Land Rover DISCOVERY3
June Neary gets to grips with Land Rovers impressive Discovery3
I wasnt keen on the original
Land Rover Discovery. It may have been able to move mountains but it handled spirited driving on twisty tarmac like a Channel ferry in a blustery gale. It was also, in turbo diesel form at least, notably unrefined - at least in luxury sector terms. If Solihull really wanted to court
BMW and Mercedes customers, something better was needed and duly provided by the latest version.
To be frank, the Discovery3 is the first Discovery I would countenance buying. Previous models looked too agricultural fopr me. Fine if you were a school mum or a farmer but otherwise portraying a rather clunky image. This car is very different.
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The basics though remain as before which means that buyers like me I pay for my own fuel! will continue to choose the turbodiesel engine, now a 2.7-litre V6 unit borrowed from
Jaguar that makes astonishingly little noise yet develops truck loads of torque for towing and heavy off road work. The petrol alternative, a 4.4-litre V8, may be fast but sadly, with a 19mpg average, its rather thirsty.
You wont mistake even this Discovery for anything else.
Land Rover say that this was deliberate: their research suggests that the 'Disco's' shape is one of its most appealing features - at least to potential buyers. What has changed is the original awful Conran-designed interior with its slab-sided seats, cheap switches and cramped third row accommodation. All that's gone, thank goodness, to be replaced by a smarter dashboard layout and much more supportive seats. An optional third row of seats is available with fold flat functionality in both the second and third rows giving the Discovery some serious load lugging abilities.
The 4.4-litre petrol V8 I tried is obviously for drivers who dont mind splashing out on fuel, but if you can afford to run it, youll not be disappointed. Tuned to deliver the sort of low down torque that Land Rover owners require, this unit also gets improved dust and water proofing and revised breathing capabilities to allow the Discovery to wade through rivers. It has also been tested at acute angles for serious off road use.
All engines feature full time four wheel drive and sprightly on-road performance. The petrol engines are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with intelligent shift. This system is offered as an option for the 2.7-litre diesel, a more conventional six-speed manual being fitted as standard to this variant.
Fully independent suspension all round and an Integrated Body-frame structure is twinned with air suspension on most models. This is height adjustable to assist entry and exit and to boost ground clearance when off roading. I was lucky enough to try the Discovery3 off road and was particularly impressed by its patented Terrain Response system. This is virtually akin to having an expert sitting alongside you, helping to get the best out of the vehicle, on or off road.
You choose one of five terrain setttings via a rotary knob mounted on the centre console. Theres a general driving programme plus one for slippery conditions (dubbed grass/gravel/snow) and three specialist off road modes (mud/ruts, sand, rock crawl). The system will then automatically select the optimum setup for the electronic controls and the traction aids. This encompasses ride height, torque response, hill descent control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.
Superb.
This level of excellence doesnt come cheap. Discovery3 prices start from £26,995 but most buyers will end up paying in the £30,000-£35,000 bracket for their cars. You can pay as much as £46,995 if you go for the top 4.4-litre petrol V8 HSE version: for that money, Id rather have a Range
Rover.
Easily. The size is not something you notice after a bit and the Disco still seems more solid than its Japanese rivals.
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