WE LIKE
1. Strong new diesel engine
2. Improved refinement
3. Even more capable off-road
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Not as sharp to drive as rivals
2. Slight price increase
The latest Land Rover Discovery 4 is an extensively upgraded version of the old car, with an improved engine, plusher interior and a mild facelift among the changes.
Most of the work has taken place beneath the Discovery 4's skin, including an enlarged engine: the V6 diesel remains, but it's now been bored out to 3.0-litres, producing 242bhp. However, it's still capable of an impressive 30.4mpg, making it both more powerful and more efficient than the old model.
The engine's extra dose of torque helps not only in its off-road guise but also transforms the Discovery's ability to sweep past slower traffic on motorways and A-roads, where the old model often struggled.
There are sportier large SUVs on the market, but the latest Discovery offers a more polished drive than its predecessor, due to Land Rover extensively upgrading the suspension system to improve its on-road performance. It corners in a nimbler fashion than the old model, partly because it weighs less, but mainly because it's been set up to stay flat through the twisty bits, giving the driver more feel and confidence.
Off-road, the Discovery has always been very capable indeed, but Land Rover has taken that further with improved Terrain Response software, which alters the set-up of the car depending on the surface you're on. We tried it out in Scotland and can happily report the Discovery is more capable off road than it will ever need to be for most owners.
It still won't be cheap to run, but its new combined fuel economy figure is a big step forward, thanks to the diesel engine's ability when it comes to unexpectedly impressive economy blended with strong performance.
In the cabin, 1,500 new parts give a much more sumptuous feel, but still as sturdy and workaday as we expect from a Land Rover. There's been a slight price hike to pay for these improvements - the Disco starts from around £33,000 - but it could well be worth it.
The new interior also makes this latest Discovery a very pleasing place to spend time, and means it's more than capable of munching many motorway miles. There are loads of new toys too, including an impressive touchscreen multimedia system, five parking cameras (supposedly for off-roading but more useful for parking this large car), dual-zone climate control, heated seats all round and a top-of-the-range sat nav. It's also quieter in the cabin, with wind and tyre roar kept pleasingly muted.
However, the packaging of its interior could be better - taller drivers will still feel slightly cramped into the footwell and, although it alters for reach and rake, the steering wheel doesn't have the range of adjustment we would need to find a really comfy driving position.
Average
User reviews (21)
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smithy74219 August 2009
it looks like a 4x4 funeral car
Report as inappropriatePeter25 August 2009
I wouldn't buy it as a city car (or would I - you should see the potholes in my neighborhood) but if you think of taking any longer journeys, and I do, I can think of few better place to be while trying to drive from southern Brazil to the Andes on a sky trip. Oh, perhaps a Range Rover, but then I'd run out of fuel.
Report as inappropriateCharlie Kneen26 August 2009
As Tom Ford and the bloke who looks like Tom ford but after a diet have done really well what is the chance of promoting them to the online presentation role. Obviously this would mean the de-motion of Vicks to the TV role but I am sure that the male population of UK would be willing to put up with such a decision. PS in case this ever transmitted. To my gorgeous Fiance it is only Vicki's power slides that us guys like and of course I only have eyes for you hunny.
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john26 September 2009
let's hope it to be less faulty than previous LR3. In four years,I have had it repaired 5 times : air suspension , hand brake, rear door,etc. Altogether more than 6000 £ for a luxury piece of junk LR3 2.7 HSE. What a disarter! Never a Land Rover again.
Report as inappropriateblackcountryboy18 October 2009
just orderd d4 xs will leave comment after it arrives and have had a good drive in it,
Report as inappropriateMalcolm08 November 2009
I am interested in buying a 4X4 for towing. I have had test drives in most UK 4X4s that have interested us including the new Nissan Navara, Pathfinder, Land Cruiser, Shogun, Outlander, L200, Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander, Wrangler 5 door unlimited Sahara, Freelander 2, Discover 3 and this past month the Discovery 4 including extensive on road off road and driving thanks to Land Rover. Having driven this entire range of vehicles I am smitten by the LR4. In my view nothing comes close to the LR4 HSE (with optional rear diff lock) for off road performance (excluding a H1 Hummer) and on road the vehicle exudes comfort, refinement and calm performance. I will be buying one once in a couple of years once the heavy depreciation has taken place. Most impressed! Footnote. I have nothing but praise for the Land Rover Sales team I only hope the LR 4s reliability & after sales service is better than the LR 3 reviews I’ve read.
Report as inappropriateLA59 NDY25 November 2009
Nice car to drive and more economical, much better interior and pretty impressive off the beaten track. Have had 9 landrover cars including discoveries & freelanders over the last 12 years and apart from a burnt out windscreen wiper motor during "HEAVY" snow I have not had any problems with any of them. must be lucky! Lr4 very Capable off road and have seen Defenders getting stuck where I managed to get through on 50/50 road/all terrain tyres.
Report as inappropriateAgios Adelfos15 December 2009
Useless piece of junk like all Landrovers and Rangerovers. I wish for once they stopped producing new models and fix the loads of reliability issues with the existing models first. How about a Range Rover Q model? Q would stand for quality. Much better than Range Rover Sport which is actually built on a miserable Discovery.
Report as inappropriateblackcountryboy20 December 2009
collected new d4 xs on friday afternoon, first imppresion is good, drives great and handles well, been out in the snow today and what a tool, yes i am biast to land rover, but it is an imppresive car on or off road,
Report as inappropriatetes31 January 2010
Went for an LR3 V8 HSE with circa 400bhp, which works just fine and has been immensely reassuring in worst Russian winter for decades. Real presence, creates appropriate "dont mess with me attitude", especially blacked out, and insulates well from Moscow madness. We dont need the LR4 its too girly, go non-PC and live a little,V8 power addictive and full acceleration brings real smile whilst lesser 4x4s and exec cars flounder - Chieftain tank for the mean streets but much more comfortable.
Report as inappropriateSimon Rutherford20 February 2010
I am on my second disco 3 HSE the first was a great car well spec and very reliable. My current one is a V8 4.4 HSE and a total Dog! If i wanted to walk i could have saved the money! I am trying to reject the car as i write. The dealer Matford have offered to buy it back at trade price! nice try guys! Dream on! And Land Rover have just said nothing to do with them! But it does have their name on the front and back when it has the lid open our has crashed! Which it has because it can't drive in snow!
Report as inappropriatejoe!07 March 2010
i hate this car it looks like a 3yr olds made it out of cardboard boxes! yakky! and its over priced!
Report as inappropriatePaul Smith29 April 2010
Best car I have ever owned, and I've owned X5's, and previous LR3. Most that post negative reviews will never be able to afford one, jealous eh? The other negative reviews are related to LR3 - can't you people read - this is the LR4. get with the program!
Report as inappropriateSimon Rutherford17 May 2010
I have just got ride of my second Discovery 3 HSE. Rejected it after 6 moths of breakdowns and then it's not so clever electrical aids failed when I needed them and it had a head on crash with a tractor! Never again! Land Rover were useless they have no concept of customer care and the dealers are not much better. So great car when it works! But if it snows and it does here in rural Wales don't expect it to deal with it. My advice get a Hilux and a 3 series BMW! Or A LC5 Land Cruiser at least they will work and you won't be left standing by the road side or stranded at home!
Report as inappropriatePhil Barlow21 May 2010
Am interested in buying a LR Discovery 3 HSE (LR4 a little too expensive). Is there a real inherent problem with reliability of this vehicle as suggested above? Would appreciate an unbiased view with realistic facts rather than accept the views of a few who may just have been unfortunate or unable to drive it well. Have owned a Discovery 1 for about 8 years with no real problems other than a leaky roof (solved with a silicon gun) and a Defender County which we used in Uganda for 2 years on apalling roads and extreme offroad.....no faults very reliable. So am smitten by them. But these reviews are offputting when looling at a £25k outlay. Would appreciate your advice and look forward to a new series of 5th Gear. Thanks Phil
Report as inappropriatePhil Standen23 June 2010
Discovery 4 HSE, What an improvement over the Disco 3, much better quality feel and better fuel consumption but you do drive it quicker as it goes like hell. The one thing we miss is the rear air conditioning but the wieght had to be taken off somewhere. This is the fifth Land Rover, Discoveries many but one Freelander TD4 with no real problems to carp on about perhaps I am lucky and can afford new Land Rovers with the dealer backup.
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DeathMetal16 August 2010
More Of A Car That A Land Rover, Basicly Defender And The Old Discovery Are Far Better off road, and almost as good on road. Its Pointless, or jus tSpoilt
Report as inappropriateKeith Lister08 December 2011
I had my 2010 Disco for a year and felt like I'd lost an arm when I let it go. It was a supreme motorway mile muncher, and utterly jaw dropping off road. I drove it to Ireland where I was working for a year and had it in places I sincerely doubt other vehicles would have gotten to. Pot holes? I clocked up almost £2k of damage before I took the Disco out there. The roads in rural parts tore my suspension and tyres to bits. The Disco just shrugged it off. Back home, last winter, when the country ground to a halt, we barely noticed it. Tiny country tracks in deepest, darkest rural Lincolnshire, a foot deep in snow and ice, and the Disco swept over them without a second thought. Family holiday with tons of luggage and all of it in the cavernous boot instead of piled on your lap and Running costs are a little high and mpg was only around 30 on average, but considering what it does and that it is 4 cars in one, its an absolute bargain. Executive cruiser. Spacious removal van. Family work horse. Go anywhere in any weather 4x4. We missed it the moment we let it go and have needed it constantly throughout this year. Which is why we're buying another one this week. Bad winter? No such thing with a Disco?
Report as inappropriatePhil Standen09 December 2011
I had my Discovery 4 HSE for 14 months now, with no reliability issues even the main dealer serviceing is resonable if you negoiate the final price, which we should all do! It is heavy on fuel 29 mph average driven fairly progressivly, but what an all rounder ! Wieghing 2.5 tonnes what do you expect 50+ no way. Why are a lot of the rest of your comments refering to the old D3 model? Probally can't afford the new model D4 that is actually being reviewed , I had two of those with little or no problems, all sorted by Stratstones without costing a penny! I miss the rear air con form the old one but they had to get off some wieght to up the mpg, dumping the two extra seats making it a 7 seater would be handly as we have no kids, just dogs, under floor storage would be handy. It tows a 27 foot twin axle caravan with superb confidence. What a superb car , it that can tow anything, go anywhere, carry like a van, or a bus and act as a limosine, not many cars can do that.
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