respond to your inputs particularly at lower engine revs. Then, once power does come in, it’s a big, unwanted surge. You learn to drive around it, but you shouldn’t have to.

How does it look?

From most angles, the Discovery is a handsome vehicle, making the most of Land Rover’s sophisticated styling cues. However, in an attempt to nod to Discoverys gone by, the new car gets an off-centre number plate, which just looks odd.

That said, in a popular segment full of rivals that ooze badge appeal, the Land Rover Discovery more than holds its own.

What’s it like inside?

While the exterior is polarising, inside there can be no complaints. The dashboard is beautifully designed with a simple, uncluttered appearance, while the leather upholstery is soft and oozes premium appeal. Base spec models do suffer from quite uninspiring cloth seats, though relatively few buyers will go here.

Meanwhile, the upright design of the Discovery means that the cabin is extremely spacious, and the large windows make it feel all the more roomy.

What’s the spec like?

We tested an HSE-spec Discovery, which is one of the more premium trim levels available – S and SE sit below it, and HSE Luxury above. It starts from £56,995 OTR and comes with an impressive list of features, such as a Meridian 10-speaker sound system, powered third-row seats and a fixed panoramic roof to give the cabin an airy feel.

Our car came with a few optional extras – the £385 ebony headlining felt like a needless extravagance, but £1,555 for 21-inch alloy wheels feels well spent as the standard 20-inch set can look a little lost in the massive arches. Meanwhile, £110 for two 12V sockets for second row passengers is easily lost in monthly payments but should probably be included as standard.

Verdict

The Land Rover Discovery is supremely talented as a calming companion for a road trip. The way it assuredly covers even the most cobbled of British streets as if it was cruising on carpet is up there with the best in the segment. The fact it could also climb mountains with ease is reassuring.

There are some quibbles with the gearbox being a little slow to respond to your inputs, but overall the Discovery is excellent as a family wagon, long distance cruiser or even an off-road trailblazer.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model as tested: Land Rover Discovery Sd4 HSE
Price as tested: £60,980
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel
Power: 238bhp
Torque: 500NM
Max speed: 121mph
0-60mph: 8.0 seconds
MPG: 43.5mpg
Emissions: 189g/km