2020 Land Rover Discovery Review: HSE SDV6

Land Rover Discovery seems quite expensive, but it is not considered a luxury car. It's a real gimmick considering the Range Rover gets a lot of middle fingers up on the dirt streets of Australian cities, even when you're minding your own business.

Disco, more than five meters long and high in the air, as it is affectionately called, has been around for a very, very long time. But in recent years, the big division has come under fire from Germany when BMW's latest entrant, the X7, challenged the supremacy of Disco's seven-seat premium SUV.

With that in mind, I spent a week in the Discovery at the same price as the big Beemer to test its performance. 

Land Rover Discovery 2020: SDV6 HSE (225 kW)
Safety Rating
engine's type	3.0 L turbo
fuel type	Diesel
Fuel efficiency	7.7l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$89,500

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

As the top of the Disco range, the $111,078 HSE has 20-inch alloy wheels, a 14-speaker stereo system, multi-zone climate control, an ambient lighting package, keyless entry and start, 360-degree cameras and parking sensors, a reversing camera. , active cruise control, plenty of safety gear, satellite nav, automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, heated front seats, leather throughout, automatic parking, power liftgate, huge sunroof, auto-levelling air suspension and a full-size light spare tire alloy. .

The HSE is at the top of the Discovery range.

Jaguar Land Rover's InTouch media system works well in the Discovery, although satellite navigation is still questionable. However, the underlying software is pretty good now, and it also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has DAB+, digital TV and excellent sound from all those speakers.

My car also had seven seats ($3470), an $8910 Seven Seat Luxury Comfort Pack that included all three rows of heat, four-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, and second-row ventilated seats. It also got the $2110 Terrain Response 2 system (center diff, off-road active suspension), $3270 Capability Plus (Terrain Response 2, ATV ride control, locking active rear differential), $950 adaptive LEDs, 2990-inch wheels for $21. . projection display. ($1).

21-inch wheels cost $2990.

That's almost an amazing $30,000 of options that will take us up to $140,068.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

This version of Discovery infuriated several people.

Oddly enough, one of my favorite design features that pissed people off the most was the offset rear license plate in the huge tailgate. I really like that it's something different, but damn it made a fuss. Complaints can be sent to the editor.

The rest of the car is clearly related to the rest of the Land Rover and Range Rover line, written by Jerry McGovern, and is by far the most stylish of all the Discoveries.

This version of Discovery infuriated several people.

The large shark fin C-pillar still retains its shape, and the early Discovery's floating roof concept and roof steps are still there, even if it looks like the first generation roof was dropped in the rain and wind in Shetland. - now it is flatter and smoother. I think it looks amazing, but it's not a solid box of Disco's past.

The interior, of course, is more like old cars, but it's actually a pleasure to be in. All materials, including leather, are very pleasant to the touch and even smell pleasant. The Disco doesn't have a dual-screen option like the Range Rover does yet, but I prefer manual climate control, even if you don't get all the other fancy stuff on the second screen.

Behind the wheel is a fully digital instrument cluster.

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

This gigantic vehicle promises a visual presence on the road. It's huge. You can put seven adults on board without harming them, and while the occupants of the third row won't jump for joy, the unwanted knee-cheek pairing will only affect those taller than me (just under six feet).

The middle row is, of course, as generous as you can get without being a limousine, and up front you'll be extremely comfortable on the omnidirectionally adjustable seats.

Discovery can easily fit seven adults on board without harming them.

You get two cup holders per row for a total of six, bottle holders in each door, a deep, refrigerated front center drawer, and a massive glove box.

The trunk starts at 258 liters with all seats, and then in wagon mode you get 1231 liters (it's worth noting that this is 30 liters less than the old car). With the center row down, you get a whopping 2068 liters.

The back row is split 50/50 and the middle row is 40/20/40, so you can customize the space as you see fit. The power tailgate doesn't require a sundial to determine when it opens and closes, so it's convenient.

What Land Rover calls an interior tailgate is a handy place to park the back of your car when you're out and about, whether you're watching sports or taking off your dirty boots. 

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

A 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged JLR V6 diesel engine develops 225kW and 700Nm of torque, along with the company's proprietary all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All that grumbling is balanced out by the 2.1-tonne curb weight (despite the copious use of lightweight aluminium), so the 100 mph time is still a respectable 7.5 seconds.

Working with the air suspension system and center differential, you get 900mm wading depth, 207mm ground clearance, 34 degree approach angle, 24.8 departure angle and 21.2 ramp angle. If you set the car to off-road geometry, the approach angle increases to 34, the exit to 30 and the ramp to 27.5.

The 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel engine delivers 225 kW/700 Nm.

Gross vehicle weight is 3050kg and the Disco tows 3500kg with brakes or 750kg without brakes.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Land Rover claims a very modest 7.5L/100km combined, and I approached that figure with some trepidation - the Discovery is big, heavy, and not exactly slippery in the air. Despite all this and without much effort to accelerate, I got 9.5 l / 100 km, which is pretty good.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

It's worth noting that Land Rover can sometimes be a bit stingy with protective gear going forward. I think when you pay so much, throwing everything in the car is a must.

So, HSE has six airbags (although the curtain does not reach the third row), ABS, stability and traction control, blind spot with an assistant, cameras and sensors everywhere, front AEB with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane departure warning , lane keeping assist, speed zone recognition and reminder, and rear cross traffic alert.

The middle row also has three top cable mounts, as well as two external ISOFIX points in the second and third rows.

In June 2017, Discovery received five ANCAP stars.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Land Rover only offers three years/100,000 km and three years of roadside assistance. While it's competitive with other premium brands, it does feel a bit skinny compared to mainstream brands like Mazda or even off-road rival Toyota. However, you can pay to extend the warranty up to five years.

The service interval is a very convenient 12 months or 26,000 km.

You can buy a five-year/6 km diesel V130,000 maintenance plan for $2450, about $700 more than the 2.0-liter Ingenium engine. That comes out to about $500 a year, which isn't cheap, but it's not expensive for a Mercedes either.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Disco is a huge machine, you can't get away from it. Although in fact it is shorter than the last two cars that I ran. Cars Guide (Colorado and X-class) but not much for you to notice.

It is also shorter than its main German competitors, the new BMW X7 and Audi Q7. Access is easy if you remember to set the car to access height, but it's still a step into the driver's seat. 

You're rather unabashedly sitting on the Discovery rather than in it, plush captain-style chairs ensure you'll be able to see out of the vast glass expanse all around you. In years past, it felt like you were hesitating, but the combination of good body control from improved air suspension and an incredible sense of solidity makes for a more satisfying feel.

The thin-rimmed wheel is a Land Rover classic and is filled with smart software switches, meaning the switch's function changes depending on the context. It's pretty smart and despite sounding like something that would be hard to master, it didn't take any time at all.

The last time I drove the Air Suspension Disco, it felt a bit hovering, but it feels ejected. Body roll is still great, but the initial lean is well controlled and never a concern. That's what I think about in such tall cars. I don't like tall cars that feel tall, but the Discovery has a lower height feel.

This is a fantastic tourer. Its size makes it a bit unwieldy in town (lots of HSE aids help that out), but on the open road it's unmatched. Just a hint of the wind rustling around the mirrors, as well as the distant rumble of a diesel, and you can drive miles in obedience.

Children will be far enough apart, there will be no arguments, the sunroof can fill the cabin with light, and with heating and cooling options on the go, everyone will be comfortable.

Verdict

The Discovery, perhaps unsurprisingly, is on par with the X7 as it has the Q7 and the Mercedes GLE Class. While other cars have parts that are better, none of them can handle the rough stuff the way a disco does while still remaining serene in the city.

It is through this lens that HSE doesn't really seem like a bad value.