The four-wheel drive Land Rover Discovery has remained an enduringly popular large family off-roader ever since the original car’s launch at the tail-end of the 1980s.
Created originally to plug the gap in Land Rover’s line-up left by the Range Rover as it moved inexorably upmarket during the 1980s, the ‘Disco’ (as it’s affectionately known) has evolved to become one of the most capable and sophisticated seven-seat off-roaders around.
Few cars can match a Discovery’s ability to deal with the challenges of family life and the most challenging of off-road terrain. In fact, it's much better off-road than other luxury SUVs, such as a BMW X5, Audi Q7 or Mercedes GLE, for example.
Early models were fairly rough-and-ready, with what would most kindly be described as ‘robust’ interiors. Later models, meanwhile – from the Discovery 4 onwards – offered pretty much Range Rover levels of luxury without losing those all-important family carryall capabilities.
The mechanical parts of the Discovery have become more and more sophisticated over time, too. The ladder-frame chassis and separate body of the Discovery Series 1 and Series 2 was great for off-roading, for example, but made the car a little unruly on the road.
The Discovery 3 and 4 replaced this with a modern monocoque body, but still kept the separate chassis beneath it. But this hybrid set-up, though maintaining the car’s off-roading capability, was heavy, so the fifth-generation Discovery moved to a more modern unitary construction method, relying on unbelievably sophisticated electronics to get it through difficult off-road terrain.
Early Discoverys were generally powered by the 2.5-litre 200TDi and 300TDi four-cylinder turbodiesels, then the five-cylinder TD5 turbodiesel, but V8 petrol power was also available. For later Discoverys, a variety of six-cylinder diesel engines make up the vast majority of UK sales.
Generations: 5
- Land Rover Discovery L462 (2017-)
- Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016)
- Land Rover Discovery 3 L319 (2004-2009)
- Land Rover Discovery Series II (1998-2004)
- Land Rover Discovery Series I (1989-1998)
Land Rover Discovery L462 (2017-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Discovery L462:
- A facelift in late 2020 brought more efficient engines with mild-hybrid technology
- Latest Discovery is 500kg lighter than its predecessor, making it more fuel-efficient and better off-road
- In top-spec versions, the rear five seats fold flat electronically
The Discovery (known informally as the Discovery 5, or by its codename, L462) exchanges the rough-and-tough Tonka toy looks of its direct predecessor in favour of a much softer, curvy look. It’s still a hugely capable off-roader, though. In fact, it’s got better ground clearance and more wading capability than the Discovery 4.
It's still a big car, however, and significantly larger than the Land Rover Discovery Sport model, with all the extra practicality that implies.
Of course, most new Land Rover Discoverys spend the majority of their time on the road as big family runabouts, and the fact this version weighs 500kg less than its predecessor pays big dividends here. In fact, 2.0-litre 240hp four-cylinder turbodiesel Sd4 models are capable of an impressive 43.5mpg.
Other engine options include a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 (though this was discontinued in 2019), a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol and a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. A comprehensive update in November 2020 brought mild hybrid assistance to most of these engines for improved fuel economy and emissions. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Equipment levels are pretty generous in the Discovery 5. There’s cruise control, air-conditioning, an electric tailgate and powered door mirrors on the base model, while the SE gets heated, electrically adjustable leather seats, automatic lights and wipers and a self-parking system.
HSE brings keyless entry, a panoramic roof and adaptive cruise control, while Top-spec HSE Luxury adds four-zone climate control, rear-seat entertainment screens and ambient lighting.
Often referred to as the fifth-generation Discovery, this version is actually only the third mechanical incarnation, as the Series I and II were based on the same underpinnings, as were the Discovery 3 and Discovery 4.
Read our expert review of the Land Rover Discovery mk5 or search for a Land Rover Discovery mk5 on CarGurus
Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Discovery 4:
- Trailer Stability Assist helps adjust throttle and brakes to calm a swaying trailer
- The landmark millionth Land Rover Discovery was built in 2012 and driven from the Solihull factory to Beijing to celebrate
- The Surround Camera System effectively gives a bird's eye view of the car in its immediate surroundings
The Land Rover Discovery 4 was a comprehensive overhaul of the Discovery 3, although it retained the same mechanical underpinnings. On the outside, the car gained more rounded bumpers and front grille and restyled lights, more in keeping with the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover models of the same era. Inside, the interior was heavily updated with more upmarket materials and a more sophisticated look.
For the first time with the Discovery 4, all models got air suspension and seven seats as standard, plus a raft of electronic assistance aids. These include trailer stability assist, dynamic stability control and roll stability control.
Although a 5.0-litre petrol V8 version of the Discovery 4 was available in some markets, most notably in North America, the only choice for UK and European customers was a V6 turbodiesel. The 2.7-litre version from the Discovery 3 was initially available as an option until late 2010, but the headline was the twin-turbo 3.0-litre TDV6 with 208bhp, and later the SDV6 with 242bhp. In late 2011, the SDV6 was uprated to 253bhp, and an all-new eight-speed automatic gearbox replaced the older six-speed unit.
Entry-level GS cars get push-button start, a small 5.0-inch TFT infotainment screen and Bluetooth connectivity. Moving up to XS brings auto headlights, front parking sensors, touchscreen infotainment system with satnav and ipod/USB connectivity, as well as leather seats. Top-spec HSE cars have eight-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and rear-view camera with parking aid.
Read our expert review of the Land Rover Discovery mk4 or search for a used Land Rover Discovery mk4 on CarGurus
Land Rover Discovery 3 L319 (2004-2009)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Discovery 3:
- Body design combines the traditional ladder-frame chassis with a modern steel monocoque
- Third-row seats deliberately set higher than those in front to improve the view forward
- 4.4-litre V8 petrol comes from sister company Jaguar, with extra waterproofing and dustproofing for off-road work
When the third Land Rover Discovery was introduced, it took a significant step upmarket, feeling more and more like a junior Range Rover.
Codenamed L319, the Discovery got independent suspension all-round, with air suspension on all but the base models. This meant the car could be lowered to make it easier to get in and out of, or raised to further improve off-road performance.
Cars with air suspension also got Land Rover’s new Terrain Response System. This is a rotary switch on the centre console that automatically adjusts the car’s electronic controls - including traction control, transmission settings and the engine response - to help tackle different sorts of terrain more effectively.
There was a choice of two engines for the Discovery mk3: a 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 296bhp or 2.7-litre TDV6 turbodiesel V6 with 192bhp. Fuel economy isn’t great even in the diesel models, due to the sheer size and weight of the car; the lightest diesel versions could only manage an official MPG of just over 30. Gearbox choices were a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
S models got climate control and parking sensors, SE models a touchscreen satnav and leather, while top-spec HSE trim added in a Harman Kardon Logic7 sound system, a moonroof and an upgraded premium satnav system.
A facelift in summer 2008 included body-coloured bumpers and wheelarch trims, plus tweaks to the exterior detailing.
Land Rover Discovery Series II (1998-2004)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Discovery Series II:
- The second Land Rover Discovery an extensively revised version of the original, with a longer rear section for a more spacious interior
- Foldaway third-row seats faced forward rather than inwards, as was the case with the Discovery Series I
- V8 petrol models were last production road cars to use the old Rover V8, which was first introduced in 1959
The Land Rover Discovery Series II was in reality a heavily updated version of the first-generation car, though Land Rover claimed to have made more than 700 significant changes between the two models.
Perhaps most notable was the extra body length. This all came behind the rear wheels, which meant the optional foldaway seats were a more accommodating size.
The V8 petrol engine was significantly updated, with revised internals shared with the V8 used in the Range Rover and offering 180bhp. The diesel engine option was a new 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel called the TD5, with 134bhp.
Early Series II Discoverys no longer had a locking centre differential. Land Rover felt that the combination of electronic traction control and the hill-descent control (HDC) first launched in the then-new Land Rover Freelander made it unnecessary. HDC used the ABS (anti-lock braking system) rather than the transmission to slow the car down on steep descents. Although this was undoubtedly effective, the locking centre differential was reintroduced when the Series II was facelifted in 2002, albeit as a cost option.
Other clever technology fitted to some models was ACE, which stood for Active Cornering Enhancement. This was a hydraulically-controlled anti-roll bar. It detected the amount of body lean during cornering and countered it with pressure from hydraulic actuators, making for a more stable on-road driving experience.
Land Rover Discovery Series I (1989-1998)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door SUV
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Discovery Series I:
- The first Discovery was closely related to the Range Rover: they even share the same doors
- The Discovery was only the third all-new model to join the Land Rover range after the 1948 original and 1970 Range Rover
- A three-door version of the Discovery was available with the Series I
The very first Land Rover Discovery was launched in 1989. Initially, the model was available exclusively as a three-door, with distinctive striped side graphics with a stylised image of mountains on some models.
Power came from a four-cylinder turbodiesel or a 3.5-litre V8, with a very small number of 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol models also sold. Initially the V8s were carburettor-fed, but this was swapped out for fuel-injection in 1990.
The interior, which made much use of parts from other Rover Group cars, was a distinctive design, even winning a British Design Award. Initially the interior plastics were a controversial light blue, regardless of the exterior colour, until a beige version was offered in 1992. Although fitted with five seats, two fold-out side-facing seats in the boot were available as an option, and many cars had them fitted.
An update in 1994 introduced a series of styling changes, most notably a more restrained grille and larger headlight treatment. Engineering changes included an updated turbodiesel engine (renamed 300TDI), an enlarged 3.9-litre V8 petrol engine and a more robust manual gearbox. Inside, there was a new ‘soft-feel’ dashboard with squidgy textured plastics, an airbag steering wheel and a locking glovebox: the earlier models didn’t have a glovebox at all.
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