What’s it like to drive?
We can’t fully recommend is the 2.0-litre diesel (TD4). Fine if all you do is traverse the Nullarbor Plain, where the ZF stays in top gear, but not-so fine if you need more urge to overtake, go up a hill, or worse case, tow something. Push it and this engine gets raucous, vibrates through the pedals and is too peaky for this application. Besides, all the economy benefits of the engine’s small swept volume soon disappear if you push the throttle to the floor.
The pick of the bunch is the 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel. That old Lion engine has the power and torque to waft the Discovery along, tug it up the worst inclines and suits the smooth eight-speed auto well. It’s heavy, pushing the Discovery’s kerb weight to almost 2.3 tonnes and combined fuel economy is 7.2litres/100km, which is good given its size and capability. The Disco’s V6 turbo-diesel isn’t as smooth as the 3.0-litre V6 in the Audi Q7 or as economical as BMW’s straight-six diesel, but it’s gruff and fit for purpose and suits the new Discovery’s mien if not the way it looks.
Thanks for pointing out that five people can comfortably fit in a Land Rover. I’m planning to buy a new car that I can use for my newfound hobby of mountain hiking. I think the heavy duty tires of a Land Rover would be perfect to transport me and my friends to the base of a mountain.