The now four-year-old Land Rover Discovery does not escape Jaguar Land Rover’s urge to innovate. As with the Velar before, the Discovery has been added in a very mild way. However, the facelifted Discovery does not come as a plug-in hybrid and that can be called surprising.
Highlights:
- New layout of headlights and rear lights
- Six-cylinder with mild hybrid technology
- Pivi Pro infotainment
- Not a plug-in hybrid
- From € 103,945
At the end of 2016, Land Rover unveiled the third generation of the Discovery. In fact, the latest model is the fifth Discovery in the range, but the Series I & II were on the same platform, as was the Discovery 3 & 4. The current-generation Discovery is optically quite subtle. It will have headlights with a revised layout and the rear lights with darker glazing are now optically connected on all variants by a black panel. When you indicate direction, ‘dynamic’ flashing lights make that clear to other motorists. The grille now has the same honeycomb pattern as Discovery Sport, Discovery’s little brother. Furthermore, the ‘vents’ on the front fenders are now painted in body color and the bumpers have been changed all around. For example, the front bumper has a wider body-colored insert, and the air vents on both sides also feature small inserts – six in total – on the R Dynamic version. This more sporty version also has glossy black details in the bumpers, at the bottom of the doors and also has a contrasting black roof.
Pivi Pro
Inside, the changes are a bit more obvious. To begin with, the ‘Disco’ also gets the renewed Pivi Pro infotainment system. At 11.4 inches, the touchscreen is 48 percent larger than before. Right in front of the driver is a digital instrumentation that is just 12.3-inch in size, but has been completely revised. The layout of this can be configured in several ways, so that the navigation can be displayed fullscreen, for example. In addition, the Discovery benefits for the first time from a head-up display. In addition, the Discovery now has tablet holders with additional charging points in the backrests of the front seats, as well as a WiFi hotspot.
Just like its recently facelifted stable mates, the Discovery gets a new steering wheel. The operation for the climate control has been changed and the round rotary knob for the automatic transmission has had to make way for a more traditional stick, just like in the Velar. Inquiry from Techzle learns that Land Rover has done this to make the operation of the automatic transmission feel more natural and intuitive. The seats in the second row have been revised and the driver can now fold them electrically. This creates 2,485 liters of luggage space if desired.
Not a plug-in hybrid
Land Rover offers the updated Discovery with four engines: two petrol engines and two self-igniters. On the petrol level, the P300 with its 300 hp and 400 Nm strong 2.0 four-cylinder turbo and the P360 are ready. That P360 is a 3.0 six-in-line that is supported by mild hybrid technology. It delivers 360 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The diesel driver has to settle for six cylinders, because Land Rover does not do it for less. The D250 delivers 249 hp and 570 Nm, while the D300 is 300 hp and 650 Nm powerful. Both diesels, like the P360, are mild hybrids and replace the SD4 and SDV6 self-igniters from the previous model. Thanks to the improved Terrain Response 2 and Intelligent All Wheel Drive, the latest Discovery should be able to hold its own even better in the terrain. Air suspension is standard.
Interested? Then put it away, because the P300 must yield at least € 103,945. The full price list will follow at a later date. Land Rover unfortunately does not supply the Discovery as a plug-in hybrid, which might have reduced the starting price of the Discovery.