Land Rover Discovery treads subtly

The success of the reborn Defender has been bad news for its donor vehicle, the Discovery, from which it has cannibalised sales. Both are built on the same platform, but the Defender’s rugged styling — in a nod to the original Land Rover icon — has seen it hog the limelight and become the more popular vehicle. Nevertheless, the Discovery soldiers on as a large SUV with luxury and all-turf capability without the retro looks, and it’s been treated to its first freshening-up since being launched in 2017.

Under the bonnet you’ll find two new straight-six Ingenium engines, in petrol and diesel, with the 265kW/500Nm P360 petrol featuring 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology for enhanced efficiency and added torque. We road-tested the Discovery D300, powered by the new 221kW/650Nm D300 six-cylinder Ingenium turbo diesel that replaces the SD4 and SDV6 diesels, with outputs rising from the previous 190kW and 600Nm.Diesel engines tend to be maligned for their harmful NOx emissions, but there is still no other power source that offers such a strong blend of performance and economy.

The test vehicle averaged 9.8l/100km on the combined cycle, which is impressively frugal for a large and powerful SUV, aided by an intelligent all-wheel drive system that maximises traction and driveline efficiency. The Discovery D300 also has an endearingly thrustful nature. It doesn’t linger off the line when you’re in a hurry, and has a playful eagerness that’s quite out of sync with its 2.3-tonne mass. The spirited performance is accompanied by good refinement, and there is no tractor-like diesel clatter to intrude on the luxury-coated experience, with occupants cocooned in an acoustically muted setting.

The ride quality is more of a mixed bag. The big SUV’s air suspension irons out larger road imperfections, but there is some jittering on smaller bumps and ruts. Overall, it’s a great ride, just not as comfy as I expected on the rippled stuff. Much of the body is made of aluminium, making it nearly 500kg lighter than the old-generation Discovery. It is still a heavy vehicle and doesn’t scamper through turns with the agility of some sports SUVs, but for its size it handles well without wallowing excessively.

Inside, the cabin has been updated with Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, which includes a simplified menu structure and a touchscreen enlarged to a near-panoramic 11.4 inches. Remote-app technology lets customers keep tabs on the fuel status and location of their vehicle, and unlock and lock the doors. New “Click and Go” tablet holders with USB charging sockets on the front seatbacks provide entertainment in the rear. All the hi-tech is packaged in a premium cabin with business-class comfort, while one of the Discovery’s main selling points remains its versatile seven-seat cabin.

The middle and rear rows of seats can be folded up or down — at the press of a button, if you tick that options box. Seating space in the back row is best suited to children, but adults can fit without advanced yoga skills, while the middle-row seats are adjustable and have their own climate controls. The front and rear seats are heated, and the driver and passenger have massaging seats with heating and cooling. The boot is a sizeable 1,137l with the back row folded flat, and with both rear rows folded it opens to a cavernous 2,485l load space.

The Discovery doesn’t catch the eye with the square-jawed brashness of a Defender. It’s a more subtle thing, dressed in a suave business suit that has been updated with new LED headlights, sweeping front and rear indicators, and new LED taillights. All-terrain prowess is ensured by air suspension and a wade mode that optimises the vehicle for water fording up to 900mm deep. Coupled with a maximum 283mm ground clearance, the Discovery is formidable off the beaten track.

At a twist of a dial the driver can select an offroad mode to suit various terrains, including mud, sand, and rock. It also has a ClearSight Ground View feature, including a “see-through bonnet”, to give you digital eyes on your surroundings. Drivers who are after even more hardcore off-road ability can also get the optional Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack. This comes with the Terrain Response 2 system, which reads the terrain and automatically applies the appropriate settings, as well as other features.

With the new Defender stealing the limelight, it’s easy to forget how accomplished the Discovery is. It has as much adventure ability, but plies its trade with more subtle styling flair than its brash brother.

The Discovery D300 is priced at R1 735 698.