Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TDV6 HSE Luxury

You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a Range Rover, but its not - it’s the all new 2017 Land Rover Discovery and it has been chosen as a finalist in this year’s WesBank South African Car of the year Competition. So, let’s take a look around the new Discovery and see what makes it worth the R1.3 million price tag…..

Let’s start with the most subjective thing: the styling. Gone is the boxy style of the Disco 3 and 4, and you now have the sleek body lines and design characteristics shared by the rest of the luxury elements of the brand. The back-end styling has many purists from both Range Rover and Land Rover shaking their heads, but I am going to leave it up to you to decide if you like it or not.

The new Discovery runs on large 21-inch wheels with low profile tyres, an odd choice for a vehicle that has such amazing abilities off-road. The chances for damaging the tyres (or the wheel rims for that matter) off-road are very high, so a set of 18s might have been a better choice here.

Also gone is the ladder chassis and it has been replaced with an aluminium unibody platform, the same as in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. The engine and drive train have been also been completely upgraded and an intelligent terrain response system fitted, ensuring that no matter the surface, the Discovery will always be ready.

Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine mated to a ZF 8-speed auto transmission. You’re going to have 190kW under your right foot instantly, and 600Nm of torque at your disposal, should you need it.

The Discovery is also very capable at towing, rated for 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked. The tow hitch system is also a one-person operation, as the onboard computer is used to help you line the trailer hitch via video feedback.

This brings us to the luxury fitments, of which there are many. There’s a panel in the boot that electrically controls the seating, the tailgate and the third row option. You can also lower or raise the car for loading, and the trailer-hitching operation.

Up front, there’s the Terrain Response system and the infotainment system with HDMI and USB inputs with screens in the headrests. There is a high level of luxury fitment with soft touch leather in all the right places and above all else …it’s ultra-comfortable.

The Discovery clips the cash register at R1 365 000 rand for the luxury HSE TDV6 model we have here, and comes with a-3 year / 100 000km warranty and a 5-year / 100 000k maintenance plan.

The Discovery goes up against some tough competition in its segment, with rivals such as the Vw Touareg, BMW X5 and Audi Q7, but where these will get bogged down the Disco will just keep chugging away. Make no bones about it - this is still a Discovery at heart, but it’s not all about off-road capability in this segment. At the end of the day the jurors might take a hard line….if it barks like a Range rover,runs like Range rover and smells like one…can it be a Discovery?