There aren’t too many vehicles that dominate their class in quite such an imperious manner as the Land Rover Discovery 3. Andy Enright reports on the latest version
Not too hard, this one. If you want the best family 4x4 around, buy a Land Rover Discovery 3. Nothing else really gets close to matching the Disco’s all-round abilities. Get it off road and it’s just jaw-droppingly capable. Faults? It’s not quick and emissions are so-so. Otherwise it’s an almost flawless performance.
There was always something endearing about older Land Rover Discovery models. On virtually any objective calculation, they were way off the pace but the way they managed to triumph over considerable adversity was almost Shackletonesque. Fortunately, the new generation Discovery 3 hasn’t needed to rely on the British admiration for stiff upper lips to do well, winning over 100 international awards as well as our own ‘4x4 of the Year’ award twice. The Discovery 3 was designed as new from the ground up and boasts enough technology and design savvy to punt all of its rivals clean off the map. It overwhelms through its sheer brilliance.
The latest version has been facelifted but you’d have to be quite a fan of the marque to really notice the changes. That’s actually intentional. The old MK2 Discovery, after all, had a whole series of far-reaching facelifts, none of which did residual values much good. Discovery 3 buyers fare much better in this respect and the Solihull company is keen not to change things. Thanks to Ford’s money bankrolling the design process, this car really does represent a true no expense-spared bid to build the best possible family 4x4. With the Range Rover commanding serious money, this Discovery has needed to stretch up into a much more exalted marketplace than its predecessor, with dealers confidently charging premium prices for a premium quality product.
If you appreciate choice when it comes to engine selection, you’re going to disappointed. There’s only one powerplant on offer, but it’s a good ‘un. The 2.7-litre V6 diesel that Jaguar developed in conjunction with Peugeot is fitted to the Discovery and it’s a high tech unit constructed from compacted graphite iron (CGI) to ensure outstanding strength, durability and above all low weight. All models of course feature full time four wheel drive and surprisingly sprightly on-road performance.
"No other vehicle is so adept at marrying the two often conflicting demands of capability off road and refinement on road…."
There’s the option of a six-speed automatic gearbox with ‘intelligent shift’ as an alternative to the more conventional six-speed manual transmission and we’d recommend you pay the extra for it. Due to its massive weight, the Discovery 2.7 V6 isn’t particularly quick. It’ll get to 60mph from rest in a leisurely 12.5 seconds and run on to a top speed of 109mph. Fully independent suspension all round and an Integrated Body-frame structure is twinned with air suspension on most models. This is height adjustable to assist entry and exit and to boost ground clearance when off roading.
Guaranteed to provoke curiosity is Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response system. This is virtually akin to having an expert sitting alongside you, helping to get the best out of the vehicle, on or off road. The driver chooses one of five terrain settings via a rotary knob mounted on the centre console. There’s a general driving programme plus one for slippery conditions (dubbed ‘grass/gravel/snow’) and three specialist off road modes (mud/ruts, sand, rock crawl).
Let’s start with the latest changes. There’s a re-profiled body-coloured front bumper and revised body-coloured rear bumpers and wheel arches. The distinctive, asymmetric two-piece tailgate now comes with body coloured tailgate lift handle and the attention to detail continues with the revised 'tungsten' coloured side vent, 'tungsten' door handles, and clear-lens side repeaters across the range. A smarter 19-inch 7-spoke wheel style and three new exterior metallic paint colours (Santorini Black, Galway Green and Bournville) complete the exterior changes. Interior upgrades include a new ‘almond’ trim colour and an updated Bluetooth system.
Unambiguously a Land Rover product, the Discovery looks like a Range Rover from the front and a Freelander on growth hormone from the side – no bad combination. Most importantly, it does a good job of refreshing the brand’s styling without diluting the look and feel. Assymetric styling is a key theme. The rear tailgate is styled in this way and there’s an air intake on one side of the car but not on the other. With typical economy, Land Rover claim that’s all that was needed. An optional third row of seats is available with fold flat functionality in both the second and third rows, giving the Discovery some serious load lugging abilities.
Prices start at £29,950. The old 4.4-litre BMW-sourced petrol engine that only 10% of buyers previously opted for in this car is long dead, but there is a wide range of trim levels above the base model (which only comes with five seats). The seven seat models start with the GS variant above which sit XS, SE and HSE models. The five seat entry-level car comes with features such as 17-inch alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake assist which supplies extra brake pressure in an emergency, and electronic traction control which helps maintain optimum grip.
This includes climate control, rear parking sensors and the option of bi-xenon headlights. XS trim adds features like cruise control, sat nav and 18 inch alloys, while those that go for the SE get an adaptive automatic gearbox, heated front seats and screen, front parking sensors and riotzier aloys. The top spec HSE features 19-inch rims, bi-xenon lights, heated seats all round and a premium voice operated navigation system with hybrid TV.
The diesel engine fitted to the Discovery might be one of the more advanced units of its ilk but it’s a relatively small capacity unit to power a vehicle of this size and weight and fuel consumption will suffer if you try to get from A to B at a decent clip. The average fuel figure of 30.7mpg is fairly respectable but few will replicate this on a long term basis. Our long term vehicle returned an average of just over 26mpg. Residual values, on the other hand, are excellent, buyers being fully clued in as to what a great all rounder the Discovery is and a GS model will hold fully 52 per cent of its new value three years down the road compared to 46 per cent for an equivalent Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel.
Insurance is group 13 for most models, with the two top trim levels being rated at group 14. Emissions aren’t standout at 244g/km, tipping it into a very expensive bracket for company car buyers. Small wonder that the vast majority of Discovery sales come from private customers.
Most big 4x4s make very little sense if you plan to drive them solely on tarmac. Most of the time you’d be better served with a decent full-sized saloon or MPV if you need space and great ride quality. The Land Rover Discovery is so good it almost warrants recommendation regardless of its ability in the mud but it’s when you put it through its paces in properly extreme terrain that the genius – and that’s not a word to be used lightly – in its design becomes apparent.
No other vehicle is so adept at marrying the two often conflicting demands of capability off road and refinement on road. Not even a Range Rover manages that compromise quite as elegantly as the Discovery 3. Its rivals are torn up, spat out and ground into the dirt and since this Discovery first appeared in 2004, many manufacturers have just given up in order to concentrate on easier pickings. Drive a Discovery and you’ll appreciate why.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Land Rover Discovery 3 range
PRICES: £29,950 -£45,000 [approx] - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 244g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 109mph / 0-60mph 12.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 24.5mpg / (extra urban) 34.5mpg / (combined) 30.0mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's airbag, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4835/1915/1891