Few cars create such admiration and annoyance in equal measure as the Land Rover Discovery. To some it symbolises the kind of extravagance that is responsible for global warming, to others it is a practical combination of people carrier, off-roader, estate and luxury transport.
Either way, one thing is beyond argument: the latest model is the best of the breed. The third incarnation of the Land Rover Discovery was launched in the UK in 2004 and was immediately acknowledged as being on a different plane from its forebears.
The new styling carried enough of the old design cues to remain familiar while still managing to expand the Discovery’s internal volume to make it into a proper seven-seat vehicle. The interior is unfussy and extra space is gained by the use of an electronic parking brake that releases automatically when moving off rather than a conventional manually operated one.
There is no shortage of places to store items either, with Land Rover claiming space enough to hold 17.5 litres of drinks in the large door bins. Even the key fob has been well designed: built to withstand a 30ft drop, it continuously recharges itself from the ignition, meaning owners will never have to replace the battery.
Land Rover replaced the transmission and gearboxes and installed the latest suspension systems so that the vehicle was comfortable both on and off road. Under the bonnet there was a choice of two engines, one petrol and one diesel. The superb 2.7 litre V6 turbodiesel was the biggest seller and produces a healthy 190bhp. Combine this with a hefty 324 lb ft of low-down torque and it will propel the 2,600kg Discovery from 0-60mph in about 11sec – significantly quicker than the 17sec taken by its diesel forerunner.
The 4.4 litre V8 petrol unit feels even quicker, with 300bhp under the bonnet, but while it has a claimed fuel efficiency of 20mpg few drivers will find they can achieve anywhere near that figure in normal driving conditions.
On the road the Discovery feels much more like a car than its predecessor thanks to the air suspension, which is standard on all but the entry-level model.
Not only does the vehicle ride well but cornering can now be tackled with a little more confidence because body roll has been significantly reduced.
Permanent four-wheel drive means that turning off the tarmac and onto the mud requires no thought, and huge ground clearance ensures ruts are dispatched with ease. The low-range gearbox gives the Discovery the ability to crawl up surfaces that would have mountain goats struggling for a foothold.
Even more impressive is how the Discovery flatters the driver. No matter how tough the going, the car deals with it calmly, nonchalantly pulling you out of even the most troubling environment.
But while the car’s off-road ability has never been questioned, its build quality and reliability have, and it is here that the biggest changes have been felt. With high-mileage examples now commonplace and manufacturer warranties soon coming to an end the third-generation Discovery is proving itself to be a robust and reliable vehicle. Early problems with suspension now seem to have been resolved, gearboxes and engines appear trouble free and interiors are wearing well.
So if you fancy the second-best Land Rover built (I still regard the Range Rover as king of the off-roaders) then what should you buy? Well, forget the manual and go for the sublime six-speed automatic box. Don’t bother with the stress of the V8’s fuel consumption, just pick up the super-smooth V6 diesel. A used HSE with leather, bi-xenon headlamps and upgraded stereo is also well worth the extra outlay.
The latest generation of Discovery is a mighty impressive vehicle, and whether we believe it’s politically correct or not it certainly deserves our respect.
