Land Rover Discovery 4 Xs - 5 Door/ 7 Seater (Auto) Review

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Past Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

There's nothing quite like a Land Rover Discovery and a 2014 model year parcel of last improvements for the quaternary generation version cemented its position as the most practical and capable choice in the big SUV sector. These updates added extra high-tech equipment, a whole raft of subtle cosmetic updates and a greater emphasis on improved efficiency and lower emissions. The outcome was an even more compelling multi-purpose proposition that makes eminent sense as a used marketplace buy in this segment.

Models

5dr Family 4x4 (3.0-litre SDV6 diesel fuel [GS, XS, HSE Lux])

History

Without the Discovery model, information technology's doubtful whether the Land Rover brand would fifty-fifty exist today. Launched back in 1989, the original version just bolted more spacious bodywork onto an aging Range Rover chassis but the sales it generated were enough to save the visitor. They also financed a more sophisticated five cylinder air suspended model in 1998 at the same time equally the company's engineers were busily beavering abroad at something much better, the design that ultimately became the improved fourth generation version we're looking at here.

This car traces its parentage back to the third generation Discovery3 of 2004, a blueprint vastly superior to anything that had gone earlier. Until that point, family unit SUVs had either been very skilful off road or very proficient on it. Thank you to its double chassis and air suspended 'Integrated Trunk Frame' applied science, this car could be both and customers loved information technology. Sadly, there was less sophistication beneath the bonnet and in terms of the variants on offering, customers ended up having to choose between thirsty or slow.

Hence the need for the fourth generation Discovery4 model we get-go saw in 2009. That car at concluding had a properly performing diesel fuel engine - a iii.0-litre TDV6 unit, quickly further refined and re-badged as an 'SDV6' powerplant. Simply its heavy underpinnings put it at a disadvantage to more modern German rivals. Some of these State Rover were able to take on with the second generation Range Rover Sport model launched in mid-2013, just lower-order Mercedes, BMW and Audi SUVs all still needed a competitive Discovery model to go along them honest: this final version of the fourth generation design provided just that. Launched in the Fall of 2013, it was now known simply as the 'Discovery' and offered buyers greater efficiency, higher-tech equipment and slightly smarter looks. It sold until an all-new 5th generation Discovery model was launched early on in 2017.

What You Get

You'd have to be quite a Country Rover enthusiast to spot the visual changes that differentiate this updated post-2014 Discovery from the original version of the fourth generation model. That's probably equally it should be. The Discovery has its own timeless roadway presence that the Solihull stylists messed with at their peril. And then the huge slab-like bonnet, the stepped roof and the wrap result that characterises the rear side windows - all these things were present and correct when this concluding version of the 'Disco4' was unveiled for the 2014 model year.

The bluff nose was familiar besides and in that location were smarter headlamps, a glossier radiator grille and foglight surrounds, restyled bumpers and more than rounded door mirrors. Nothing as well major then - but of class, the important changes to this auto had been made some time before. In 2004 to be exact when in the blueprint's progression from 2d to third generation status, 17.6cms were added to the body length. This turned it from a cramped five-seater with two occasional extra berths to a proper seven-seat SUV unrivalled in its segment for space and comfort. Now we're not pretending these foldaway rearmost seats - they're very easy to cock - are where we'd desire to be on a very long trip but they certainly provide more space than you'd arrive the optional fold-out chairs offered in, say, a BMW X5 or a Range Rover Sport. And are roomier than the standard third row seating you become in an Audi Q7. Two adults will be fine on shorter trips and a couple of kids will be happy here just most whatsoever time.

Things would be even better at the very back if the middle row bench could slide back and along so that shorter folk here could help out longer legged occupants behind. Unfortunately, that'south not possible, only and so to be fair, that'south a rare characteristic in this market segment. What'south important is that there'due south comfortable caput and legroom for two and space at a pinch for three, provided the centre occupant doesn't mind sitting with legs astride the rather prominent centre transmission tunnel.

And at the cycle? Well how far y'all climb up into the commanding seat will depend on whether yous've set the air pause in its easy access mode which lowers the car by 50mm to make getting in a touch easier. Once y'all're in, you'll discover a cabin that's a bit similar the outside, less sporty and sophisticated and more durable and commanding. Which is not to imply that it isn't very nice indeed. True, the speedometer's a little difficult to read, without numbering in 10mph increments. And the infotainment touchscreen that on all just base-trimmed models dominates the eye of the nuance is a petty cluttered and complicated to utilize until you go used to it. Having said all that, the cabin quality is certainly a skillful few notches nicer than information technology used to be, with stitched leather and soft-affect plastics much in evidence. And there are lovely touches like the rotary chromed Jaguar-style gear lever that rises elegantly out of the fascia on beginning-upwardly, just in forepart of the Terrain Response panel that takes pride of identify at the base of the centre panel.

The cargo bay is accessed via a neat asymmetrically-split two-piece aluminium tailgate, so in true Range Rover style, you tin can use it equally a picnic seat or a viewing platform, plus there's the added advantage that you need but heighten the summit part if you lot're putting in small items. If you're accessing the whole luggage area, there's 280-litres if all three seating rows are in place, 1192-litres if the third row seats are folded and a form-leading 2,558-litres if both second and 3rd rows are flat.

What You Pay

Please contact u.s. for an verbal upwardly-to-date valuation.

What to Look For

The Discovery used to have a distinctly second rate reliability tape, just throughout its life, the Disco four improved things by leaps and bounds and by the time of this post-2014-era model's introduction, near faults had been pretty effectively ironed out. Check if a tow bar has been fitted and too cheque the tyres for odd wear patterns. Although the Discovery is very capable off road, in that location are limits to its ground clearance, so inspect the underside for signs of impairment to the suspension, exhaust and forepart valance. The diesel fuel engine is a tough unit and if you lot're exam driving the car on a cold twenty-four hour period, don't be worried if the Finish/Commencement system fails to kick in. The engine is programmed to keep running at temperatures below three degrees Celsius.

Our buying survey revealed a mostly very satisfied ring of customers though inevitably, there were a few issues. 1 owner had had problems with the instrument display putting up erroneous requests for service appointments and an incorrect 'diesel fuel particulate filter full' alert. Another had had a solenoid error, while one buyer encountered a problem with an inlet valve n the turbo sticking open. Don't believe misleading reports suggesting that things similar brake discs, brake pads and wiper blades wear rapidly: they're actually pretty durable.

Replacement Parts

(based on 2014 Discovery iii.0 SDV6 - approx excl. VAT) An air filter sits in the £8 to £15 bracket, an oil filter costs around £8 to £12 and a fuel filter costs around £thirty, though you could pay upwards to around £70 for a pricier brand. Brake pads sit down in the £12 to £twenty bracket for a set, though you could pay up to around £28 for a pricier make. Restriction discs sit in the £12 to £25 bracket (though you can pay up to around £30 to £40 for a pricier brand). Y'all'll pay effectually £16 for a drive belt and somewhere in the £35 to £vii bracket for a timing chugalug (though pricier brands can charge you annihilation up to around £210 for a timing belt for this motorcar). Tyres sit in the £35 to £45 subclass. Wiper blades cost in the £viii to £12 bracket, though you could pay upwardly to £25 for pricier brands. The fly mirror glass is priced in the sixteen to £25 subclass, while a consummate wing mirror costs around £270 to replace.

On the Route

There'due south even so something very special about a identify behind the wheel of a Discovery, the characteristically high driving position giving you a great view out over the vast square bonnet. In dissimilarity to more than car-similar rivals, it's non a cockpit-like feel with all the controls angled towards y'all equally they would be in, say a Range Rover Sport. No, this is different - a place of command: a place to do business with the elements, exist they the snake-infested swamps of the rainy season in the Serengeti or the snarled-upwardly traffic of a wet windy morn on the school run.

View the car from this perspective and you're less likely to wonder why yous can't throw it about with abandon and more likely to simply settle back and savor the class-less mode it cruises through the urban mural. It's around 500kgs heavier than its most obvious German rivals thanks to the 'Integrated Body Frame' double chassis underpinnings - which is an awful lot more bulk to carry effectually. Having said that, the standard air suspension withal manages the machine's mass and summit with impressive precision. Yes it wallows a piddling through the corners if yous're really pushing on and ultimately, the limiting factor is grip just it'southward fine for its intended market without ever feeling sporty plenty to impinge on Range Rover territory.

Then near of the time, you'll bulldoze this Discovery at a saunter, though having said that, the torquey 256bhp three.0-litre SDV6 diesel (the only engine offered past the time of the 2014 model year update) is always ready to break into a run, accompanied by a rather wonderful snarl at the same fourth dimension as you movement smoothly up and downward the standard ZF auto gearbox's 8 ratios. That's assuming you're non taking control yourself via these steering bike-mounted paddle shifters. Land Rover claims shift times of just 200 milliseconds which, in conjunction with the boast that the iii.0-litre diesel fuel delivers 600Nm of torque in just 500 milliseconds from idle (thus giving instantaneous access to 95 per centum of the engine's maximum torque) perhaps explains why the Disco feels so unfeasibly lively off the mark.

To be specific, 62mph from rest occupies 9.2s on the style to 112mph. We can't run into why y'all'd always want to drive this car more than quickly than that. More chiefly, pulling power is sufficient for State Rover to quote a mighty 3,500kg braked towing limit (750kg unbraked). Improve still, the air suspended ride is brilliant, the brakes are excellent, the steering accurate and refinement is quite astonishingly good given the boxy shape.

All of this is especially impressive in light of the fact that thankfully, Land Rover refused to compromise on this motorcar'due south legendary off road ability. Or at to the lowest degree it didn't for the UK marketplace. Elsewhere, base of operations versions of this car were offered with a lighter, less effective Torsen 4WD set up-upwards and without a low range gearbox, the same kind of option that in this era was also made bachelor on cheaper Range Rover Sport models. Solihull clearly idea that British Discovery buyers wouldn't correspond that, so Britain models got a proper heavy duty 4x4 system able to direct fully 100% of torque to either axle. If you do detect yourself somewhere actually sticky, it can be locked in the optimum 50:50 front-to-rear power-split ratio that will ease yous out.

If that sounds complicated, and so don't worry. This car tin can automatically manage all the off road driving decisions you'll e'er take to brand via a very clever footling switch panel down at the bottom of the middle console, this the company's patented - and here further improved - Terrain Response organisation. This is virtually akin to having an practiced sitting aslope you, helping to become the best out of the vehicle, on or off route. As a commuter, y'all simply choose 1 of five terrain settings provided past the panel'southward tiptop rocker switch. In that location's a full general tarmac driving programme, plus one for slippery conditions (dubbed 'Grass/Gravel/Snow') and three specialist off route modes ('Mud and Ruts', 'Sand' and 'Rock Crawl'). There's also the pick of a launch control function designed for deep sand and for this model update, tweaks were likewise made to the Loma Descent Control and the Rock Clamber manner to ensure tricky manoeuvres could be fabricated that bit easier. What it all meant was that owners could simply turn the knob, melody up Radio 4 and watch the worst the elements could throw at them glide past the window. Information technology'due south bright.

You probably won't care how the Discovery manages all this just those who practise will be interested to know that a lot of this adequacy is down to class-leading wheel travel and joint. And the way that the air suspension can increase the standard 185mm ride height to every bit much equally 310mm over really rocky surfaces. The option to set the car riding that high is also an obvious advantage in water. It accounts for the enormous 700mm wading capability. Some original owners paid actress for a Wade Sensing feature that shows the depth of the h2o existence driven through. Here, a visual display and alert chimes alert the driver as the water level rises around the vehicle.

And while we're talking near how high this car tin become off the footing, we should also mention how that facilitates an impressive approach angle of 37.2-degrees that'll get you lot up steep slopes. And one time you lot've used the standard Colina Descent Control to ease you downwardly them again, you'll exist glad of a useful difference angle of 29.6-degrees. For united states of america, a Land Rover product should be head and shoulders above all other SUVs when it comes to off route access. Which is where this car actually delivers.

Overall

The world takes on a unlike appearance from behind the wheel of a State Rover Discovery. At the captain, you know you're in a car that can take on just about anything, be that a seven-up trip to the Alps or a relaxing ride dwelling house on a wet and slippery wintertime'south night. But it'southward but when you lot put it through its paces in properly extreme terrain that the genius in its design becomes fully apparent. How can a car capable of such extremes on the rough stuff be so utterly easy to utilise on the school run? Just Land Rover knows.

Of course, German branded SUV rivals are sportier, just so the Solihull brand has the Range Rover Sport to take them on - for those who can afford information technology. Those who tin can't and want to buy British need a Discovery that can stay in the same dynamic ballpark every bit an Grand-Class, a Q7 or an X5 at the same time as continuing to obliterate cars of this kind off route. A Discovery that isn't vastly more than expensive to run. And one that tin can feature all the high-tech gadgetry the Germans offering. This concluding 2014 to 2016-era version of the Discovery 4 was very much that car.

There'due south a clever, classless feel about it that aught else from this menstruum tin quite replicate. Other rival SUVs claim to be tough but at the wheel, you're e'er a little hesitant to see them show that. A Discovery'due south different, with a sheer depth of capability that's constantly tempting yous into finding reasons to test it - to bask what it can do. Potholed tracks no longer demand to tackled at a snail'south pace, the softest roadside verges go viable turning opportunities and any muddied bank cries out to be driven downward and up again, just for the heck of it. In contrast, another sportier large SUVs can feel, well, rather silly. Only then, this is a dissimilar way to go in this segment. A uniquely capable auto of its kind and a British success story that nosotros should exist proud of.

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Source: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/land-rover/discovery-series/discovery-series-4-2014-2016/

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