Turning on the headlights
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The Discovery is one of Land Rover’s longest-running nameplates - the first version arrived all the way back in 1989, effectively serving as a more usable, more family-friendly alternative to the more agricultural Land Rover Series and Defender models. The latest Discovery, launched in 2017, fulfils a similar purpose, though with the new Defender and a wider lineup of Range Rovers now on offer, the Discovery’s role is perhaps not as defined as it once was.
It still does some things very well though: it’s large, it’s spacious, and it’s very adept at towing, thanks to a 3500kg rating, which will comfortably cover everything from horseboxes to boats to caravans. Read on to find out more about the Discovery, and which versions are best to buy.
The fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery doesn’t seem to have quite enjoyed the sales success of its predecessors. Perhaps that’s something to do with the more rounded styling, a departure from its boxier predecessors, but even if it’s not quite hit the mark with new buyers, the Discovery still makes a good used buy.
It’s got the same practicality and flexibility of the older Discoverys for a start. The split tailgate remains, not just allowing you to quickly load things through the open rear window, but folding down the lower half also serves as a place to sit, perhaps to have a picnic or remove muddy boots before getting into the car.
There are still seven seats too, which fold electrically in higher-spec models, and when the seats are flat the load space is enormous - more than 900 litres in five-seat mode. The cabin is attractive and well-built, and top-spec cars feel more like Range Rovers thanks to high-quality leather and high-end sound systems. The latest six-cylinder cars have a pleasingly effortless feel on the road too, and air suspension gives you both a cushioned ride, and the ability to increase the Disco’s ground clearance for off-roading - something that, being a Land Rover, it’s still fully capable of.
While there are alternatives to the Discovery from other manufacturers, there are actually a few choices in-house before you go elsewhere - the smaller Discovery Sport is more affordable, while the Land Rover Defender has some of the old Disco’s chunkiness, and the Range Rover Sport and full-size Range Rover both up the luxury, if you have the budget. Otherwise, consider cars like the BMW X5, Audi Q7, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Some earlier Discovery models were offered with 2-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, but we’d suggest looking for later 3-litre six-cylinder models instead, as the recent D250 and D300 diesels should be a little more adept at moving such a large and heavy vehicle with a little less stress than the smaller 2-litre units. Earlier V6 turbodiesels are also worth a look, though you can expect the later engines to be more efficient. All trim levels are well-equipped, so picking the right grade is a case of deciding how much luxury you need.
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Most later Discoverys on the market will come in some variation of R-Dynamic trim - the sporty appearance package that Land Rover applies to almost all models in the range. It’s less prevalent on earlier models, which you’ll find in regular S, SE, and HSE trims, with HSE Luxury at the top of the range. Equipment levels though are similar to the newer models - you’ll typically find the later models have improved infotainment systems though.
The Land Rover Discovery’s exterior dimensions are:
The Land Rover Discovery’s boot space is:
The majority of current-shape Discovery models are subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, plus a surcharge for costing more than £40,000 brand new. This means for most models you’ll currently pay £600 a year (as of the 2024/2025 tax year), though the earliest models (seven years old or older) will now have dropped down to a lower rate of £190.
Like most other Land Rover products, insurance for the Discovery is towards the upper end of the scale. An entry-level Discovery S with the D250 engine starts in group 38 out of 50, and it only goes up from there - R-Dynamic S trim steps up to group 39, the D300 and P360 begin in group 41, and the top-spec models reach group 45.
£26,000
£52,995
£65,700
£68,994
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How many Land Rover Discovery cars are available for sale?
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