Is this a triumph of style over substance or is the fifth-generation Discovery the best yet?
Where does the Land Rover Discovery sit at the large SUV table? Since the reincarnation of the Land Rover Defender, its place between that and the opulent Range Rover has been squeezed. And yet despite its tricky positioning, here we have an SUV that nails the big seven-seater brief, can go much farther than its competitors ever would dream of and cocoons you in a premium cabin that’s practical and spacious.Regardless of where it slots into the Land Rover range, the Discovery, which is now in its eighth year of production, is up against rivals in a segment that is hardly full of underachievers, the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and BMW X5 to name a few. So, does the Discovery have the credentials to take the seat at the head of the table, or does the Defender, or indeed its broad range of competitors, have more to offer? Let’s find out. Range at a glanceYou will have to be a fan of diesel if you want a Discovery, because there are no other options here. The engine is JLR’s own Ingenium 3.0-litre mild-hybrid straight-six that makes 345bhp (more on that later). Starting proceedings is the Discovery S, costing from £62,690 and fitted with a modest selection of kit, including 20in wheels, LED headlight, 14-way heated electric seats, dual-leather upholstery and a body-coloured roof. The Dynamic SE gets larger 21in wheels, 18-way heated electric seats and a Meridian sound system, while the Dynamic HSE gets even bigger 22in wheels, 20-way heated electric seats, posher leather and matrix LED headlights. Bookending the line-up is the Metropolitan Edition, with all the kit of the Dynamic HSE plus a sliding sunroof, heated, electric third-row seats and a head-up display, all for £78,020.Â
