There is not much that can be said about the Land Rover discovery and its sibling Discovery Sport that hasn’t already been written. The latest models take this now almost legendary name to greater heights with a range of enhancements and technology upgrades. We use the term legendary because since its introduction in 1989 this big SUV has proved its credentials on and off road, where it is virtually unbeatable. Here’s the latest on this great family-sized car:
Discovery
It’s big alright; the flexible interior provides seven full-sized adult seats which are instantly configurable to accommodate any load. Best of all, the seats can now be adjusted from a smartphone using Land Rover’s world-first remote Intelligent Seat Fold technology. That will save some trapped fingers.
The semi-autonomous safety technology in the Discovery provides the family peace of mind whilst the premium interior combines class-leading design with durable, high-quality materials and space for the whole family.
Land Rover’s full-sized SUV architecture delivers world-beating all-terrain capability making the Discovery unstoppable on all surfaces, all terrains and in all weathers. It is lighter too with aluminium construction which saves no less than 480kg, making the car more fuel efficient and reducing CO² emissions to a low of 171g/km, model dependent.
Power comes from the all new super-clean Ingenium family of engines with the latest offering 238bhp via a four-cylinder diesel motor with a mighty 500Nm of torque. This sort of torque makes the Discovery the king of all the tow-cars with a best-in-class 3,500kg towing capacity and semi-autonomous Advanced Tow Assist which helps take the stress out of difficult reversing manoeuvres.
The design may have been updated for the modern world yet still retains those key Discovery attributes with space for all. There’s room for up to 2,406 litres of luggage space with seven seats as standard in the UK specification and clever storage throughout for those family essentials.
Ingenious features that make life easier and include up to nine USB ports, four 12-volt charging points and an in-car WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices. That’s staying connected.
Discovery Sport
However let’s not forget the baby brother, the recent Discovery Sport. Starting at very competitive mainstream prices this premium SUV still embraces the adventurous spirit that has defined the original Discovery family for the past thirty years.
The Discovery Sport is a striking evolution of the original that does not compromise capability. Demonstrating versatility, the spacious, more comfortable and quiet 5+2 interior has been transformed with a completely new infotainment interface and all the latest connectivity. Additionally, there’s a more flexible seating arrangement with up to 24 combinations. Under the skin, new electrified engines include a 48-volt mild hybrid to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption in for the 21st Century.
The Discovery Sport remains every inch a Land Rover, combining the same assured all-terrain handling with all-weather capability. This car will wade through a depth of 600mm. All-Wheel Drive and a second-generation Active Driveline system (engine output dependent) couples with Terrain Response 2 which automatically detects the surface and adjusts the torque delivery to best suit the conditions. Advanced Tow Assist makes reversing with a trailer (up to 2,500kg) more intuitive and safer than ever.
As with the regular Discovery there is a reversing camera as standard on all models, alongside a suite of available advanced driver assistance systems. These include optional Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, which centres the vehicle in the lane based on road markings as well as maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Standard safety features include Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Driver Condition Monitor.
In either guise, this really is the car that does it all.
