Overall Rating |  |
Average. Tough as old boots and genuinely competent in the mud, the Discovery encapsulates Land Rover's core brand values. But on-road it's left far behind by rivals.
For
- Recent makeover has freshened this proven design
- Roomy as a five-seater; adequate for seven
- Land Rover heritage; strong off-road ability
Against
- Reliability issues, mostly on earlier cars
- 4.0 V8 is simply too thirsty
- 2.5 TD often feels underpowered
Road Test
Land Rover is still one of the most powerful automotive brands there is, and the mighty Disco is more than worthy of the badge, being big, handsome and rugged. It's predictably great off-road, but lacks refinement on tarmac, and the TD5 turbodiesel engine is coarse, slow and relatively thirsty. The V8 petrol engine offers genuine performance but suffers from catastrophically bad fuel consumption (15mpg). Build quality feels shaky sometimes too. The BMW X5, Volvo XC90 and VW Touareg are all vastly better on road. Only really worth considering if you need the seven-seat option or intend to use it in the mud.
Need To Know
JD Power stars: 2
Worst Models: V8 versions
Replacement: 2004
Alternatives
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Star Ratings
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