Used Cars

Land Rover

Think rugged and British-built off-roaders and it will be Land Rover that springs to mind. Since 1948, Land Rover’s automotive agricultural output has been at the heart of UK farming and rural life. The company has branched out since then, the vehicles over time becoming more technical and sophisticated, but that original heart remains. At the beginning of 2016, the last of the old school Defenders rolled off the production line and today the 21st Century trio of the new Defender, the Discovery and Discovery Sport models continue to carry the flag for the marque.

Land Rover Design

Today’s Land Rover vehicles are light years away from those early examples. The brand, having been adopted by all sections of society, have moved with the times and while their vehicles remain as capable as ever on rough terrain, they are now sophisticated, technological marvels as comfortable on road as they are brilliant off it.

Thanks to the influence of the sibling Range Rover brand, the Land Rover designers have not been complacent. The new Defender for example is astonishingly able and can take pretty much anything in its stride, yet it bristles with the very latest technology. Now the design team are turning their attention to the very popular Discovery models, working towards future electrification, new aerodynamics and all the other modern motoring world requirements while maintaining the essence of the brand. Already, mild hybrid variants are available.

Land Rover Vehicles

As mentioned, the new Defender is more than just a working vehicle, it’s a consummate all-rounder. It is now a completely modern SUV that pays homage to its 20th Century forebears in shape. That’s about the extent of the comparison though. Inside, this big SUV offers LCD screens for the instrumentation, infotainment and the sort of electronic systems that make driving on- and off-road seem like a walk in the park. On or off-road, this car is quite an automotive achievement.

There’s a choice of engines; from turbocharged, mild hybrid, six cylinder petrol or diesel engines to a plug-in hybrid by way of a mighty V8.

This fabulous new addition to the Land Rover range has rather taken the limelight away from the versatile and family-friendly Discovery but that does not detract from its abilities. Used Land Rover Discovery and Discovery Sport models remain available, but the spotlight turns onto the latest offering with its design influenced by Range Rover styling. This has petrol and diesel options and now a mild-hybrid variant too.

With permanent four-wheel drive driving through an eight-speed auto ‘box, the Discovery is a fine car to drive on the road, with a comfortable ride and confidence-inspiring handling. Plunge off-road and all the expected Land Rover attributes are ready and waiting.

The Sport variant has slightly less room inside but makes up for this by being more fuel efficient and also offers a plug-in version. The dashboard is neat and tidy and this compact crossover benefits from Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, handling the car’s off-road settings. It may be the baby of the Land Rover family but it packs an adult punch.

The Future Of Land Rover

The company plan to be completely carbon-neutral in under twenty years and they further plan to be fully electrified by 2030. As with Jaguar, electrification building upon new vehicle architecture is key to the brand’s ‘Reimagine’ strategy.

New sub-divisions of the Discovery and Defender models are to be introduced and by 2024, say the company, the very first fully electric version is expected to be launched. It is mooted that the next Discovery Sport, slated for 2024, will be a pure battery-electric car with a large underfloor battery pack. Other variants will get a smaller battery and a range-extender petrol engine.

It is an example of how fast the race to our future motoring is going when vehicles of this type, those with a robust off-road heritage, are just around the corner. If interested in new or used Land Rover vehicles, ask us how we can help to clients to import cars from the UK to New Zealand and other destinations in Africa.